נחמיה 9

1 וּבְיֹום֩ עֶשְׂרִ֨ים וְאַרְבָּעָ֜ה לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַזֶּ֗ה נֶאֶסְפ֤וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בְּצֹ֣ום וּבְשַׂקִּ֔ים וַאֲדָמָ֖ה עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃

Now in the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, with sackcloth, and dirt on them.

2 וַיִּבָּֽדְלוּ֙ זֶ֣רַע יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִכֹּ֖ל בְּנֵ֣י נֵכָ֑ר וַיַּעַמְד֗וּ וַיִּתְוַדּוּ֙ עַל־חַטֹּ֣אתֵיהֶ֔ם וַעֲוֹנֹ֖ות אֲבֹתֵיהֶֽם׃

The offspring of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.

3 וַיָּק֙וּמוּ֙ עַל־עָמְדָ֔ם וַֽיִּקְרְא֗וּ בְּסֵ֨פֶר תֹּורַ֧ת יְהוָ֛ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֖ם רְבִעִ֣ית הַיֹּ֑ום וּרְבִעִית֙ מִתְוַדִּ֣ים וּמִֽשְׁתַּחֲוִ֔ים לַיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃ פ

They stood up in their place, and read in the scroll of the Torah of the LORD their God a fourth part of the day; and a fourth part they confessed and worshiped the LORD their God.

4 וַיָּ֜קָם עַֽל־מַֽעֲלֵ֣ה הַלְוִיִּ֗ם יֵשׁ֨וּעַ וּבָנִ֜י קַדְמִיאֵ֧ל שְׁבַנְיָ֛ה בֻּנִּ֥י שֵׁרֵבְיָ֖ה בָּנִ֣י כְנָ֑נִי וַֽיִּזְעֲקוּ֙ בְּקֹ֣ול גָּדֹ֔ול אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃

Then Yeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani of the Levites stood up on the stairs, and cried with a loud voice to the LORD their God.

5 וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ הַלְוִיִּ֡ם יֵשׁ֣וּעַ וְ֠קַדְמִיאֵל בָּנִ֨י חֲשַׁבְנְיָ֜ה שֵׁרֵֽבְיָ֤ה הֹֽודִיָּה֙ שְׁבַנְיָ֣ה פְתַֽחְיָ֔ה ק֗וּמוּ בָּרֲכוּ֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם מִן־הָעֹולָ֖ם עַד־הָעֹולָ֑ם וִיבָֽרְכוּ֙ שֵׁ֣ם כְּבֹודֶ֔ךָ וּמְרֹומַ֥ם עַל־כָּל־בְּרָכָ֖ה וּתְהִלָּֽה׃

Then the Levites, Yeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, “Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting! Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise!

6 אַתָּה־ה֣וּא יְהוָה֮ לְבַדֶּךָ֒ אַתְּ (אַתָּ֣ה) עָשִׂ֡יתָ אֶֽת־הַשָּׁמַיִם֩ שְׁמֵ֨י הַשָּׁמַ֜יִם וְכָל־צְבָאָ֗ם הָאָ֜רֶץ וְכָל־אֲשֶׁ֤ר עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ הַיַּמִּים֙ וְכָל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּהֶ֔ם וְאַתָּ֖ה מְחַיֶּ֣ה אֶת־כֻּלָּ֑ם וּצְבָ֥א הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם לְךָ֥ מִשְׁתַּחֲוִֽים׃

You are the LORD, even you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their army, the earth and all things that are on it, the seas and all that is in them, and you preserve them all. The army of heaven worships you.

