Nehemiah 9 – Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Israel Confesses Their Sins

1 Now on the twenty-fourth ^H6242 H702 day ^H3117 of this ^H2088 month ^H2320 the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 gathered ^H622 with fasting ^H6685, in sackcloth ^H8242 and with dirt ^H127 upon them.

2 The seed ^H2233 of Israel ^H3478 separated ^H914 themselves from all ^H3605 foreigners ^H1121 H5236, and stood ^H5975 and confessed ^H3034 their sins ^H2403 and the iniquities ^H5771 of their fathers ^H1. 3 And they rose ^H6965 up ^H6965 in their place ^H5977 and read ^H7121 from the book ^H5612 of the law ^H8451 of Yahweh ^H3068 their God ^H430 for a fourth ^H7243 of the day ^H3117; and for another fourth ^H7243 they were confessing ^H3034 and worshiping ^H2331 Yahweh ^H3068 their God ^H430. 4 Then Jeshua ^H3091 rose ^H6965 up ^H6965 on the Levites’ ^H3881 platform ^H4608, along with Bani ^H1137, Kadmiel ^H6934, Shebaniah ^H7645, Bunni ^H1138, Sherebiah ^H8274, Bani ^H1137, and Chenani ^H3662, and they cried ^H2199 out ^H2199 with a loud ^H1419 voice ^H6963 to Yahweh ^H3068 their God ^H430.

5 And the Levites ^H3881, Jeshua ^H3091, Kadmiel ^H6934, Bani ^H1137, Hashabneiah ^H2813, Sherebiah ^H8274, Hodiah ^H1941, Shebaniah ^H7645, and Pethahiah ^H6611, said ^H559, “Rise ^H6965 up ^H6965, bless ^H1288 Yahweh ^H3068 your God ^H430 from everlasting ^H4480 H5769 to everlasting ^H5769!

O may Your glorious ^H3519 name ^H8034 be blessed ^H1288

And exalted ^H7311 above ^H5921 all ^H3605 blessing ^H1293 and praise ^H8416!

6 “You alone ^H905 are Yahweh ^H3068.

You have made ^H6213 the heavens ^H8064,

The heaven ^H8064 of heavens ^H8064 with all ^H3605 their host ^H6635,

The earth ^H776 and all ^H3605 that is on it,

The seas ^H3220 and all ^H3605 that is in them.

You give ^H2421 life ^H2421 to all ^H3605 of them

And the heavenly ^H8064 host ^H6635 bows ^H2331 down ^H2331 to You.

7 “You are Yahweh ^H3068 God ^H430,

Who ^H834 chose ^H977 Abram ^H87

And brought ^H3318 him out ^H3318 from Ur ^H218 of the Chaldees ^H3778,

And gave ^H7760 him the name ^H8034 Abraham ^H85.

8 “You found ^H4672 his heart ^H3824 faithful ^H539 before ^H6440 You,

And cut ^H3772 a covenant ^H1285 with him

To give ^H5414 him the land ^H776 of the Canaanite ^H3669,

Of the Hittite ^H2850 and the Amorite ^H567,

Of the Perizzite ^H6522, the Jebusite ^H2983, and the Girgashite ^H1622—

To give ^H5414 it to his seed ^H2233.

And You have established ^H6965 Your promise ^H1697,

For You are righteous ^H6662.

9 “You saw ^H7200 the affliction ^H6040 of our fathers ^H1 in Egypt ^H4714,

And heard ^H8085 their cry ^H2201 by the [fn]Red ^H5488 Sea ^H3220.

10 “Then You performed ^H5414 signs ^H226 and wonders ^H4159 against Pharaoh ^H6547,

Against all ^H3605 his servants ^H5650 and all ^H3605 the people ^H5971 of his land ^H776;

For You knew ^H3045 that they acted ^H2102 presumptuously ^H2102 toward ^H5921 them,

And made ^H6213 a name ^H8034 for Yourself as it is this ^H2088 day ^H3117.

11 “You split ^H1234 the sea ^H3220 before ^H6440 them,

So they passed ^H5674 through the midst ^H8432 of the sea ^H3220 on dry ^H3004 land ^H3004;

And their pursuers ^H7291 You cast ^H7993 into the depths ^H4688,

Like ^H3644 a stone ^H68 into mighty ^H5794 waters ^H4325.

12 “And with a pillar ^H5982 of cloud ^H6051 You led ^H5148 them by day ^H3119,

And with a pillar ^H5982 of fire ^H784 by night ^H3915

To light ^H215 for them the way ^H1870

In which ^H834 they were to go ^H1980.

13 “Then You came ^H3381 down ^H3381 on Mount ^H2022 Sinai ^H5514,

And spoke ^H1696 with them from heaven ^H8064;

You gave ^H5414 them upright ^H3477 judgments ^H4941 and true ^H571 laws ^H8451,

Good ^H2896 statutes ^H2706 and commandments ^H4687.

