1. On the twenty-fourth day of the seventh month, the people of Israel went without eating, and they dressed in sackcloth and threw dust on their heads to show their sorrow.
2. They refused to let foreigners join them, as they met to confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors.
3. For 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 worshipped the Lord.
4. Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani stood on the special platform for the Levites and prayed aloud to the Lord their God.
5. Then the Levites Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah said:“Stand and shout praisesto your Lord,the eternal God!Praise his wonderful name,though he is greaterthan words can express.”
6. You alone are the Lord,Creator of the heavensand all the stars,Creator of the earthand those who live on it,Creator of the oceanand all its creatures.You are the source of life,praised by the starsthat fill the heavens.
7. You are the Lord our God,the one who chose Abram—you brought him from Urin Babyloniaand named him Abraham.
8. Because he was faithful,you made an agreementto give his descendantsthe land of the Canaanitesand Hittites,of the Amorites and Perizzites,and of the Jebusitesand Girgashites.Now you have kept your promise,just as you always do.
9. When our ancestorswere in Egypt,you saw their suffering;when they were at the Red Sea,you heard their cry for help.
10. You knew that the King of Egyptand his officials and his nationhad ill-treated your people.So you worked fearsome miraclesagainst the Egyptiansand earned a reputationthat still remains.
11. You divided the deep sea,and your people walked throughon dry land.But you tossed their enemies in,and they sank downlike a heavy stone.
12. Each day you led your peoplewith a thick cloud,and at night you showed the waywith a flaming fire.
13. At Sinai you came downfrom heaven,and you gave your peoplegood laws and teachingsthat are fair and honest.
14. You commanded them to respectyour holy Sabbath,and you instructedyour servant Mosesto teach them your laws.
15. When they were hungry,you sent bread from heaven,and when they were thirsty,you let water flowfrom a rock.Then you commanded themto capture the landthat you had solemnly promised.
16-17. Our stubborn ancestorsrefused to obey—they forgot about the miraclesyou had worked for them,and they were determinedto return to Egyptand become slaves again.But, our God, you are mercifuland quick to forgive;you are loving, kind,and very patient.So you never turned awayfrom them—
18. not even when they madean idol shaped like a calfand insulted you by claiming,“This is the god who rescued usfrom Egypt.”
19. Because of your great mercy,you never abandoned themin the desert.And you always guided themwith a cloud by dayand a fire at night.
20. Your gentle Spiritinstructed them,and you gave them manna to eatand water to drink.
21. You took good care of them,and for forty yearsthey never lacked a thing.Their shoes didn't wear out,and their feet were never swollen.
22. You let them conquer kingsand take their land,including King Sihon of Heshbonand King Og of Bashan.
23. You brought them into the landthat you had promisedtheir ancestors,and you blessed their nationwith people who outnumberedthe stars in the sky.
24. Then their descendantsconquered the land.You helped them defeatthe kings and nationsand treat their enemieshowever they wished.
25. They captured strong citiesand rich farmland;they took furnished houses,as well as cisterns,vineyards, olive orchards,and numerous fruit trees.They ate till they were satisfied,and they celebratedyour abundant blessings.
26. In spite of this, they rebelledand disobeyed your laws.They killed your prophets,who warned themto turn back to you,and they cursed your name.
27. So you handed them overto their enemies,who treated them terribly.But in their sufferings,they begged you to help.From heaven you listenedto their prayersand because of your great mercy,you sent leaders to rescue them.
28. But when they were at peace,they would turn against you,and you would hand them overto their enemies.Then they would beg for help,and because you are merciful,you rescued themover and over again.
29. You warned them to turn backand discover true lifeby obeying your laws.But they stubbornly refusedand continued to sin.
30. For years, you were patient,and your Spirit warned themwith messages spokenby your prophets.Still they refused to listen,and you handed them overto their enemies.
31. But you are merciful and kind,and so you never forgot themor let them be destroyed.
32. Our God, you are powerful,fearsome, and faithful,always true to your word.So please keep in mindthe terrible sufferingsof our people, kings, leaders,priests, and prophets,from the time Assyria ruleduntil this very day.
33. You have always been fairwhen you punished usfor our sins.
34. Our kings, leaders, and priestshave never obeyed your commandsor heeded your warnings.
35. You blessed them with a kingdomand with an abundanceof rich, fertile land,but they refused to worship youor turn from their evil.
36. Now we are slavesin this fruitful landyou gave to our ancestors.
37. Its plentiful harvest is takenby kings you placed over usbecause of our sins.Our suffering is unbearable,because they do as they wishto us and our livestock.
38. And so, a firm agreement was made that had the official approval of the leaders, the Levites, and priests.