Nehemiah 9

1 On the twenty-fourth day of the same [this] month, the Israelites [children of Israel, descendants of Jacob] gathered together [assembled], fasting [with fasting, abstaining from food] and wearing sackcloth [with sackclothes, coarse cloth], with dust [earth, land] on their heads. word study 2 Those of Israelite [seed, offspring] descent separated themselves [from every stranger, from all foreigners] from all the foreigners, and they stood [in a strong sense, like in a battle] and confessed [gave thanks, praised] their sins [guilt, punishment for sin] and the iniquities [moral evil, sin] of their fathers [ancestors, forefathers]. word study 3 While they stood [rose up, took their stand] in their places [positions, stations], they read from the Book [scroll] of the Law [instruction, Torah] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] their God [Elohim, the one supreme God] for a quarter [fourth part, one-fourth] of the day [a period of time, a 24-hour period], and they spent another quarter [fourth part] of the day in confession [giving thanks, praise] and worship [bowing down, reverence] of the LORD [Yehovah] their God. word study 4 And the Levites [descendants of Levi, servants of God]—Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani—stood [rose up, took their position] on the raised platform [stairs, ascent] and cried out [with a loud voice, shouted] in a loud voice [great, powerful sound] to the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] their God [Elohim, the supreme Creator]. word study 5 Then the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah—said, “Stand up [rise, get up, and take your position] and bless [praise, honor, and adore] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] your God [Elohim, the one true God] from everlasting [the age of eternity, forever] to everlasting: Blessed [praised, honored] be Your glorious [full of glory, majestic] name [identity, character], and may it be exalted [lifted up, elevated] above all blessing [gift, prosperity] and praise [thanksgiving, adoration]. word study 6 You alone [the only one, unique] are the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God]. You created [made, formed, brought into being] the heavens [the visible sky and the spiritual realm], the highest heavens [the celestial realm, the heaven of heavens] with all their host [armies, multitude], the earth [the land, the material world] and all that is on it, the seas [the oceans, the waters] and all that is in them. You give life [sustain, preserve, quicken] to all things, and the host of heaven [the angelic armies, the celestial beings] worships You. word study 7 You [the one addressing] are the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], the God [Elohim, the supreme God] who chose [selected, picked out] Abram [the original name of Abraham], who brought him out [led him forth, guided him] of Ur [a city in ancient Babylonia] of the Chaldeans [inhabitants of Chaldea, known for wisdom] and gave him the name [a new identity, a changed designation] Abraham [the father of many nations]. word study 8 You found his heart faithful [trustworthy, and obedient] before You, and made a covenant [a binding agreement, a promise] with him to give the land [a territory, a region] of the Canaanites [the inhabitants of Canaan] and Hittites, of the Amorites [a native tribe of Canaan] and Perizzites, of the Jebusites [the early inhabitants of Jerusalem] and Girgashites— to give it to his descendants [his seed, his offspring]. You have kept Your promise [Your word, Your vow], because You are righteous [just, upright, and holy]. word study 9 You saw [with compassion and understanding] the affliction [state of trouble or hardship] of our fathers [ancestors, forefathers] in Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa]; You heard [listened with attention and obedience] their cry [loud and urgent appeal] at the Red Sea [a body of water, specifically the sea of Suph]. word study 10 You performed [miraculous, supernatural] signs [tokens, beacons] and wonders [marvels, miracles, displays of God’s power] against Pharaoh [the king of Egypt], all his officials [servants, attendants], and all the people [nation, inhabitants] of his land [territory, country], for You knew [were aware, had knowledge] they had acted with [boiled over with, been filled with] arrogance [pride, haughtiness] against our fathers [ancestors, forefathers]. You made [established, created] a name [reputation, character] for Yourself [Your own honor, glory] that endures [remains, lasts] to this day [the present time, this very moment]. word study 11 You divided [split apart, broke open] the sea [large body of water] before them, and they crossed through it on dry ground. You hurled [threw, cast away] their pursuers [those who chased after them] into the depths [low areas, deep places] like a stone [rock, weight] into raging [strong, fierce] waters [liquid, source of refreshment]. word study 12 You led them with a pillar [column] of cloud [divine presence, guidance] by day [daily, in the light] and a pillar [a pillar or column] of fire [refining presence, God’s anger] by night [time of darkness, adversity], to light [give spiritual understanding, illuminate] for them the way [path, journey] in which they should travel [go, journey, conduct their lives]. word study 13 You came down [to dwell among] on Mount Sinai [the mountain of God’s presence] and spoke [to communicate, to utter] with them from heaven [the realm of God’s throne]. You gave them just [right, fair] ordinances [regulations, laws], true [faithful, reliable] laws [instructions, teachings], and