14 “So You made ^H3045 known ^H3045 to them Your holy ^H6944 sabbath ^H7676,

And commanded ^H6680 to them commandments ^H4687, statutes ^H2706 and law ^H8451,

By the hand ^H3027 of Your servant ^H5650 Moses ^H4872.

15 “You gave ^H5414 bread ^H3899 from heaven ^H8064 for them for their hunger ^H7458,

You brought ^H3318 forth ^H3318 water ^H4325 from a rock ^H5553 for them for their thirst ^H6772,

And You said ^H559 to them to enter ^H935 in order to possess ^H3423

The land ^H776 which ^H834 You [fn]swore ^H5375 H3027 to give ^H5414 them.

16 “But they, our fathers ^H1, acted ^H2102 presumptuously ^H2102;

They [fn]became ^H7185 H6203 stiff-necked ^H7185 H6203 and would not listen ^H8085 to Your commandments ^H4687.

17 “They refused ^H3985 to listen ^H8085,

And did not remember ^H2142 Your wondrous ^H6381 deeds ^H6381 which ^H834 You did ^H6213 among ^H5973 them;

So they became ^H7185 H6203 stiff-necked ^H7185 H6203 and gave ^H5414 themselves a chief ^H7218 to return ^H7725 to their slavery ^H5659 [fn]in Egypt ^H4714.

But You are a God ^H433 of lavish ^H5547 forgiveness ^H5547,

Gracious ^H2587 and compassionate ^H7349,

Slow ^H750 to anger ^H639 and abounding ^H7227 in lovingkindness ^H2617;

And You did not forsake ^H5800 them.

18 “Even ^H637 when ^H3588 they made ^H6213 for themselves

A molten ^H4541 calf ^H5695

And said ^H559, ‘This ^H2088 is your God ^H430

Who ^H834 brought ^H5927 you up ^H5927 from Egypt ^H4714,’

And [fn]committed ^H6213 great ^H1419 [fn]blasphemies ^H5007,

19 But You, in Your abundant ^H7227 compassion ^H7356,

Did not forsake ^H5800 them in the wilderness ^H4057;

The pillar ^H5982 of cloud ^H6051 did not depart ^{H5493 H4480 H5921} from them by day ^H3119,

To lead ^H5148 them on their way ^H1870,

Nor ^H3808 the pillar ^H5982 of fire ^H784 by night ^H3915,

To light ^H215 for them the way ^H1870 in which ^H834 they were to go ^H1980.

20 “You gave ^H5414 Your good ^H2896 Spirit ^H7307 to give ^H7919 them insight ^H7919,

Your manna ^H4478 You did not withhold ^H4513 from their mouth ^H6310,

And You gave ^H5414 them water ^H4325 for their thirst ^H6772.

21 “Indeed, forty ^H705 years ^H8141 You sustained ^H3557 them in the wilderness ^H4057, and they did not lack ^H2637;

Their clothes ^H8008 did not wear ^H1086 out ^H1086, nor ^H3808 did their feet ^H7272 swell ^H1216.

22 “You also gave ^H5414 them kingdoms ^H4467 and peoples ^H5971,

And apportioned ^H2505 them to them as a [fn]boundary ^H6285.

They took ^H3423 possession ^H3423 of the land ^H776 of Sihon ^H5511 [fn]the king ^H4428 of Heshbon ^H2809

And the land ^H776 of Og ^H5747 the king ^H4428 of Bashan ^H1316.

23 “You made ^H7235 their sons ^H1121 numerous ^H7235 as the stars ^H3556 of heaven ^H8064,

And You brought ^H935 them into the land ^H776

Which ^H834 You had said ^H559 for their fathers ^H1 to enter ^H935 and possess ^H3423.

24 “So their sons ^H1121 entered ^H935 and possessed ^H3423 the land ^H776.

And You subdued ^H3665 before ^H6440 them the inhabitants ^H3427 of the land ^H776, the Canaanites ^H3669,

And You gave ^H5414 them into their hand ^H3027, with their kings ^H4428 and the peoples ^H5971 of the land ^H776,

To do ^H6213 with them according to their desire ^H7522.

25 “They captured ^H3920 fortified ^H1219 cities ^H5892 and a [fn]rich ^H8082 [fn]land ^H127.

They took ^H3423 possession ^H3423 of houses ^H1004 full ^H4392 of every ^H3605 good ^H2898 thing ^H2898,

Hewn ^H2672 cisterns ^H953, vineyards ^H3754, olive ^H2132 groves ^H2132,

Trees ^H6086 for food ^H3978 in abundance ^H7230.

So they ate ^H398, were filled ^H7646, and grew ^H8080 fat ^H8080,

And reveled ^H5727 in Your great ^H1419 goodness ^H2898.

