Nehemiah 9

The People Repent and Separate Themselves

1 On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth, with dust on their heads.

2 Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors.

3 They stood in their places for a fourth of the day and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God. Then for another fourth of the day, they confessed and worshiped the LORD their God.

Levites Lead in Praise and Confession

4 Standing on the stairs of the Levites were Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani. They cried out with loud voices to the LORD their God.

5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said: “Stand up and praise the LORD your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting.” “Blessed be Your glorious name, exalted above all blessing and praise.”

God’s Faithfulness from Creation to the Covenant

6 “You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship You.”

7 “You are the LORD God, who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and named him Abraham.”

8 “You found his heart faithful before You and made a covenant with him to give his descendants the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites. You kept Your promise because You are righteous.”

God Delivers Israel from Egypt

9 “You saw the suffering of our ancestors in Egypt; You heard their cry at the Red Sea.”

10 “You sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh, his officials, and all his people, for You knew how arrogantly they treated them. You made a name for Yourself that endures to this day.”

11 “You split the sea before them so they could walk through on dry ground, but You hurled their pursuers into the depths like a stone into mighty waters.”

12 “By day You led them with a pillar of cloud, and by night with a pillar of fire to give them light on the way they were to travel.”

God Gives the Law at Sinai

13 “You came down on Mount Sinai; You spoke to them from heaven. You gave them right laws, true decrees, good statutes, and commandments.”

14 “You made known to them Your holy Sabbath and gave them commands, statutes, and law through Your servant Moses.”

15 “In their hunger You gave them bread from heaven, and in their thirst You brought them water from a rock. You told them to go in and take possession of the land You had sworn to give them.”

Israel’s Rebellion and God’s Patience

16 “But they, our ancestors, acted arrogantly. They stiffened their necks and did not obey Your commands.

17 They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles You did for them. They became stubborn and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in love. So You did not abandon them.”

18 “Even when they made a golden calf and said, ‘This is your god who brought you out of Egypt,’ and committed awful blasphemies?”

19 “Because of Your great mercy, You did not abandon them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud did not leave them by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, to light the way.”

20 “You gave Your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold manna from their mouths, and You gave them water for their thirst.”

21 “For forty years You sustained them in the wilderness, they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell.”

God Gave Them the Promised Land

22 “You gave them kingdoms and nations, allotting them every corner of the land. They took over the land of Sihon king of Heshbon and the land of Og king of Bashan.”

23 “You made their descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and brought them into the land You told their ancestors to enter and possess.”

24 “Their children went in and took possession of the land. You subdued the Canaanites who lived there. You handed their kings and the peoples of the land over to them, to do with as they pleased.”

25 “They captured fortified cities and fertile land. They took houses full of good things, wells already dug, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled and grew fat, enjoying Your great goodness.”

Israel’s Repeated Rebellion and God’s Continued Mercy

26 “But they were disobedient and rebelled against You. They turned their backs on Your law. They killed Your prophets, who warned them to turn back to You. They committed terrible blasphemies.”

27 “So You handed them over to their enemies, who oppressed them. But when they cried out to You, You heard from heaven, and in Your compassion You rescued them time after time.”

28 “But as soon as they had peace, they did evil again. So You abandoned them to their enemies, and they were brought low. Then they cried out to You again, and You heard from heaven. Over and over, You rescued them in Your mercy.”

29 “You warned them to return to Your law, but they acted arrogantly. They did not obey Your commands, they sinned against Your regulations that bring life to anyone who obeys them. They turned their backs, became stubborn, and refused to listen.”

30 “For many years You were patient with them. You warned them by Your Spirit through Your prophets. Yet they did not listen. So You handed them over to the neighboring peoples.”

31 “But in Your great mercy, You did not put an end to them or abandon them, because You are a gracious and merciful God.”

The People Appeal to God’s Faithfulness

32 “So now, our God, the great, mighty, and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of love, do not let all this hardship seem insignificant to You, the trouble that has come to us, to our kings, leaders, priests, prophets, ancestors, and all Your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until now.”

33 “You are righteous in everything that has happened to us. You have acted faithfully, while we acted wickedly.”

34 “Our kings, leaders, priests, and ancestors did not follow Your law or pay attention to Your commands and warnings.”

35 “Even while they were in their own kingdom, enjoying Your great goodness in the spacious and fertile land You gave them, they did not serve You or turn from their evil ways.”

36 “See, we are slaves today, slaves in the land You gave our ancestors so they could enjoy its fruit and bounty.”

37 “Its abundant harvest goes to the kings You have placed over us because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and our cattle as they please. We are in great distress.”

The People Make a Covenant

38 In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement, putting it in writing, and our leaders, Levites, and priests are sealing it.