good [beneficial, pleasing] statutes [decrees, commandments] and commandments [precepts, instructions]. word study 14 You revealed [made known, declared] to them Your holy [set-apart, sacred] Sabbath [day of rest, day of worship] and gave them commandments [precepts, laws] and statutes [decrees, ordinances] and laws [instructions, teachings] through [by the hand of, by means of] Your servant [faithful attendant, obedient messenger] Moses. word study 15 In their hunger [famine, lack of spiritual nourishment] You gave them bread [food, manna] from heaven [the sky, God’s abode]; in their thirst [dryness, spiritual longing] You brought them water [refreshment, spiritual drink] from the rock [crag]. You told them [commanded, instructed] to go in and possess [take control, occupy] the land [earth, territory] which You had sworn [promised, vowed] to give them [bestow, grant]. word study 16 But they [our ancestors, the Israelites] and our fathers [forefathers, ancestral leaders] became arrogant [proud, dealt proudly] and stiff-necked [hardened their necks, stubborn] and did not obey [hearken not, refuse to listen] Your commandments [laws, divine instructions]. word study 17 They refused [to obey, were disobedient] to listen and failed [were not mindful] to remember the wonders [miraculous works, marvelous deeds] You performed [did, accomplished] among them. They stiffened [hardened, made obstinate] their necks [the back of the neck] and appointed [gave, set] a leader [captain, chief] to return them to their bondage [slavery, servitude] in Egypt. But You are a forgiving [ready to pardon, gracious] God [Eloah, the one true God], gracious [full of mercy, compassionate] and compassionate [longsuffering, merciful], slow [longsuffering, patient] to anger [wrath, indignation] and rich [abundant, full] in loving devotion [lovingkindness, faithful love], and You did not forsake [abandon, leave] them. word study 18 Even when they cast [made, fashioned] for themselves an image [molten, metal] of a calf [young male, nearly grown] and said, ‘This [this specific one] is your God [Elohim, the supreme God] who brought [led, guided] you up out of Egypt [the land of bondage],’ and when they committed [did, wrought] terrible [great, awful] blasphemies [contempt, scorn], word study 19 You [in your manifold mercies] in Your great [tender, loving] compassion [womb, tender love] did not [ever] forsake [abandon, loosen] them in the wilderness [desert, open field]. By day [daily] the pillar [column] of cloud [cloudy, divine presence] never turned away [departed, removed] from guiding [leading, directing] them on their path [way, journey]; and by the night [time of darkness] the pillar [a pillar or column] of fire [refining presence, divine light] illuminated [gave light, showed] the way [road, path] they should go [walk, journey]. word study 20 You gave Your good [pleasant, beneficial] Spirit [the breath of life] to instruct them [to cause them to act wisely, to teach]. You did not withhold [refrain from giving, hold back] Your manna [a special food, heavenly provision] from their mouths [lips, the edge of something], and You gave them water [a source of refreshment, spiritual nourishment] for their thirst [physical or spiritual longing, dryness]. word study 21 For [a significant period of time] forty years You sustained [supported, nourished, and cared for] them in the wilderness [desert, open field, or place of testing], so that they lacked [were in need of, or without] nothing. Their clothes [garments, outer clothing, or raiment] did not wear out [become old, decay, or deteriorate] and their feet [the lowest part of the leg, or the foundation of the body] did not swell [become inflamed, or blister]. word study 22 You gave them kingdoms [and nations, peoples] and peoples and allotted to them every corner [side, region, territory] of the land. So they took the land [territory, possession] of Sihon [the Amorite king] king of Heshbon [the capital city] and of Og [the powerful giant] king of Bashan [the fertile region]. word study 23 You multiplied [as the stars of heaven, countless] their descendants [sons, children, or offspring] like the stars [celestial bodies, shining ones] of heaven [the sky, the universe] and brought [led, guided] them to the land [earth, territory, or region] You had told [promised, spoken to] their fathers [ancestors, forefathers] to enter [go in, come into] and possess [occupy, take control of, inherit]. word study 24 So their descendants [the sons, the children] went in and possessed [took control of, inherited] the land; You subdued [humbled, brought low] before them the Canaanites [the inhabitants, the people] dwelling [residing, living] in the land. You delivered [gave, handed over] into their hands the kings [the rulers, the monarchs] and peoples [the nations, the tribes] of the land, to do with them as they wished [as it pleased them, according to their desire]. word study 25 They captured [seized, took control of] fortified [strong, walled] cities and fertile [rich, abundant] land and took houses [possessions, dwellings] full of all goods [treasures, riches], wells [cisterns, water-holes] already dug [hewn out], vineyards [gardens for grapes], olive groves [oliveyards], and fruit trees [trees for food] in abundance [great quantity, plenty]. So they ate [devoured, consumed] and were filled [satisfied, content]; they grew fat [prosperous, wealthy] and delighted [rejoiced, took pleasure] in Your great [abundant, overflowing] goodness [loving-kindness, faithfulness]. word study 26 But they were disobedient [hard-hearted, rebellious] and rebelled [resisted, defied] against