Nehemiah had used these very same words in Nehemiah 1:6 as he began his prayer for the people of Israel. With Nehemiah 1:11, Nehemiah has moved to a new phase in his prayer, namely, to pray for God’s blessing upon himself. Hence his repeating his earlier reference to God’s ear (and so recalling God’s promise to Solomon in 2 Chronicles 7:14).
11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”Now I was cupbearer to the king.