HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 806
N EH EMIA H 1 0
not stop giving them manna from heaven or
water for their thirst. 21 For forty years you
sustained them in the wilderness, and they
lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear
out, and their feet did not swell!
22 “Then you helped our ancestors
conquer kingdoms and nations, and you
placed your people in every corner of the
land.* They took over the land of King
Sihon of Heshbon and the land of King Og
of Bashan. 23 You made their descendants
as numerous as the stars in the sky and
brought them into the land you had
promised to their ancestors.
— promises —
from God
“You are a God of
forgiveness, gracious
and merciful, slow to
become angry, and
rich in unfailing love.”
N E H E M I A H 9:17
24 “They went in and took possession of
the land. You subdued whole nations before
them. Even the Canaanites, who inhabited
the land, were powerless! Your people could
deal with these nations and their kings
as they pleased. 25 Our ancestors captured
fortified cities and fertile land. They took
over houses full of good things, with cisterns
already dug and vineyards and olive groves
and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate
until they were full and grew fat and enjoyed
themselves in all your blessings.
26 “But despite all this, they were
disobedient and rebelled against you.
They turned their backs on your Law, they
killed your prophets who warned them to
return to you, and they committed terrible
blasphemies. 27 So you handed them over to
their enemies, who made them suffer. But
in their time of trouble they cried to you,
and you heard them from heaven. In your
great mercy, you sent them liberators who
rescued them from their enemies.
28 “But as soon as they were at peace, your
people again committed evil in your sight,
and once more you let their enemies conquer
them. Yet whenever your people turned and
cried to you again for help, you listened once
more from heaven. In your wonderful mercy,
you rescued them many times!
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29 “You warned them to return to your
Law, but they became proud and obstinate
and disobeyed your commands. They did
not follow your regulations, by which
people will find life if only they obey. They
stubbornly turned their backs on you and
refused to listen. 30 In your love, you were
patient with them for many years. You sent
your Spirit, who warned them through the
prophets. But still they wouldn’t listen! So
once again you allowed the peoples of the
land to conquer them. 31 But in your great
mercy, you did not destroy them completely
or abandon them forever. What a gracious
and merciful God you are!
32 “And now, our God, the great and
mighty and awesome God, who keeps
his covenant of unfailing love, do not let
all the hardships we have suffered seem
insignificant to you. Great trouble has come
upon us and upon our kings and leaders
and priests and prophets and ancestors—all
of your people—from the days when the
kings of Assyria first triumphed over us
until now. 33 Every time you punished us you
were being just. We have sinned greatly, and
you gave us only what we deserved. 34 Our
kings, leaders, priests, and ancestors did
not obey your Law or listen to the warnings
in your commands and laws. 35 Even while
they had their own kingdom, they did
not serve you, though you showered your
goodness on them. You gave them a large,
fertile land, but they refused to turn from
their wickedness.
36 “So now today we are slaves in the land
of plenty that you gave our ancestors for
their enjoyment! We are slaves here in this
good land. 37 The lush produce of this land
piles up in the hands of the kings whom you
have set over us because of our sins. They
have power over us and our livestock. We
serve them at their pleasure, and we are in
great misery.”
The People Agree to Obey
38*The people responded, “In view of all this,*
we are making a solemn promise and putting
it in writing. On this sealed document are the
names of our leaders and Levites and priests.”
10
1*The
document was ratified and sealed
with the following names:
The governor:
Nehemiah son of Hacaliah, and also
Zedekiah.
2 The following priests:
Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, 3 Pashhur,
9:22 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain. 9:38a Verse 9:38
is numbered 10:1 in Hebrew text. 9:38b Or In spite of all this.
10:1 Verses 10:1-39 are numbered 10:2-40 in Hebrew text.