66 Books

¹ Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, in sackcloth, and with dust on their heads. ² Then those of Israelite lineage separated themselves from all foreigners; and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. ³ And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for one–fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the Lord their God. ⁴ Then Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani stood on the stairs of the Levites and cried out with a loud voice to the Lord their God. ⁵ Which is exalted above all blessing and praise! ⁶ The host of heaven worships You. ⁷ And gave him the name Abraham; ⁸ For You are righteous. ⁹ And heard their cry by the Red Sea. ¹⁰ So You made a name for Yourself, as it is this day. ¹¹ As a stone into the mighty waters. ¹² Which they should travel. ¹³ Good statutes and commandments. ¹⁴ By the hand of Moses Your servant. ¹⁵ Which You had sworn to give them. ¹⁶ And did not heed Your commandments. ¹⁷ And did not forsake them. ¹⁸ And worked great provocations, ¹⁹ And the way they should go. ²⁰ And gave them water for their thirst. ²¹ And their feet did not swell. ²² And the land of Og king of Bashan. ²³ To go in and possess. ²⁴ That they might do with them as they wished. ²⁵ And delighted themselves in Your great goodness. ²⁶ And they worked great provocations. ²⁷ From the hand of their enemies. ²⁸ And many times You delivered them according to Your mercies, ²⁹ And would not hear. ³⁰ Therefore You gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. ³¹ For You are God, gracious and merciful. ³² From the days of the kings of Assyria until this day. ³³ But we have done wickedly. ³⁴ With which You testified against them. ³⁵ Nor did they turn from their wicked works. ³⁶ Here we are, servants in it! ³⁷ And we are in great distress. ³⁸ Our leaders, our Levites, and our priests seal it.”