Now in the twenty{H6242} and fourth{H702} day{H3117} of this month{H2320} the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478} were assembled{H622}{(H8738)} with fasting{H6685}, and with sackclothes{H8242}, and earth{H127} upon them.

And the seed{H2233} of Israel{H3478} separated{H914}{(H8735)} themselves from all strangers{H1121}{H5236}, and stood{H5975}{(H8799)} and confessed{H3034}{(H8691)} their sins{H2403}, and the iniquities{H5771} of their fathers{H1}.

And they stood up{H6965}{(H8799)} in their place{H5977}, and read{H7121}{(H8799)} in the book{H5612} of the law{H8451} of the LORD{H3068} their God{H430} one fourth part{H7243} of the day{H3117}; and another fourth part{H7243} they confessed{H3034}{(H8693)}, and worshipped{H7812}{(H8693)} the LORD{H3068} their God{H430}.

Then stood up{H6965}{(H8799)} upon the stairs{H4608}, of the Levites{H3881}, Jeshua{H3442}, and Bani{H1137}, Kadmiel{H6934}, Shebaniah{H7645}, Bunni{H1138}, Sherebiah{H8274}, Bani{H1137}, and Chenani{H3662}, and cried{H2199}{(H8799)} with a loud{H1419} voice{H6963} unto the LORD{H3068} their God{H430}.

Then the Levites{H3881}, Jeshua{H3442}, and Kadmiel{H6934}, Bani{H1137}, Hashabniah{H2813}, Sherebiah{H8274}, Hodijah{H1941}, Shebaniah{H7645}, and Pethahiah{H6611}, said{H559}{(H8799)}, Stand up{H6965}{(H8798)} and bless{H1288}{(H8761)} the LORD{H3068} your God{H430} for ever{H5769} and ever{H5769}: and blessed{H1288}{(H8762)} be thy glorious{H3519} name{H8034}, which is exalted{H7311}{(H8784)} above all blessing{H1293} and praise{H8416}.

Thou, even thou, art LORD{H3068} alone; thou hast made{H6213}{(H8804)} heaven{H8064}, the heaven{H8064} of heavens{H8064}, with all their host{H6635}, the earth{H776}, and all things that are therein, the seas{H3220}, and all that is therein, and thou preservest{H2421}{(H8764)} them all; and the host{H6635} of heaven{H8064} worshippeth{H7812}{(H8693)} thee.

Thou art the LORD{H3068} the God{H430}, who didst choose{H977}{(H8804)} Abram{H87}, and broughtest him forth{H3318}{(H8689)} out of Ur{H218} of the Chaldees{H3778}, and gavest{H7760}{(H8804)} him the name{H8034} of Abraham{H85};

And foundest{H4672}{(H8804)} his heart{H3824} faithful{H539}{(H8737)} before{H6440} thee, and madest{H3772}{(H8800)} a covenant{H1285} with him to give{H5414}{(H8800)} the land{H776} of the Canaanites{H3669}, the Hittites{H2850}, the Amorites{H567}, and the Perizzites{H6522}, and the Jebusites{H2983}, and the Girgashites{H1622}, to give{H5414}{(H8800)} it, I say, to his seed{H2233}, and hast performed{H6965}{(H8686)} thy words{H1697}; for thou art righteous{H6662}:

And didst see{H7200}{(H8799)} the affliction{H6040} of our fathers{H1} in Egypt{H4714}, and heardest{H8085}{(H8804)} their cry{H2201} by the Red{H5488} sea{H3220};

And shewedst{H5414}{(H8799)} signs{H226} and wonders{H4159} upon Pharaoh{H6547}, and on all his servants{H5650}, and on all the people{H5971} of his land{H776}: for thou knewest{H3045}{(H8804)} that they dealt proudly{H2102}{(H8689)} against them. So didst thou get{H6213}{(H8799)} thee a name{H8034}, as it is this day{H3117}.

And thou didst divide{H1234}{(H8804)} the sea{H3220} before{H6440} them, so that they went through{H5674}{(H8799)} the midst{H8432} of the sea{H3220} on the dry land{H3004}; and their persecutors{H7291}{(H8802)} thou threwest{H7993}{(H8689)} into the deeps{H4688}, as a stone{H68} into the mighty{H5794} waters{H4325}.

Moreover thou leddest{H5148}{(H8689)} them in the day{H3119} by a cloudy{H6051} pillar{H5982}; and in the night{H3915} by a pillar{H5982} of fire{H784}, to give them light{H215}{(H8687)} in the way{H1870} wherein they should go{H3212}{(H8799)}.

