Charles Spurgeon Commentary Nehemiah 1:11

"O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who delight to fear thy name; and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. Now I was cupbearer to the king." — Nehemiah 1:11 (ASV)

O Lord, I beseech you, let now your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants, who desire to fear your name: and prosper, I pray you, your servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.

That was King Artaxerxes, whom he rightly viewed as a man, for, great as he was—all-powerful king of Persia—yet still only a man.

Nehemiah consoles himself with the prospect of having to go in before him to ask for his favor.

For I was the king's cupbearer.

He counts this as a high privilege, that he would be able to speak for his people to the great king who would give him the opportunity to go and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.