Nehemiah 1:11
New International Version
Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.” I was cupbearer to the king.

New Living Translation
O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me.” In those days I was the king’s cup-bearer.

English Standard Version
O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king.

Berean Standard Bible
O Lord, may Your ear be attentive to my prayer and to the prayers of Your servants who delight to revere Your name. Give Your servant success this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” (At that time I was the cupbearer to the king.)

King James Bible
O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.

New King James Version
O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” For I was the king’s cupbearer.

New American Standard Bible
Please, Lord, may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to revere Your name, and please make Your servant successful today and grant him mercy before this man.” Now I was the cupbearer to the king.

NASB 1995
“O Lord, I beseech You, may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to revere Your name, and make Your servant successful today and grant him compassion before this man.” Now I was the cupbearer to the king.

NASB 1977
“O Lord, I beseech Thee, may Thine ear be attentive to the prayer of Thy servant and the prayer of Thy servants who delight to revere Thy name, and make Thy servant successful today, and grant him compassion before this man.” Now I was the cupbearer to the king.

Legacy Standard Bible
O Lord, I beseech You, may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your slave and the prayer of Your slaves who delight to fear Your name, and make Your slave successful today and grant him compassion before this man.” Now I was the cupbearer to the king.

Amplified Bible
Please, O Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to [reverently] fear Your Name [Your essence, Your nature, Your attributes, with awe]; and make Your servant successful this day and grant him compassion in the sight of this man [the king].” For I was cupbearer to the king [of Persia].

Christian Standard Bible
Please, Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to that of your servants who delight to revere your name. Give your servant success today, and grant him compassion in the presence of this man. At the time, I was the king’s cupbearer.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Please, Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and to that of Your servants who delight to revere Your name. Give Your servant success today, and have compassion on him in the presence of this man. At the time, I was the king’s cupbearer.

American Standard Version
O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who delight to fear thy name; and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. Now I was cupbearer to the king.

Contemporary English Version
Please answer my prayer and the prayer of your other servants who gladly honor your name. When I serve the king his wine today, make him pleased with me and let him do what I ask.

English Revised Version
O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who delight to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. (Now I was cupbearer to the king.)

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Lord, please pay attention to my prayer and to the prayers of all your other servants who want to worship your name. Please give me success today and make this man, King Artaxerxes, show me compassion." I was cupbearer to the king at this time.

Good News Translation
Listen now to my prayer and to the prayers of all your other servants who want to honor you. Give me success today and make the emperor merciful to me." In those days I was the emperor's wine steward.

International Standard Version
"And now, Lord, I ask you to listen to the prayer of your servant—and to the prayers of your servants who delight in revering your Name. I ask you, please prosper your servant today by granting him to receive favor from this man." Now I was the king's senior security advisor.

Majority Standard Bible
O Lord, may Your ear be attentive to my prayer and to the prayers of Your servants who delight to revere Your name. Give Your servant success this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” (At that time I was the cupbearer to the king.)

NET Bible
Please, O Lord, listen attentively to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who take pleasure in showing respect to your name. Grant your servant success today and show compassion to me in the presence of this man." Now I was cupbearer for the king.

New Heart English Bible
Lord, I beg you, let your ear be attentive now to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants, who delight to fear your name; and please prosper your servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man." Now I was cup bearer to the king.

Webster's Bible Translation
O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thy ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cup-bearer.

World English Bible
Lord, I beg you, let your ear be attentive now to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name; and please prosper your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cup bearer to the king.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Ah, now, O Lord, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants, those delighting to fear Your Name; and please give prosperity to Your servant today, and give him for mercies before this man”; and I have been butler to the king.

Young's Literal Translation
'I beseech Thee, O Lord, let, I pray Thee, Thine ear be attentive unto the prayer of Thy servant, and unto the prayer of Thy servants, those delighting to fear Thy Name; and give prosperity, I pray Thee, to Thy servant to-day, and give him for mercies before this man;' and I have been butler to the king.

Smith's Literal Translation
Now, O Lord, now will thine ear be attending to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, desiring to fear thy name? and prosper now to thy servant this day: and wilt thou give him for compassion before this man? And I was giving drink to the king.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
I beseech thee, O Lord, let thy ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants who desire to fear thy name: and direct thy servant this day, and give him mercy before this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.

Catholic Public Domain Version
I beg you, O Lord, may your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who are willing to fear your name. And so, guide your servant today, and grant to him mercy before this man.” For I was the cupbearer of the king.

