Nehemiah’s song by Ashlyn McKayla Ohm

You know my name: the comforter.

You’ve heard my voice

Sing within these streets to call you home.

Raise your faces, children of the breach,

Justice melts to mercy. Yahweh’s reach

From palace to this pit my zeal has flung

To see you wrapped once more in home.

I’m no Tobiah hollowed up in hallowed rooms;

Ignore the scoffers’ seat. I won’t come down

To what I could demand, my only price the prize

Of pouring my compassion on your woe.

So, come with me

See what could be—

And build.

Within these dry-bone stones a hope still hums,

Lay brick on brick, and see what this becomes.

So build with sword and spade around your house, your field,

Build until your children’s cups are filled,

Build till this city glows upon its hill—

Repent, rejoice, revive, renew, rebuild.