¹⁷ Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord,^{[a] (A)}make your face to shine upon ^(B)your sanctuary, which is desolate. ^18 (C)O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see ^(D)our desolations, and ^(E)the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy.

^23 (A)At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, ^(B)and I have come to tell it to you, for ^(C)you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word ^(D)and understand the vision.

Nehemiah's Prayer

⁴ As soon as I heard these words I ^(A)sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the ^(B)God of heaven.