New American Bible
LORD, may your ears be attentive to the prayer of your servant and that of all your servants who willingly revere your name. Grant success to your servant this day, and let him find favor with this man”—for I was cupbearer to the king.

New Revised Standard Version
O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man!” At the time, I was cupbearer to the king.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
O LORD, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant and to the prayer of those who are willing to worship thy name; and save thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was cup hearer to the king.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
In intercession before you, LORD JEHOVAH, your ear will be listening to the prayer of your Servant, and to the prayer of those who desire to worship your name, and save your Servant today, and give him in mercy before this man!” And I was the Butler to the King.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
O Lord, I beseech Thee, let now Thine ear be attentive to the prayer of Thy servant, and to the prayer of Thy servants, who delight to fear Thy name; and prosper, I pray Thee, Thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.' Now I was cupbearer to the king.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Turn not away, I pray thee, O Lord, but let thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and cause him to find mercy in the sight of this man. Now I was the king's cup-bearer.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Nehemiah's Prayer
10They are Your servants and Your people. You redeemed them by Your great power and mighty hand. 11O Lord, may Your ear be attentive to my prayer and to the prayers of Your servants who delight to revere Your name. Give Your servant success this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” (At that time I was the cupbearer to the king.)

Cross References
Daniel 9:18-19
Incline Your ear, O my God, and hear; open Your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears Your name. For we are not presenting our petitions before You because of our righteous acts, but because of Your great compassion. / O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For Your sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people bear Your name.”

Psalm 86:6
Hear my prayer, O LORD, and attend to my plea for mercy.

1 Kings 8:28-30
Yet regard the prayer and plea of Your servant, O LORD my God, so that You may hear the cry and the prayer that Your servant is praying before You today. / May Your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that You may hear the prayer that Your servant prays toward this place. / Hear the plea of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. May You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place. May You hear and forgive.

Ezra 7:6
this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted Ezra all his requests, for the hand of the LORD his God was upon him.

Psalm 130:2
O Lord, hear my voice; let Your ears be attentive to my plea for mercy.

2 Chronicles 6:40
Now, my God, may Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place.

Isaiah 37:17
Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see. Listen to all the words that Sennacherib has sent to defy the living God.

Psalm 143:1
A Psalm of David. O LORD, hear my prayer. In Your faithfulness, give ear to my plea; in Your righteousness, answer me.

1 Samuel 1:11
And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.”

2 Kings 19:16
Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see. Listen to the words that Sennacherib has sent to defy the living God.

Acts 4:29-31
And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness, / as You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” / After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Philippians 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Hebrews 4:16
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

James 5:16
Therefore 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.

Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.


Treasury of Scripture

O LORD, I beseech you, let now your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants, who desire to fear your name: and prosper, I pray you, your servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.

Let now.

Nehemiah 1:6
Let 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.

Psalm 86:6
Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.

Psalm 130:2
Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.

who desire

Proverbs 1:29
For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

Isaiah 26:8,9
Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee…

Hebrews 13:18
Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.

grant

Nehemiah 2:8
And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.

Genesis 32:11,28
Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children…

Genesis 43:14
And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.

Nehemiah 2:1
And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.

Genesis 40:2,9-13,21,23
And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers…

Genesis 41:9
Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day:

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Nehemiah 1
1. Nehemiah, understanding by Hanani the misery of Jerusalem, mourns, fasts, and prays
5. His prayer














O Lord
The Hebrew word for "Lord" here is "Adonai," which signifies God's sovereign authority and power. Nehemiah begins his prayer by acknowledging God's supreme rule over all creation. This invocation sets the tone for a prayer of humility and dependence, recognizing that all success and mercy come from the divine will of God.

let Your ear be attentive
This phrase is a plea for God to listen closely, derived from the Hebrew verb "qashab," meaning to incline or pay attention. Nehemiah is earnestly seeking God's focused attention, emphasizing the urgency and sincerity of his request. It reflects a deep faith that God is a personal and responsive deity who hears the cries of His people.

to the prayer of Your servant
The term "servant" (Hebrew: "ebed") denotes a position of humility and dedication. Nehemiah identifies himself as God's servant, highlighting his submission and loyalty. This self-identification underscores the relationship between God and His people, where believers are called to serve and honor God in all aspects of life.

and to the prayer of Your servants who delight to revere Your name
Here, Nehemiah includes others who share his reverence for God, indicating a community of faith. The word "delight" (Hebrew: "chaphets") suggests a deep pleasure and commitment to honoring God's name. This collective reverence is a powerful testament to the shared faith and devotion among God's people, emphasizing the importance of communal prayer and worship.

