Definition: 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.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Nehemiah 1:6. It’s a really important passage about remembering God’s voice and acknowledging our mistakes. Here’s the explanation in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse is about recognizing that we are accountable for our sins, and God wants us to listen to what we’re saying. It's like saying, "Hey, I messed up, and I want to make things right." Let’s look at it piece by piece: “Nehemiah 1:6” : This is the verse itself – a specific passage from ancient Jewish history. “Let thine ear now be attentive…” : This means "Please listen carefully" or “Pay attention now." It's inviting us to really hear what God has to say. “…and thine eyes open…” : This suggests we need to look at the situation with a clear mind, not just focusing on our own feelings but also considering what happened. “that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant…” : This is the core of the verse. Nehemiah is praying for his people – for their well-being and for guidance. He’s asking God to hear their prayers. “which I pray before thee now, day and night…” : This tells us that this prayer isn't just a quick thought; it’s a continuous, constant plea. It’s a long time of reflection and repentance. “…for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel…” : Nehemiah is praying specifically for his people – those who were enslaved in Egypt. He's asking God to hear their cries and to let them know they are forgiven. He’s also admitting that they have wronged the Israelites. “which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father’s house have sinned.” : This is the most important part! It says that we , as a nation, have broken God's rules. We’ve done wrong – we’ve hurt the Israelites with our actions, and we’ve even fallen short of our own fathers' traditions. In a nutshell: Nehemiah is pleading for forgiveness and asking God to hear their prayers because they've made mistakes that have caused pain and suffering. It's an acknowledgement of responsibility and a desire for reconciliation. Why is this important? This verse shows us that we are all accountable for our actions, even if we don’t always feel like it. It's a reminder that God sees us and wants to be involved in our lives, and that we should strive to be better – to repent of our sins and seek forgiveness. --- Do you want me to: Explain any part of this verse in more detail? Connect it to a specific story or event from the Bible? Offer some reflection questions about the message?