Thou camest down{H3381}{(H8804)} also upon mount{H2022} Sinai{H5514}, and spakest{H1696}{(H8763)} with them from heaven{H8064}, and gavest{H5414}{(H8799)} them right{H3477} judgments{H4941}, and true{H571} laws{H8451}, good{H2896} statutes{H2706} and commandments{H4687}:

And madest known{H3045}{(H8689)} unto them thy holy{H6944} sabbath{H7676}, and commandedst{H6680}{(H8765)} them precepts{H4687}, statutes{H2706}, and laws{H8451}, by the hand{H3027} of Moses{H4872} thy servant{H5650}:

And gavest{H5414}{(H8804)} them bread{H3899} from heaven{H8064} for their hunger{H7458}, and broughtest forth{H3318}{(H8689)} water{H4325} for them out of the rock{H5553} for their thirst{H6772}, and promisedst{H559}{(H8799)} them that they should go in{H935}{(H8800)} to possess{H3423}{(H8800)} the land{H776} which thou hadst sworn{H3027}{H5375}{(H8804)} to give{H5414}{(H8800)} them.

But they and our fathers{H1} dealt proudly{H2102}{(H8689)}, and hardened{H7185}{(H8686)} their necks{H6203}, and hearkened{H8085}{(H8804)} not to thy commandments{H4687},

And refused{H3985}{(H8762)} to obey{H8085}{(H8800)}, neither were mindful{H2142}{(H8804)} of thy wonders{H6381}{(H8737)} that thou didst{H6213}{(H8804)} among them; but hardened{H7185}{(H8686)} their necks{H6203}, and in their rebellion{H4805} appointed{H5414}{(H8799)} a captain{H7218} to return{H7725}{(H8800)} to their bondage{H5659}: but thou art a God{H433} ready to pardon{H5547}, gracious{H2587} and merciful{H7349}, slow{H750} to anger{H639}, and of great{H7227} kindness{H2617}, and forsookest{H5800}{(H8804)} them not.

Yea, when they had made{H6213}{(H8804)} them a molten{H4541} calf{H5695}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, This is thy God{H430} that brought thee up{H5927}{(H8689)} out of Egypt{H4714}, and had wrought{H6213}{(H8799)} great{H1419} provocations{H5007};

Yet thou in thy manifold{H7227} mercies{H7356} forsookest{H5800}{(H8804)} them not in the wilderness{H4057}: the pillar{H5982} of the cloud{H6051} departed{H5493}{(H8804)} not from them by day{H3119}, to lead{H5148}{(H8687)} them in the way{H1870}; neither the pillar{H5982} of fire{H784} by night{H3915}, to shew them light{H215}{(H8687)}, and the way{H1870} wherein they should go{H3212}{(H8799)}.

Thou gavest{H5414}{(H8804)} also thy good{H2896} spirit{H7307} to instruct{H7919}{(H8687)} them, and withheldest{H4513}{(H8804)} not thy manna{H4478} from their mouth{H6310}, and gavest{H5414}{(H8804)} them water{H4325} for their thirst{H6772}.

Yea, forty{H705} years{H8141} didst thou sustain{H3557}{(H8773)} them in the wilderness{H4057}, so that they lacked{H2637}{(H8804)} nothing; their clothes{H8008} waxed not old{H1086}{(H8804)}, and their feet{H7272} swelled{H1216}{(H8804)} not.

Moreover thou gavest{H5414}{(H8799)} them kingdoms{H4467} and nations{H5971}, and didst divide{H2505}{(H8799)} them into corners{H6285}: so they possessed{H3423}{(H8799)} the land{H776} of Sihon{H5511}, and the land{H776} of the king{H4428} of Heshbon{H2809}, and the land{H776} of Og{H5747} king{H4428} of Bashan{H1316}.

Their children{H1121} also multipliedst{H7235}{(H8689)} thou as the stars{H3556} of heaven{H8064}, and broughtest{H935}{(H8686)} them into the land{H776}, concerning which thou hadst promised{H559}{(H8804)} to their fathers{H1}, that they should go in{H935}{(H8800)} to possess{H3423}{(H8800)} it.

So the children{H1121} went in{H935}{(H8799)} and possessed{H3423}{(H8799)} the land{H776}, and thou subduedst{H3665}{(H8686)} before{H6440} them the inhabitants{H3427}{(H8802)} of the land{H776}, the Canaanites{H3669}, and gavest{H5414}{(H8799)} them into their hands{H3027}, with their kings{H4428}, and the people{H5971} of the land{H776}, that they might do{H6213}{(H8800)} with them as they would{H7522}.

And they took{H3920}{(H8799)} strong{H1219}{(H8803)} cities{H5892}, and a fat{H8082} land{H127}, and possessed{H3423}{(H8799)} houses{H1004} full{H4392} of all goods{H2898}, wells{H953} digged{H2672}{(H8803)}, vineyards{H3754}, and oliveyards{H2132}, and fruit{H3978} trees{H6086} in abundance{H7230}: so they did eat{H398}{(H8799)}, and were filled{H7646}{(H8799)}, and became fat{H8080}{(H8686)}, and delighted{H5727}{(H8691)} themselves in thy great{H1419} goodness{H2898}.

Nevertheless they were disobedient{H4784}{(H8686)}, and rebelled{H4775}{(H8799)} against thee, and cast{H7993}{(H8686)} thy law{H8451} behind{H310} their backs{H1458}, and slew{H2026}{(H8804)} thy prophets{H5030} which testified{H5749}{(H8689)} against them to turn{H7725}{(H8687)} them to thee, and they wrought{H6213}{(H8799)} great{H1419} provocations{H5007}.

