Neh 1:11 | NETfull | STEP | 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.

Nehemiah 1:11

11 Please, ^{▼▼ The interjection אָנָּא (’anna’) 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).} O Lord, listen attentively ^{▼▼ 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 ^{▼▼ Heb “fear.”} to your name. Grant your servant success today and show compassion to me ^{▼▼ 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 ^{▼▼ The vav (ו) on וַאֲנִי (va’ani, “Now, I”) introduces a disjunctive parenthetical clause that provides background information to the reader.} I was cupbearer for the king.