7 אַתָּה־הוּא֙ יְהוָ֣ה הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר בָּחַ֙רְתָּ֙ בְּאַבְרָ֔ם וְהֹוצֵאתֹ֖ו מֵא֣וּר כַּשְׂדִּ֑ים וְשַׂ֥מְתָּ שְּׁמֹ֖ו אַבְרָהָֽם׃

You are the LORD, the God who chose Abram, brought him out of Ur-Kasdim, gave him the name of Abraham,

8 וּמָצָ֣אתָ אֶת־לְבָבֹו֮ נֶאֱמָ֣ן לְפָנֶיךָ֒ וְכָרֹ֨ות עִמֹּ֜ו הַבְּרִ֗ית לָתֵ֡ת אֶת־אֶרֶץ֩ הַכְּנַעֲנִ֨י הַחִתִּ֜י הָאֱמֹרִ֧י וְהַפְּרִזִּ֛י וְהַיְבוּסִ֥י וְהַגִּרְגָּשִׁ֖י לָתֵ֣ת לְזַרְעֹ֑ו וַתָּ֙קֶם֙ אֶת־דְּבָרֶ֔יךָ כִּ֥י צַדִּ֖יק אָֽתָּה׃

found his heart faithful before you, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite, to give it to his offspring, and have performed your words, for you are righteous.

9 וַתֵּ֛רֶא אֶת־עֳנִ֥י אֲבֹתֵ֖ינוּ בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם וְאֶת־זַעֲקָתָ֥ם שָׁמַ֖עְתָּ עַל־יַם־סֽוּף׃

“You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heard their cry by the Sea of Suf,

10 וַ֠תִּתֵּן אֹתֹ֨ת וּמֹֽפְתִ֜ים בְּפַרְעֹ֤ה וּבְכָל־עֲבָדָיו֙ וּבְכָל־עַ֣ם אַרְצֹ֔ו כִּ֣י יָדַ֔עְתָּ כִּ֥י הֵזִ֖ידוּ עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם וַתַּֽעַשׂ־לְךָ֥ שֵׁ֖ם כְּהַיֹּ֥ום הַזֶּֽה׃

and showed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, against all his servants, and against all the people of his land, for you knew that they dealt proudly against them, and made a name for yourself, as it is today.

11 וְהַיָּם֙ בָּקַ֣עְתָּ לִפְנֵיהֶ֔ם וַיַּֽעַבְר֥וּ בְתֹוךְ־הַיָּ֖ם בַּיַּבָּשָׁ֑ה וְֽאֶת־רֹ֨דְפֵיהֶ֜ם הִשְׁלַ֧כְתָּ בִמְצֹולֹ֛ת כְּמֹו־אֶ֖בֶן בְּמַ֥יִם עַזִּֽים׃

You divided the sea before them, so that they went through the middle of the sea on the dry land; and you cast their pursuers into the depths, as a stone into the mighty waters.

12 וּבְעַמּ֣וּד עָנָ֔ן הִנְחִיתָ֖ם יֹומָ֑ם וּבְעַמּ֥וּד אֵשׁ֙ לַ֔יְלָה לְהָאִ֣יר לָהֶ֔ם אֶת־הַדֶּ֖רֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֵֽלְכוּ־בָֽהּ׃

Moreover, in a pillar of cloud you led them by day; and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light in the way in which they should go.

13 וְעַ֤ל הַר־סִינַי֙ יָרַ֔דְתָּ וְדַבֵּ֥ר עִמָּהֶ֖ם מִשָּׁמָ֑יִם וַתִּתֵּ֨ן לָהֶ֜ם מִשְׁפָּטִ֤ים יְשָׁרִים֙ וְתֹורֹ֣ות אֱמֶ֔ת חֻקִּ֥ים וּמִצְוֹ֖ת טֹובִֽים׃

“You also came down on Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments,

14 וְאֶת־שַׁבַּ֥ת קָדְשְׁךָ֖ הֹודַ֣עַתָ לָהֶ֑ם וּמִצְוֹ֤ות וְחֻקִּים֙ וְתֹורָ֔ה צִוִּ֣יתָ לָהֶ֔ם בְּיַ֖ד מֹשֶׁ֥ה עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃

and made known to them your holy Sabbath, and commanded them commandments, statutes, and a law, by Moses your servant,