Therefore thou deliveredst{H5414}{(H8799)} them into the hand{H3027} of their enemies{H6862}, who vexed{H6887}{(H8686)} them: and in the time{H6256} of their trouble{H6869}, when they cried{H6817}{(H8799)} unto thee, thou heardest{H8085}{(H8799)} them from heaven{H8064}; and according to thy manifold{H7227} mercies{H7356} thou gavest{H5414}{(H8799)} them saviours{H3467}{(H8688)}, who saved{H3467}{(H8686)} them out of the hand{H3027} of their enemies{H6862}.

But after they had rest{H5117}{(H8800)}, they did{H6213}{(H8800)} evil{H7451} again{H7725}{(H8799)} before{H6440} thee: therefore leftest{H5800}{(H8799)} thou them in the hand{H3027} of their enemies{H341}{(H8802)}, so that they had the dominion{H7287}{(H8799)} over them: yet when they returned{H7725}{(H8799)}, and cried{H2199}{(H8799)} unto thee, thou heardest{H8085}{(H8799)} them from heaven{H8064}; and many{H7227} times{H6256} didst thou deliver{H5337}{(H8686)} them according to thy mercies{H7356};

And testifiedst{H5749}{(H8686)} against them, that thou mightest bring them again{H7725}{(H8687)} unto thy law{H8451}: yet they dealt proudly{H2102}{(H8689)}, and hearkened{H8085}{(H8804)} not unto thy commandments{H4687}, but sinned{H2398}{(H8804)} against thy judgments{H4941},(which if a man{H120} do{H6213}{(H8799)}, he shall live{H2421}{(H8804)} in them;) and withdrew{H5414}{(H8799)}{H5637}{(H8802)} the shoulder{H3802}, and hardened{H7185}{(H8689)} their neck{H6203}, and would not hear{H8085}{(H8804)}.

Yet many{H7227} years{H8141} didst thou forbear{H4900}{(H8799)} them, and testifiedst{H5749}{(H8686)} against them by thy spirit{H7307} in{H3027} thy prophets{H5030}: yet would they not give ear{H238}{(H8689)}: therefore gavest{H5414}{(H8799)} thou them into the hand{H3027} of the people{H5971} of the lands{H776}.

Nevertheless for thy great{H7227} mercies{H7356}' sake thou didst{H6213}{(H8804)} not utterly consume{H3617} them, nor forsake{H5800}{(H8804)} them; for thou art a gracious{H2587} and merciful{H7349} God{H410}.

Now therefore, our God{H430}, the great{H1419}, the mighty{H1368}, and the terrible{H3372}{(H8737)} God{H410}, who keepest{H8104}{(H8802)} covenant{H1285} and mercy{H2617}, let not all the trouble{H8513} seem little{H4591}{(H8799)} before{H6440} thee, that hath come{H4672}{(H8804)} upon us, on our kings{H4428}, on our princes{H8269}, and on our priests{H3548}, and on our prophets{H5030}, and on our fathers{H1}, and on all thy people{H5971}, since the time{H3117} of the kings{H4428} of Assyria{H804} unto this day{H3117}.

Howbeit thou art just{H6662} in all that is brought{H935}{(H8802)} upon us; for thou hast done{H6213}{(H8804)} right{H571}, but we have done wickedly{H7561}{(H8689)}:

Neither have our kings{H4428}, our princes{H8269}, our priests{H3548}, nor our fathers{H1}, kept{H6213}{(H8804)} thy law{H8451}, nor hearkened{H7181}{(H8689)} unto thy commandments{H4687} and thy testimonies{H5715}, wherewith thou didst testify{H5749}{(H8689)} against them.

For they have not served{H5647}{(H8804)} thee in their kingdom{H4438}, and in thy great{H7227} goodness{H2898} that thou gavest{H5414}{(H8804)} them, and in the large{H7342} and fat{H8082} land{H776} which thou gavest{H5414}{(H8804)} before{H6440} them, neither turned{H7725}{(H8804)} they from their wicked{H7451} works{H4611}.

Behold, we are servants{H5650} this day{H3117}, and for the land{H776} that thou gavest{H5414}{(H8804)} unto our fathers{H1} to eat{H398}{(H8800)} the fruit{H6529} thereof and the good{H2898} thereof, behold, we are servants{H5650} in it:

And it yieldeth much{H7235}{(H8688)} increase{H8393} unto the kings{H4428} whom thou hast set{H5414}{(H8804)} over us because of our sins{H2403}: also they have dominion{H4910}{(H8802)} over our bodies{H1472}, and over our cattle{H929}, at their pleasure{H7522}, and we are in great{H1419} distress{H6869}.

And because of all this we make{H3772}{(H8802)} a sure{H548} covenant, and write{H3789}{(H8802)} it; and our princes{H8269}, Levites{H3881}, and priests{H3548}, seal{H2856}{(H8803)} unto it.