New International Versionlet your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you.
New Living Translationlisten to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned!
English Standard Versionlet your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned.
Berean Standard Biblelet Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to hear the prayer that I, Your servant, now pray before You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned.
King James BibleLet thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.
New King James Versionplease let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father’s house and I have sinned.
New American Standard Biblelet Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open, to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants, confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have committed against You; I and my father’s house have sinned.
NASB 1995let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants, confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against You; I and my father’s house have sinned.
NASB 1977let Thine ear now be attentive and Thine eyes open to hear the prayer of Thy servant which I am praying before Thee now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Thy servants, confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against Thee; I and my father’s house have sinned.
Legacy Standard Biblelet Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your slave which I am praying before You today, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your slaves, confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against You; I and my father’s house have sinned.
Amplified Bibleplease let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You, day and night, on behalf of Your servants, the sons (descendants) of Israel (Jacob), confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have committed against You; I and my father’s house have sinned.
Christian Standard Biblelet your eyes be open and your ears be attentive to hear your servant’s prayer that I now pray to you day and night for your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins we have committed against you. Both I and my father’s family have sinned.
Holman Christian Standard Biblelet Your eyes be open and Your ears be attentive to hear Your servant’s prayer that I now pray to You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins we have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned.
American Standard Versionlet thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants while I confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee. Yea, I and my father's house have sinned:
Contemporary English VersionI am your servant, so please have mercy on me and answer the prayer that I make day and night for these people of Israel who serve you. I, my family, and the rest of your people have sinned
English Revised VersionLet thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, while I confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: yea, I and my father's house have sinned.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationOpen your eyes, and pay close attention with your ears to what I, your servant, am praying. I am praying to you day and night about your servants the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against you as well as the sins that my father's family and I have committed.
Good News TranslationLook at me, LORD, and hear my prayer, as I pray day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess that we, the people of Israel, have sinned. My ancestors and I have sinned.
International Standard Versionplease turn your attention to observe carefully and listen to the prayer of your servant today that I am presenting to you day and night on behalf of your servants, the Israelis. "I confess the sins that we Israelis have committed against you. Both I and my father's house have sinned.
NET Biblemay your ear be attentive and your eyes be open to hear the prayer of your servant that I am praying to you today throughout both day and night on behalf of your servants the Israelites. I am confessing the sins of the Israelites that we have committed against you--both I myself and my family have sinned.
New Heart English BibleLet your ear now be attentive, and your eyes open, that you may listen to the prayer of your servant, which I pray before you at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel your servants while I confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Yes, I and my father's house have sinned.
Webster's Bible TranslationLet thy ear now be attentive, and thy eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Biblelet Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to hear the prayer that I, Your servant, now pray before You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned.
World English Biblelet your ear now be attentive and your eyes open, that you may listen to the prayer of your servant which I pray before you at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel your servants, while I confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against you. Yes, I and my father’s house have sinned. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionplease let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, to listen to the prayer of Your servant, that I am praying before You today, by day and by night, concerning the sons of Israel, Your servants, and confessing concerning the sins of the sons of Israel, that we have sinned against You; indeed, I and the house of my father have sinned;
Young's Literal Translation let Thine ear be, I pray Thee, attentive, and Thine eyes open, to hearken unto the prayer of Thy servant, that I am praying before Thee to-day, by day and by night, concerning the sons of Israel Thy servants, and confessing concerning the sins of the sons of Israel, that we have sinned against Thee; yea, I and the house of my father have sinned;
Smith's Literal TranslationWill now thine ear be attentive and thine eye opened to hear to the prayer of thy servant which I pray before thee this day, day and night, for the sons of Israel thy servants, and confess for the sins of the sons of Israel which we sinned against thee? and and the house of my father sinned. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleLet thy ears be attentive, and thy eyes open, to hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, night and day, for the children of Israel thy servants: and I confess the sins of the children of Israel, by which they have sinned against thee: I and my father's house have sinned.
Catholic Public Domain Versionmay your ears be attentive, and may your eyes be open, so that you may hear the prayer of your servant, which I am praying before you today, night and day, for the sons of Israel, your servants. And I am confessing the sins of the sons of Israel, which they have sinned against you. We have sinned, I and my father’s house.