15 וְ֠לֶחֶם מִשָּׁמַ֜יִם נָתַ֤תָּה לָהֶם֙ לִרְעָבָ֔ם וּמַ֗יִם מִסֶּ֛לַע הֹוצֵ֥אתָ לָהֶ֖ם לִצְמָאָ֑ם וַתֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֗ם לָבֹוא֙ לָרֶ֣שֶׁת אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־נָשָׂ֥אתָ אֶת־יָדְךָ֖ לָתֵ֥ת לָהֶֽם׃

and gave them bread from the sky for their hunger, and brought water out of the rock for them for their thirst, and commanded them that they should go in to possess the land which you had sworn to give them.

16 וְהֵ֥ם וַאֲבֹתֵ֖ינוּ הֵזִ֑ידוּ וַיַּקְשׁוּ֙ אֶת־עָרְפָּ֔ם וְלֹ֥א שָׁמְע֖וּ אֶל־מִצְוֹתֶֽיךָ׃

“But they and our fathers behaved proudly, hardened their neck, didn’t listen to your commandments,

17 וַיְמָאֲנ֣וּ לִשְׁמֹ֗עַ וְלֹא־זָכְר֤וּ נִפְלְאֹתֶ֙יךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשִׂ֣יתָ עִמָּהֶ֔ם וַיַּקְשׁוּ֙ אֶת־עָרְפָּ֔ם וַיִּתְּנוּ־רֹ֛אשׁ לָשׁ֥וּב לְעַבְדֻתָ֖ם בְּמִרְיָ֑ם וְאַתָּה֩ אֱלֹ֨והַּ סְלִיחֹ֜ות חַנּ֧וּן וְרַח֛וּם אֶֽרֶךְ־אַפַּ֥יִם וְרַב־וְחֶסֶד (חֶ֖סֶד) וְלֹ֥א עֲזַבְתָּֽם׃

and refused to obey. They weren’t mindful of your wonders that you did among them, but hardened their neck, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage. But you are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and didn’t forsake them.

18 אַ֗ף כִּֽי־עָשׂ֤וּ לָהֶם֙ עֵ֣גֶל מַסֵּכָ֔ה וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ זֶ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶעֶלְךָ֖ מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם וֽ͏ַיַּעֲשׂ֔וּ נֶאָצֹ֖ות גְּדֹלֹֽות׃

Yes, when they had made themselves a molded calf, and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and had committed awful blasphemies,

19 וְאַתָּה֙ בְּרַחֲמֶ֣יךָ הָֽרַבִּ֔ים לֹ֥א עֲזַבְתָּ֖ם בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר אֶת־עַמּ֣וּד הֶ֠עָנָן לֹא־סָ֨ר מֵעֲלֵיהֶ֤ם בְּיֹומָם֙ לְהַנְחֹתָ֣ם בְּהַדֶּ֔רֶךְ וְאֶת־עַמּ֨וּד הָאֵ֤שׁ בְּלַ֙יְלָה֙ לְהָאִ֣יר לָהֶ֔ם וְאֶת־הַדֶּ֖רֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֵֽלְכוּ־בָֽהּ׃

yet you in your manifold mercies didn’t forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud didn’t depart from over them by day, to lead them in the way; neither did the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way in which they should go.

20 וְרוּחֲךָ֨ הַטֹּובָ֔ה נָתַ֖תָּ לְהַשְׂכִּילָ֑ם וּמַנְךָ֙ לֹא־מָנַ֣עְתָּ מִפִּיהֶ֔ם וּמַ֛יִם נָתַ֥תָּה לָהֶ֖ם לִצְמָאָֽם׃

You gave also your good Spirit to instruct them, and didn’t withhold your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst.