Give Your servant success this day, I pray
The request for "success" (Hebrew: "tsalach") implies a desire for prosperity and favorable outcomes. Nehemiah is asking for God's blessing on his endeavors, recognizing that true success is granted by God. The phrase "this day" indicates the immediacy of his need, reflecting a trust in God's timely provision.

and grant him mercy in the sight of this man
"Mercy" (Hebrew: "racham") is a plea for compassion and favor, particularly in the context of Nehemiah's position before the king. The phrase "in the sight of this man" refers to King Artaxerxes, highlighting the human authority Nehemiah must navigate. This request acknowledges God's sovereignty over human affairs and the belief that God can influence the hearts of rulers.

(For I was the cupbearer to the king.)
This parenthetical note provides historical context, identifying Nehemiah's role as a trusted official in the Persian court. The position of cupbearer was one of significant responsibility and influence, as it involved close proximity to the king. This detail underscores the gravity of Nehemiah's request and the potential impact of his mission to rebuild Jerusalem. It also illustrates how God places His servants in strategic positions to fulfill His purposes.

Verse 11. - Prosper thy servant this day. "This day" does not perhaps mean more than "at this time"- in connection with this matter which is now in my thoughts. And grant him mercy in the sight of this man. "This man" is, of course, Artaxerxes, though as yet he has not been named. Nehemiah's thoughts have far outstripped his words. He has made up his mind that, in order to remove the reproach of Jerusalem, he must go there in person; that, to do so, he must obtain the king's permission; and that, to get his permission, he needs to be in very special favour with him. All depending on one man only, he has one man only in his mind, who becomes to him, therefore, "this man." I was the king's cupbearer. Literally, "I was cupbearer to the king." Not his sole cupbearer, but one of many. He mentions the fact here, partly to explain the meaning of "this man" to the reader, partly because it was his office which would give him access to Artaxerxes, and enable him to profit by the royal "mercy" or favour.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
O Lord,
אֲדֹנָ֗י (’ă·ḏō·nāy)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 136: The Lord

may Your ear
אָזְנְךָֽ־ (’ā·zə·nə·ḵā-)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 241: Broadness, the ear

be
תְּהִ֣י (tə·hî)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

attentive
קַ֠שֶּׁבֶת (qaš·še·ḇeṯ)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7183: Hearkening

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the prayer
תְּפִלַּ֨ת (tə·p̄il·laṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8605: Intercession, supplication, a hymn

of Your servant
עַבְדְּךָ֜ (‘aḇ·də·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

and to
וְאֶל־ (wə·’el-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the prayers
תְּפִלַּ֣ת (tə·p̄il·laṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8605: Intercession, supplication, a hymn

of Your servants
עֲבָדֶ֗יךָ (‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

who delight
הַֽחֲפֵצִים֙ (ha·ḥă·p̄ê·ṣîm)
Article | Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 2655: Delighting in, having pleasure in

in reverence
לְיִרְאָ֣ה (lə·yir·’āh)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten

of Your name.
שְׁמֶ֔ךָ (šə·me·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 8034: A name

Give Your servant
לְעַבְדְּךָ֙ (lə·‘aḇ·də·ḵā)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

success
וְהַצְלִֽיחָה־ (wə·haṣ·lî·ḥāh-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 6743: To push forward

this day,
הַיּ֔וֹם (hay·yō·wm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

I pray,
נָּ֤א (nā)
Interjection
Strong's 4994: I pray', 'now', 'then'

and grant him
וּתְנֵ֣הוּ (ū·ṯə·nê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

mercy
לְרַחֲמִ֔ים (lə·ra·ḥă·mîm)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 7356: Compassion, the womb, a maiden

in the sight
לִפְנֵ֖י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

of this
הַזֶּ֑ה (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

man.?
הָאִ֣ישׁ (hā·’îš)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

(For I
וַאֲנִ֛י (wa·’ă·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

was
הָיִ֥יתִי (hā·yî·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

the cupbearer
מַשְׁקֶ֖ה (maš·qeh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4945: Causing to drink, a butler, drink, a well-watered region

to the king.)
לַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (lam·me·leḵ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king


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OT History: Nehemiah 1:11 Lord I beg you let now your (Neh Ne)
Nehemiah 1:10
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