1On the twenty-fourth day of the seventh month, the people of Israel went without eating, and they dressed in sackcloth and threw dirt on their heads to show their sorrow.
2They refused to let foreigners join them, as they met to confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors.
3For three hours they stood and listened to the Law of the Lord their God, and then for the next three hours they confessed their sins and worshiped the Lord.
4Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani stood on the special platform for the Levites and prayed aloud to the Lord their God.
5Then the Levites Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah said:
“Stand and shout praises
to your Lord,
the eternal God!
Praise his wonderful name,
though he is greater
than words can express.”
The People Pray6You alone are the Lord,
Creator of the heavens
and all the stars,
Creator of the earth
and those who live on it,
Creator of the ocean
and all its creatures.
You are the source of life,
praised by the stars
that fill the heavens.
7
you heard their cry for help.
10
and you gave them manna to eat
and water to drink.
21You took good care of them,
and for forty years
they never lacked a thing.
Their clothes didn't wear out,
and their feet were never swollen.
22
23
vineyards, olive orchards,
and numerous fruit trees.
They ate till they were satisfied,
and they celebrated
your abundant blessings.
26 warned them
with messages spoken
by your prophets.
Still they refused to listen,
and you handed them over
to their enemies.
31But you are merciful and kind,
and so you never forgot them
or let them be destroyed.
32 2 K 15.19,29; 17.3-6; Ezra 4.2,8-10. Our God, you are powerful,
fearsome, and faithful,
always true to your word.
So please keep in mind
the terrible sufferings
of our people, kings, leaders,
priests, and prophets,
from the time Assyria ruled
until this very day.
33You have always been fair
when you punished us
for our sins.
34Our kings and leaders,
our priests and ancestors
have never obeyed your commands
or heeded your warnings.
35You blessed them with a kingdom
and with an abundance
of rich, fertile land,
but they refused to worship you
or turn from their evil.
36Now we are slaves
in this fruitful land
you gave to our ancestors.
37Its plentiful harvest is taken
by kings you placed over us
because of our sins.
Our suffering is unbearable,
because they do as they wish
to us and our livestock.
The People Make an Agreement38And so, a firm agreement was made that had the official approval of the leaders, the Levites, and priests.
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