New American BibleMay your ears be attentive, and your eyes open, to hear the prayer that I, your servant, now offer in your presence day and night for your servants the Israelites, confessing the sins we have committed against you, I and my ancestral house included.
New Revised Standard Versionlet your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Both I and my family have sinned. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleLet thine eyes now be open, and thine ears attentive, to hear the prayer of thy servant which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and I confess the sins of the children of Israel which they have sinned against thee; moreover, both I and my father's house have sinned before thee.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedLet therefore your eyes be opened, and let your ears listen to us to hear the prayer that I, your Servant, pray before you by day and by night for the children of Israel, your Servants, and I confess concerning the sins of the children of Israel that they have sinned against you, and I and the house of my father, we have sinned before you. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917let Thine ear now be attentive, and Thine eyes open, that Thou mayest hearken unto the prayer of Thy servant, which I pray before Thee at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel Thy servants, while I confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against Thee; yea, I and my father's house have sinned.
Brenton Septuagint Translationlet now thine ear be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee at this time, this day both day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and make confession for the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and the house of my father have sinned.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Nehemiah's Prayer… 5Then I said: “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion with those who love Him and keep His commandments, 6let Your eyesbeopenand Your earsattentiveto hearthe prayerthatI,Your servant,nowpraybefore Youdayand nightforYour servants,the Israelites.I confessthe sinsthatwe Israeliteshave committedagainst You.Both Iand my father’shousehave sinned.7We have behaved corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, statutes, and ordinances that You gave Your servant Moses.…
Cross References Daniel 9:4-19And I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed, “O, Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of loving devotion to those who love Him and keep His commandments, / we have sinned and done wrong. We have acted wickedly and rebelled. We have turned away from Your commandments and ordinances. / We have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, leaders, fathers, and all the people of the land. ...
1 Kings 8:47-50and when they come to their senses in the land to which they were taken, and they repent and plead with You in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and done wrong; we have acted wickedly,’ / and when they return to You with all their heart and soul in the land of the enemies who took them captive, and when they pray to You in the direction of the land that You gave to their fathers, the city You have chosen, and the house I have built for Your Name, / then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, their prayer and petition, and may You uphold their cause. ...
Ezra 9:6-15and said: “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached the heavens. / From the days of our fathers to this day, our guilt has been great. Because of our iniquities, we and our kings and priests have been delivered into the hands of the kings of the earth and subjected to the sword and to captivity, to pillage and humiliation, as we are this day. / But now, for a brief moment, grace has come from the LORD our God to preserve for us a remnant and to give us a stake in His holy place. Even in our bondage, our God has given us new life and light to our eyes. ...
Psalm 130:2O Lord, hear my voice; let Your ears be attentive to my plea for mercy.
2 Chronicles 6:37-39and when they come to their senses in the land to which they were taken, and they repent and plead with You in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and done wrong; we have acted wickedly,’ / and when they return to You with all their heart and soul in the land of the enemies who took them captive, and when they pray in the direction of the land that You gave to their fathers, the city You have chosen, and the house I have built for Your Name, / then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, their prayer and pleas, and may You uphold their cause. May You forgive Your people who sinned against You.
Exodus 32:11-14But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God, saying, “O LORD, why does Your anger burn against Your people, whom You brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? / Why should the Egyptians declare, ‘He brought them out with evil intent, to kill them in the mountains and wipe them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce anger and relent from doing harm to Your people. / Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, to whom You swore by Your very self when You declared, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give your descendants all this land that I have promised, and it shall be their inheritance forever.’” ...
Jeremiah 29:12-13Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. / You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
2 Chronicles 7:14and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
Psalm 106:6We have sinned like our fathers; we have done wrong and acted wickedly.
Leviticus 26:40-42But if they will confess their iniquity and that of their fathers in the unfaithfulness that they practiced against Me, by which they have also walked in hostility toward Me— / and I acted with hostility toward them and brought them into the land of their enemies—and if their uncircumcised hearts will be humbled and they will make amends for their iniquity, / then I will remember My covenant with Jacob and My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.
Isaiah 59:12For our transgressions are multiplied before You, and our sins testify against us. Our transgressions are indeed with us, and we know our iniquities:
1 John 1:9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
James 5:16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.
Matthew 6:9-13So then, this is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. / Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. / Give us this day our daily bread. ...
