24. And the prayer of Nehemiah was held in this way: "O Lord God, Creator of all, terrible and strong, just and merciful, you alone are the good King.
25. You alone are excellent, you alone are just, and all-powerful, and eternal, who frees Israel from all evil, who created the chosen fathers and sanctified them.
26. Receive the sacrifice on behalf of all of your people Israel, and preserve and sanctify your portion.
27. Gather together our dispersion, free those who are in servitude to the Gentiles, and respect those who are despised and abhorred, so that the Gentiles may know that you are our God.
28. Afflict those who, in their arrogance, are oppressing us and treating us abusively.
29. Establish your people in your holy place, just as Moses said."
30. And so the priests sang hymns until the sacrifice had been consumed.
31. But when the sacrifice had been consumed, Nehemiah ordered the remainder of the water to be poured upon the great stones.
32. When this had been done, a flame was kindled from them, but it was consumed by the light that shined brightly from the altar.
33. In truth, when this thing became known, it was reported to the king of Persia that in the place where the fire had been hidden by those priests who had been led away, water appeared, by which Nehemiah, and those who were with him, purified the sacrifices.
34. But the king, considering and examining the matter diligently, made a temple for it, so that he might study what had happened.
35. And when he had studied it, he gave the priests many goods and presents, of one kind or another, and using his own hands, he distributed these.