Neh 1:11 | NET2full | STEP | Please , 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 .

‏ Nehemiah 1:11

11 Please, ^{▼▼tn The interjection אָנָּא (ʾannaʾ) is an emphatic term of entreaty: “please!” (BDB 58 s.v.; HALOT 69-70 s.v.). This term is normally reserved for pleas for mercy from God in life-and-death situations (2 Kgs 20:3 = Isa 38:3; Pss 116:4; 118:25; Jonah 1:14; 4:2) and for forgiveness of heinous sins that would result or have resulted in severe judgment from God (Exod 32:31; Dan 9:4; Neh 1:5, 11).} Lord, listen attentively ^{▼▼tn Heb “let your ear be attentive.”} to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who take pleasure in showing respect to ^{▼▼tn Heb “fear.”} your name. Grant your servant success today and show compassion to me ^{▼▼tn Heb “grant compassion.” The words “to me” are supplied in the translation for the sake of smoothness and style in English.} in the presence of this man.”

Now ^{▼▼tn The vav (ו) on וַאֲנִי (vaʾani, “Now, I”) introduces a disjunctive parenthetical clause that provides background information to the reader.} I was cupbearer for the king.