Luke 18:13But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’
Treasury of Scripture Let your ear now be attentive, and your eyes open, that you may hear the prayer of your servant, which I pray before you now, day and night, for the children of Israel your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against you: both I and my father's house have sinned. thine ear 1 Kings 8:28,29
Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to day: … 2 Chronicles 6:40
Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open, andlet thine earsbe attent unto the prayerthat is made in this place. Psalm 34:15
The eyes of the LORDare upon the righteous, and his earsare open unto their cry. day and night 1 Samuel 15:11
It repenteth me that I have set up Saulto be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night. Psalm 55:17
Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. Psalm 88:1
A Songor Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried dayand night before thee: confess Ezra 9:6,7
And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased overour head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens… Ezra 10:11
Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives. Psalm 32:5
I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. both I 2 Chronicles 28:10
And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you:but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the LORD your God? 2 Chronicles 29:6
For our fathers have trespassed, and donethat which was evil in the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD, and turnedtheir backs. Psalm 106:6
We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly. Jump to Previous AttentiveChildrenConfessEarEyesFather'sHearHearkenHouseIsraelMayestNightOpenPrayerServantServantsSinnedSinsTimeJump to Next AttentiveChildrenConfessEarEyesFather'sHearHearkenHouseIsraelMayestNightOpenPrayerServantServantsSinnedSinsTimeNehemiah 1 1.Nehemiah, understanding by Hanani the misery of Jerusalem, mourns, fasts, and prays5.His prayerlet Your eyes be open and Your ears attentiveThis phrase reflects a common biblical motif where God is anthropomorphized to emphasize His awareness and responsiveness to human prayers. It echoes Solomon's prayer in 2 Chronicles 6:40, where he asks God to be attentive to the prayers made in the temple. This request for divine attention underscores the belief in a personal God who is actively involved in the lives of His people. to hear the prayer that I, Your servant, now pray before You
Nehemiah identifies himself as God's servant, a term that denotes humility and submission to God's will. This aligns with the biblical tradition of leaders like Moses and David, who also referred to themselves as servants of God. The act of prayer is central to Nehemiah's leadership, demonstrating reliance on divine guidance rather than solely on human wisdom. day and night
The phrase "day and night" indicates the fervency and persistence of Nehemiah's prayer. It reflects the biblical principle of continual prayer found in passages like1 Thessalonians 5:17, which encourages believers to "pray without ceasing." This persistent prayer life is a model for believers, emphasizing the importance of constant communication with God. for Your servants, the Israelites
Nehemiah's intercession for the Israelites highlights his role as a mediator, similar to figures like Moses and Daniel, who also prayed on behalf of their people. This communal aspect of prayer reflects the covenant relationship between God and Israel, where the fate of the nation is intertwined with the faithfulness of its leaders and people. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against You
Confession is a critical component of Nehemiah's prayer, acknowledging the collective sin of the nation. This mirrors the confessions found inDaniel 9 andEzra 9, where leaders confess the sins of the people as a step toward restoration. It underscores the biblical theme of repentance as a prerequisite for divine forgiveness and blessing. Both I and my father’s house have sinned
Nehemiah includes himself and his family in the confession, demonstrating personal accountability and humility. This personal acknowledgment of sin is consistent with the biblical understanding that all have sinned (Romans 3:23) and need God's grace. It also reflects the communal nature of sin in the Old Testament, where the actions of individuals and families impact the entire community. Persons / Places / Events 1. NehemiahA Jewish cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes, Nehemiah is the central figure in this book. He is a man of prayer and action, deeply concerned about the welfare of Jerusalem and the spiritual state of his people. 2. The IsraelitesThe people of God, who have returned from exile in Babylon. They are struggling to rebuild Jerusalem and restore their identity as God's chosen people. 3. JerusalemThe holy city of the Jews, which lies in ruins at the time of Nehemiah's prayer. It symbolizes the spiritual and physical state of the Israelites. 4. ArtaxerxesThe Persian king whom Nehemiah serves. His favor is crucial for Nehemiah's mission to rebuild Jerusalem. 5. The ExileThe period when the Israelites were taken captive to Babylon. This historical context is essential for understanding the spiritual and physical challenges Nehemiah faces. Teaching Points The Power of Persistent PrayerNehemiah's commitment to praying "day and night" teaches us the importance of perseverance in prayer, especially when interceding for others. Confession and RepentanceNehemiah's acknowledgment of personal and communal sin highlights the necessity of confession in our relationship with God. True repentance involves recognizing our failures and seeking God's forgiveness. Intercessory PrayerNehemiah stands in the gap for his people, demonstrating the role of intercessory prayer in seeking God's favor and intervention for others. God's AttentivenessThe request for God's ear to be attentive and eyes open reassures us that God is always ready to listen to the prayers of His people. Leadership and ResponsibilityNehemiah's prayer reflects his sense of responsibility as a leader. It challenges us to take initiative in addressing the spiritual and physical needs of our communities. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Nehemiah 1
Is God opposed to human enjoyment and happiness?