26 “But they became ^H4784 disobedient ^H4784 and rebelled ^H4775 against You,

And cast ^H7993 Your law ^H8451 behind ^H310 their backs ^H1458

And killed ^H2026 Your prophets ^H5030 who ^H834 had testified ^H5749 to them

So that they might return ^H7725 to You,

And they [fn]committed ^H6213 great ^H1419 [fn]blasphemies ^H5007.

27 “Therefore You gave ^H5414 them into the hand ^H3027 of the ones who distressed ^H6862 them, and they afflicted ^H6887 them with distress ^H6887,

But at the time ^H6256 of their distress ^H6869 they cried ^H6817 to You,

And You listened ^H8085 from heaven ^H8064, and according to Your abundant ^H7227 compassion ^H7356

You gave ^H5414 them saviors ^H3467 and they saved ^H3467 them from the hand ^H3027 of the ones that distressed ^H6862 them.

28 “But as soon as they had ^H5117 rest ^H5117, they returned ^H7725 to do ^H6213 evil ^H7451 before ^H6440 You;

Therefore You forsook ^H5800 them in the hand ^H3027 of their enemies ^H340, so they had dominion ^H7287 over them.

Then they returned ^H7725 and cried ^H2199 to You. And You listened ^H8085 from heaven ^H8064,

And many ^H7227 times ^H6256 You delivered ^H5337 them according to Your compassion ^H7356,

29 And testified ^H5749 to them in order to turn ^H7725 them back ^H7725 to Your law ^H8451.

Yet they acted ^H2102 presumptuously ^H2102 and did not listen ^H8085 to Your commandments ^H4687 but sinned ^H2398 against Your judgments ^H4941,

By which ^H834 if a man ^H120 does ^H6213 them, he shall live ^H2421.

And they gave ^H5414 a stubborn ^H5637 shoulder ^H3802 and stiffened ^H7185 their neck ^H6203, and would not listen ^H8085.

30 “However, You bore ^H4900 with them for many ^H7227 years ^H8141,

And testified ^H5749 to them by Your Spirit ^H7307 by the hand ^H3027 of Your prophets ^H5030,

Yet they would not give ^H238 ear ^H238.

So You gave ^H5414 them into the hand ^H3027 of the peoples ^H5971 of the lands ^H776.

31 “Nevertheless, in Your abundant ^H7227 compassion ^H7356 You did not make ^H6213 a complete ^H3617 destruction ^H3617 of them or forsake ^H5800 them,

For You are a gracious ^H2587 and compassionate ^H7349 God ^H410.

32 “So now ^H6258, our God ^H430, the great ^H1419, the mighty ^H1368, and the awesome ^H3372 God ^H410, who keeps ^H8104 covenant ^H1285 and lovingkindness ^H2617,

Do not let all ^H3605 the hardship ^H8513 seem ^H4591 insignificant ^H4591 before ^H6440 You,

Which ^H834 has found ^H4672 us, our kings ^H4428, our princes ^H8269, our priests ^H3548, our prophets ^H5030, our fathers ^H1, and all ^H3605 Your people ^H5971,

From the days ^H3117 of the kings ^H4428 of Assyria ^H804 to this ^H2088 day ^H3117.

33 “However, You are righteous ^H6662 in all ^H3605 that has come ^H935 upon us;

For You have dealt ^H6213 in truth ^H571, but we have acted ^H7561 wickedly ^H7561.

34 “Now our kings ^H4428, our princes ^H8269, our priests ^H3548, and our fathers ^H1 did not do ^H6213 Your law ^H8451

Or pay ^H7181 attention ^H7181 to Your commandments ^H4687 and Your testimonies ^H5715 with which ^H834 You testified ^H5749 against them.

35 “But they, in their own kingdom ^H4438,

With Your abundant ^H7227 goodness ^H2898 which ^H834 You gave ^H5414 them,

With the broad ^H7342 and rich ^H8082 land ^H776 which ^H834 You set ^H5414 before ^H6440 them,

Did not serve ^H5647 You or turn ^H7725 from their evil ^H7451 deeds ^H4611.

36 “Behold ^H2009, we are slaves ^H5650 today ^H3117,

And as to the land ^H776 which ^H834 You gave ^H5414 to our fathers ^H1 to eat ^H398 of its fruit ^H6529 and its goodness ^H2898,

Behold ^H2009, we are slaves ^H5650 in it.

37 “Its abundant ^H7235 produce ^H8393 is for the kings ^H4428

Whom ^H834 You have put ^H5414 over ^H5921 us because of our sins ^H2403;

They also rule ^H4910 over ^H5921 our bodies ^H1472

And over our cattle ^H929 according to their desire ^H7522,

So we are in great ^H1419 distress ^H6869.

An Agreement Is Cut

38 “[fn]Now because of all ^H3605 this ^H2088

We are cutting ^H3772 an agreement ^H548 in writing ^H3772;

And on the sealed ^H2856 document are the names of our princes ^H8269, our Levites ^H3881, and our priests ^H3548.”