You; they flung [threw away, cast behind] Your law [instruction, guidance] behind their backs [in rejection, with contempt]. They killed [slew, murdered] Your prophets [messengers, spokespersons], who had admonished [warned, testified] them to return [turn back, repent] to You. They committed [perpetrated, did] terrible [great, awful] blasphemies [acts of contempt, insults]. word study 27 So You delivered them into the hands [of their adversaries, to those who oppressed them] of enemies who oppressed them, and in their time [season, occasion] of distress [trouble, affliction] they cried out [with a loud voice, in anguish] to You. From heaven [the sky, the abode of God] You heard them, and in Your great [abundant, manifold] compassion [tender love, mercy] You gave them deliverers [saviors, rescuers] who saved them from the hands [power, control] of their enemies. word study 28 But as soon as they had [found peace and tranquility, rested] rest, they again did [morally wrong, wicked] evil in Your [presence, before Your face] sight. So You [abandoned, left them to themselves] abandoned them to the [power, control] hands of their [opponents, adversaries] enemies, who had dominion [rule] over them. When they cried [called loudly] out to You again, You [listened, heard their plea] heard from [the heavens, the sky] heaven, and You [rescued, delivered] delivered them many times [occasions] in Your [tender love, compassion] compassion. word study 29 You admonished [warned, testified against] them to turn back [return, come back] to Your law [instruction, Torah], but they were arrogant [proud, dealt proudly] and disobeyed [did not hear, hearkened not] Your commandments [orders, decrees]. They sinned [missed the mark, went wrong] against Your ordinances [judgments, justice], by which [if obeyed] a man will live [have life, be revived] if he practices [keeps, does] them. They stubbornly [with a refractory shoulder, obstinately] shrugged their shoulders [turned their backs]; they stiffened [hardened] their necks and would not obey [hear, listen]. word study 30 You were patient [longsuffering, forbearing] with them for many [numerous, several] years, and Your Spirit [breath of life, divine presence] admonished [warned, testified against] them through Your prophets [messengers, spokesmen]. Yet they would not listen [give ear, obey], so You gave [handed over, delivered] them into the hands [power, control] of the neighboring [surrounding, adjacent] peoples [nations, countries]. word study 31 But in Your great [manifold, abundant] compassion [womb, tender love], You did not put an end [make a full end, utterly consume] to them; nor did You forsake [loosen, relinquish, abandon] them, for You are a [merciful] gracious [showing unmerited favor] and compassionate [showing tender sympathy] God. word study 32 So now, our God [mighty, and terrible God], the great [powerful, majestic] and mighty [strong, courageous] and awesome [fearful, reverent] God who keeps [protects, preserves] His gracious [loving, merciful] covenant [promise, agreement], do not view lightly [consider insignificant, disregard] all the hardship [trouble, affliction] that has come upon us, and upon our kings [rulers, leaders] and leaders [princes, officials], our priests [spiritual leaders, mediators] and prophets [messengers, spokespersons], our ancestors [fathers, forefathers] and all Your people [nation, congregation], from the days [time, era] of the kings of Assyria [a powerful, ancient nation] until today [this day, the present time]. word study 33 You [are righteous, just] are just [fair, righteous] in all [everything, every circumstance] that has befallen [come upon, happened to] us, because You have acted [done, performed] faithfully [with truth, in truth], while we have acted [done, behaved] wickedly [in a wicked manner, wrongly]. word study 34 Our [ruling, royal] kings and leaders [princes, rulers] and priests [spiritual leaders, mediators] and fathers [ancestors, patriarchs] did not obey [keep, follow] Your law [instruction, Torah] or listen [heed, pay attention] to Your commandments [orders, decrees] and warnings [testimonies, witness] that You gave them [provided, entrusted to them]. word study 35 For even while they were in their kingdom [with royal power and authority], with the abundant goodness [great kindness and generosity] that You had given them, and in the spacious [large and broad] and fertile [rich and productive] land that You had set before them [provided for their benefit], they would not serve [obey or worship] You or turn from their wicked [evil and sinful] ways [actions and behaviors]. word study 36 So here we are today [as servants, in bondage] as slaves [servants, bondmen] in the land [territory, earth] You gave [bestowed, entrusted] our fathers [ancestors, forefathers] to enjoy [eat, partake of] its fruit [produce, harvest] and goodness [benefits, prosperity]— here we are as slaves [in servitude, under oppression]! word study 37 Its abundant harvest [yielding much increase, multiplying] goes to the kings [whom You have set over us, royal rulers] You have set over us because of our sins [guilt, punishment for sin]. And they rule [have dominion, power] over our bodies [physical selves, corpses] and our livestock [cattle, animals] as they please [at their pleasure, according to their will]. We are in great distress [trouble, affliction, vexation]. word study 38 In view of all this, we make a binding agreement [sure covenant, solemn agreement], putting it in writing [in good faith] and sealing it with the names [signatures] of our leaders [princes], Levites, and priests.” word study