What defines a good confession?
(Lamentations 4:13) How does blaming prophets and priests for the downfall align or conflict with other biblical teachings on communal guilt?
Psalm 6:1 - How can a God of perfect love express anger or rebuke His faithful servant?Verse 6. - Both I and my father's house have sinned. Ewald well observes, "In the prayer of Nehemiah the keynote is struck in the words, 'I and my father's house have sinned'" ('History of Israel,' vol. 5. p. 149, note 1). The desolation which he mourns is the result of the people's sins, and in those sins are included his own, and those of his ancestors. His own may not have been very grievous, but those of his fathers weigh upon him as if his own, and oppress his spirit.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew may Your eyesוְֽעֵינֶ֪יךָ(wə·‘ê·ne·ḵā)Conjunctive waw | Noun - cdc | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5869:An eye, a fountainbeתְּהִ֣י(tə·hî)Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1961:To fall out, come to pass, become, beopenפְתֻוּח֟וֹת(p̄ə·ṯuw·w·ḥō·wṯ)Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine plural
Strong's 6605:To open wide, to loosen, begin, plough, carveand Your earsאָזְנְךָֽ־(’ā·zə·nə·ḵā-)Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 241:Broadness, the earbe attentiveקַשֶּׁ֣בֶת(qaš·še·ḇeṯ)Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7183:Hearkeningto hearלִשְׁמֹ֣עַ(liš·mō·a‘)Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 8085:To hear intelligentlythe prayerתְּפִלַּ֣ת(tə·p̄il·laṯ)Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8605:Intercession, supplication, a hymnthatאֲשֶׁ֣ר(’ă·šer)Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834:Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order thatI,אָנֹכִי֩(’ā·nō·ḵî)Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 595:IYour servant,עַבְדְּךָ֡(‘aḇ·də·ḵā)Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5650:Slave, servantnowהַיּוֹם֙(hay·yō·wm)Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117:A dayprayמִתְפַּלֵּ֨ל(miṯ·pal·lêl)Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6419:To judge, to intercede, praybefore Youלְפָנֶ֤יךָ(lə·p̄ā·ne·ḵā)Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6440:The facedayיוֹמָ֣ם(yō·w·mām)Adverb
Strong's 3119:Daytime, by dayand nightוָלַ֔יְלָה(wā·lay·lāh)Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3915:A twist, night, adversityforעַל־(‘al-)Preposition
Strong's 5921:Above, over, upon, againstYour servants,עֲבָדֶ֑יךָ(‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā)Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5650:Slave, servantthe Israelites.בְּנֵ֥י(bə·nê)Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121:A sonI confessוּמִתְוַדֶּ֗ה(ū·miṯ·wad·deh)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3034:To throw, at, away, to revere, worship, to bemoanthe sinsחַטֹּ֤אות(ḥaṭ·ṭō·wṯ)Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 2403:An offence, its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, expiation, an offenderwe Israelitesבְּנֵֽי־(bə·nê-)Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121:A sonhave committedחָטָ֣אנוּ(ḥā·ṭā·nū)Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural
Strong's 2398:To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemnagainst You.לָ֔ךְ(lāḵ)Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 0:0Both Iוַאֲנִ֥י(wa·’ă·nî)Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589:Iand my father?sאָבִ֖י(’ā·ḇî)Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1:Fatherhouseוּבֵית־(ū·ḇêṯ-)Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004:A househave sinned.חָטָֽאנוּ׃(ḥā·ṭā·nū)Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural
Strong's 2398:To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn
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OT History: Nehemiah 1:6 Let your ear now be attentive (Neh Ne) |