21 וְאַרְבָּעִ֥ים שָׁנָ֛ה כִּלְכַּלְתָּ֥ם בַּמִּדְבָּ֖ר לֹ֣א חָסֵ֑רוּ שַׂלְמֹֽתֵיהֶם֙ לֹ֣א בָל֔וּ וְרַגְלֵיהֶ֖ם לֹ֥א בָצֵֽקוּ׃

“Yes, forty years you sustained them in the wilderness. They lacked nothing. Their clothes didn’t grow old, and their feet didn’t swell.

22 וַתִּתֵּ֨ן לָהֶ֤ם מַמְלָכֹות֙ וַעֲמָמִ֔ים וַֽתַּחְלְקֵ֖ם לְפֵאָ֑ה וַיִּֽירְשׁ֞וּ אֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ סִיחֹ֗ון וְאֶת־אֶ֙רֶץ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ חֶשְׁבֹּ֔ון וְאֶת־אֶ֖רֶץ עֹ֥וג מֶֽלֶךְ־הַבָּשָֽׁן׃

Moreover you gave them kingdoms and peoples, which you allotted according to their portions. So they possessed the land of Sihon, even the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.

23 וּבְנֵיהֶ֣ם הִרְבִּ֔יתָ כְּכֹכְבֵ֖י הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וַתְּבִיאֵם֙ אֶל־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־אָמַ֥רְתָּ לַאֲבֹתֵיהֶ֖ם לָבֹ֥וא לָרָֽשֶׁת׃

You also multiplied their children as the stars of the sky, and brought them into the land concerning which you said to their fathers that they should go in to possess it.

24 וַיָּבֹ֤אוּ הַבָּנִים֙ וַיִּֽירְשׁ֣וּ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ וַתַּכְנַ֨ע לִפְנֵיהֶ֜ם אֶת־יֹשְׁבֵ֤י הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ הַכְּנַ֣עֲנִ֔ים וַֽתִּתְּנֵ֖ם בְּיָדָ֑ם וְאֶת־מַלְכֵיהֶם֙ וְאֶת־עַֽמְמֵ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ לַעֲשֹׂ֥ות בָּהֶ֖ם כִּרְצֹונָֽם׃

“So the children went in and possessed the land; and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hands, with their kings and the peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they pleased.

25 וַֽיִּלְכְּד֞וּ עָרִ֣ים בְּצֻרֹות֮ וַאֲדָמָ֣ה שְׁמֵנָה֒ וַיִּֽירְשׁ֡וּ בָּתִּ֣ים מְלֵֽאִים־כָּל־ט֠וּב בֹּרֹ֨ות חֲצוּבִ֜ים כְּרָמִ֧ים וְזֵיתִ֛ים וְעֵ֥ץ מַאֲכָ֖ל לָרֹ֑ב וַיֹּאכְל֤וּ וַֽיִּשְׂבְּעוּ֙ וַיַּשְׁמִ֔ינוּ וַיִּֽתְעַדְּנ֖וּ בְּטוּבְךָ֥ הַגָּדֹֽול׃

They took fortified cities and a rich land, and possessed houses full of all good things, cisterns dug out, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate, were filled, became fat, and delighted themselves in your great goodness.

26 וַיַּמְר֨וּ וַֽיִּמְרְד֜וּ בָּ֗ךְ וַיַּשְׁלִ֤כוּ אֶת־תֹּורָֽתְךָ֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י גַוָּ֔ם וְאֶת־נְבִיאֶ֣יךָ הָרָ֔גוּ אֲשֶׁר־הֵעִ֥ידוּ בָ֖ם לַהֲשִׁיבָ֣ם אֵלֶ֑יךָ וֽ͏ַיַּעֲשׂ֔וּ נֶאָצֹ֖ות גְּדֹולֹֽת׃

“Nevertheless they were disobedient and rebelled against you, cast your law behind their back, killed your prophets that testified against them to turn them again to you, and they committed awful blasphemies.

