1-2. On the 24th day of the same month the people of Israel assembled to fast in order to show sorrow for their sins. They had already separated themselves from all foreigners. They wore sackcloth and put dust on their heads as signs of grief. Then they stood and began to confess the sins that they and their ancestors had committed.
3. For about three hours the Law of the Lord their God was read to them, and for the next three hours they confessed their sins and worshipped the Lord their God.
4. There was a platform for the Levites, and on it stood Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani. They prayed aloud to the Lord their God.
5. The following Levites gave a call to worship: Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah. They said:“Stand up and praise the Lord your God;praise him for ever and ever!Let everyone praise his glorious name,although no human praise is great enough.”
6. And then the people of Israel prayed this prayer:“You, Lord, you alone are Lord;you made the heavens and the stars of the sky.You made land and sea and everything in them;you gave life to all.The heavenly powers bow down and worship you.
7. You, Lord God, chose Abramand led him out of Ur in Babylonia;you changed his name to Abraham.
8. You found that he was faithful to you,and you made a covenant with him.You promised to give him the land of the Canaanites,the land of the Hittites and the Amorites,the land of the Perizzites, the Jebusites, and the Girgashites,to be a land where his descendants would live.You kept your promise, because you are faithful.
9. “You saw how our ancestors suffered in Egypt;you heard their call for help at the Red Sea.
10. You worked amazing miracles against the king,against his officials and the people of his land,because you knew how they oppressed your people.You won then the fame you still have today.
11. Through the sea you made a path for your peopleand led them through on dry ground.Those who pursued them drowned in deep water,as a stone sinks in the raging sea.
12. With a cloud you led them in daytime,and at night you lighted their way with fire.
13. At Mount Sinai you came down from heaven;you spoke to your peopleand gave them good laws and sound teachings.
14. You taught them to keep your Sabbaths holy,and through your servant Moses you gave them your laws.