27 וַֽתִּתְּנֵם֙ בְּיַ֣ד צָֽרֵיהֶ֔ם וַיָּצֵ֖רוּ לָהֶ֑ם וּבְעֵ֤ת צָֽרָתָם֙ יִצְעֲק֣וּ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְאַתָּה֙ מִשָּׁמַ֣יִם תִּשְׁמָ֔ע וּֽכְרַחֲמֶ֣יךָ הָֽרַבִּ֗ים תִּתֵּ֤ן לָהֶם֙ מֹֽושִׁיעִ֔ים וְיֹושִׁיע֖וּם מִיַּ֥ד צָרֵיהֶֽם׃

Therefore you delivered them into the hand of their adversaries, who distressed them. In the time of their trouble, when they cried to you, you heard from heaven; and according to your manifold mercies you gave them saviors who saved them out of the hands of their adversaries.

28 וּכְנֹ֣וחַ לָהֶ֔ם יָשׁ֕וּבוּ לַעֲשֹׂ֥ות רַ֖ע לְפָנֶ֑יךָ וַתַּֽעַזְבֵ֞ם בְּיַ֤ד אֹֽיְבֵיהֶם֙ וַיִּרְדּ֣וּ בָהֶ֔ם וַיָּשׁ֙וּבוּ֙ וַיִּזְעָק֔וּךָ וְאַתָּ֞ה מִשָּׁמַ֧יִם תִּשְׁמַ֛ע וְתַצִּילֵ֥ם כְּֽרַחֲמֶ֖יךָ רַבֹּ֥ות עִתִּֽים׃

But after they had rest, they did evil again before you; therefore you left them in the hands of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them; yet when they returned and cried to you, you heard from heaven; and many times you delivered them according to your mercies,

29 וַתָּ֨עַד בָּהֶ֜ם לַהֲשִׁיבָ֣ם אֶל־תֹּורָתֶ֗ךָ וְהֵ֨מָּה הֵזִ֜ידוּ וְלֹא־שָׁמְע֤וּ לְמִצְוֹתֶ֙יךָ֙ וּבְמִשְׁפָּטֶ֣יךָ חָֽטְאוּ־בָ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה אָדָ֖ם וְחָיָ֣ה בָהֶ֑ם וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ כָתֵף֙ סֹורֶ֔רֶת וְעָרְפָּ֥ם הִקְשׁ֖וּ וְלֹ֥א שָׁמֵֽעוּ׃

and testified against them, that you might bring them again to your law. Yet they were arrogant, and didn’t listen to your commandments, but sinned against your ordinances (which if a man does, he shall live in them), turned their backs, stiffened their neck, and would not hear.

30 וַתִּמְשֹׁ֤ךְ עֲלֵיהֶם֙ שָׁנִ֣ים רַבֹּ֔ות וַתָּ֨עַד בָּ֧ם בְּרוּחֲךָ֛ בְּיַד־נְבִיאֶ֖יךָ וְלֹ֣א הֶאֱזִ֑ינוּ וַֽתִּתְּנֵ֔ם בְּיַ֖ד עַמֵּ֥י הָאֲרָצֹֽת׃

Yet many years you put up with them, and testified against them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they would not listen. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.

31 וּֽבְרַחֲמֶ֧יךָ הָרַבִּ֛ים לֹֽא־עֲשִׂיתָ֥ם כָּלָ֖ה וְלֹ֣א עֲזַבְתָּ֑ם כִּ֛י אֵֽל־חַנּ֥וּן וְרַח֖וּם אָֽתָּה׃

“Nevertheless in your manifold mercies you didn’t make a full end of them, nor forsake them; for you are a gracious and merciful God.

32 וְעַתָּ֣ה אֱ֠לֹהֵינוּ הָאֵ֨ל הַגָּדֹ֜ול הַגִּבֹּ֣ור וְהַנֹּורָא֮ שֹׁומֵ֣ר הַבְּרִ֣ית וְהַחֶסֶד֒ אַל־יִמְעַ֣ט לְפָנֶ֡יךָ אֵ֣ת כָּל־הַתְּלָאָ֣ה אֽ͏ֲשֶׁר־מְ֠צָאַתְנוּ לִמְלָכֵ֨ינוּ לְשָׂרֵ֧ינוּ וּלְכֹהֲנֵ֛ינוּ וְלִנְבִיאֵ֥נוּ וְלַאֲבֹתֵ֖ינוּ וּלְכָל־עַמֶּ֑ךָ מִימֵי֙ מַלְכֵ֣י אַשּׁ֔וּר עַ֖ד הַיֹּ֥ום הַזֶּֽה׃

Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness, don’t let all the travail seem little before you that has come on us, on our kings, on our princes, on our priests, on our prophets, on our fathers, and on all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria to this day.

33 וְאַתָּ֣ה צַדִּ֔יק עַ֖ל כָּל־הַבָּ֣א עָלֵ֑ינוּ כִּֽי־אֱמֶ֥ת עָשִׂ֖יתָ וַאֲנַ֥חְנוּ הִרְשָֽׁעְנוּ׃

However you are just in all that has come on us; for you have dealt truly, but we have done wickedly.

34 וְאֶת־מְלָכֵ֤ינוּ שָׂרֵ֙ינוּ֙ כֹּהֲנֵ֣ינוּ וַאֲבֹתֵ֔ינוּ לֹ֥א עָשׂ֖וּ תֹּורָתֶ֑ךָ וְלֹ֤א הִקְשִׁ֙יבוּ֙ אֶל־מִצְוֹתֶ֔יךָ וּלְעֵ֣דְוֹתֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הַעִידֹ֖תָ בָּהֶֽם׃

Also our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept your law, nor listened to your commandments and your testimonies with which you testified against them.

35 וְהֵ֣ם בְּמַלְכוּתָם֩ וּבְטוּבְךָ֨ הָרָ֜ב אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֣תָּ לָהֶ֗ם וּבְאֶ֨רֶץ הָרְחָבָ֧ה וְהַשְּׁמֵנָ֛ה אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥תָּ לִפְנֵיהֶ֖ם לֹ֣א עֲבָד֑וּךָ וְֽלֹא־שָׁ֔בוּ מִמַּֽעַלְלֵיהֶ֖ם הָרָעִֽים׃

For they have not served you in their kingdom, and in your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land which you gave before them. They didn’t turn from their wicked works.

36 הִנֵּ֛ה אֲנַ֥חְנוּ הַיֹּ֖ום עֲבָדִ֑ים וְהָאָ֜רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֣תָּה לַאֲבֹתֵ֗ינוּ לֶאֱכֹ֤ל אֶת־פִּרְיָהּ֙ וְאֶת־טוּבָ֔הּ הִנֵּ֛ה אֲנַ֥חְנוּ עֲבָדִ֖ים עָלֶֽיהָ׃

“Behold, we are servants today, and as for the land that you gave to our fathers to eat its fruit and its good, behold, we are servants in it.

37 וּתְבוּאָתָ֣הּ מַרְבָּ֗ה לַמְּלָכִ֛ים אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥תָּה עָלֵ֖ינוּ בְּחַטֹּאותֵ֑ינוּ וְעַ֣ל גְּ֠וִיֹּתֵינוּ מֹשְׁלִ֤ים וּבִבְהֶמְתֵּ֙נוּ֙ כִּרְצֹונָ֔ם וּבְצָרָ֥ה גְדֹולָ֖ה אֲנָֽחְנוּ׃ פ

It yields much increase to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. Also they have power over our bodies and over our livestock, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.

38 וּבְכָל־זֹ֕את אֲנַ֛חְנוּ כֹּרְתִ֥ים אֲמָנָ֖ה וְכֹתְבִ֑ים וְעַל֙ הֶֽחָת֔וּם שָׂרֵ֥ינוּ לְוִיֵּ֖נוּ כֹּהֲנֵֽינוּ׃

Yet for all this, we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, our Levites, and our priests, seal it.”