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JULY 28
9 “You saw the affliction of our fathers in
Egypt,
And heard their cry by the Red Sea.
9:2 separated themselves from all foreign- 10 You showed signs and wonders against
ers. This call for divorcing all lawful wives Pharaoh,
taken from among the heathen was needed, Against all his servants,
since the last time, prompted 13 years before And against all the people of his land.
by Ezra, had only been partially successful. For You knew that they acted proudly
Many had escaped the required action of against them.
divorce and kept their pagan wives. Perhaps So You made a name for Yourself, as it
new defaulters had appeared, also, and were is this day.
confronted for the first time with this neces- 11 And You divided the sea before them,
sary action of divorce.Nehemiah’s efforts were So that they went through the midst of
successful in removing this evil mixture.
the sea on the dry land;
And their persecutors You threw into
9:3 they stood…read…confessed and wor-
shiped. The succession of events helped to the deep,
reestablish the essential commitment of Israel 12 As a stone into the mighty waters.
to God and His law. They read for 3 hours Moreover You led them by day with a
about the sins of their fathers and for 3 more cloudy pillar,
hours confessed that they had been partakers And by night with a pillar of fire,
of similar evil deeds. In response to all of this, To give them light on the road
they worshiped. Which they should travel.
13 “You came down also on Mount Sinai,
Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani stood on And spoke with them from heaven,
the stairs of the Levites and cried out with a And gave them just ordinances and
loud voice to the LORD their God. And the true laws,
5
Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Good statutes and commandments.
Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, 14 You made known to them Your holy
said: Sabbath,
And commanded them precepts, statutes
“Stand up and bless the LORD your God and laws,
Forever and ever!
By the hand of Moses Your servant.
“Blessed be Your glorious name, 15 You gave them bread from heaven for
Which is exalted above all blessing and their hunger,
praise! And brought them water out of the
6 You alone are the LORD; rock for their thirst,
You have made heaven, And told them to go in to possess the
The heaven of heavens, with all their land
host, Which You had sworn to give them.
The earth and everything on it, 16 “But they and our fathers acted proudly,
The seas and all that is in them, Hardened their necks,
And You preserve them all. And did not heed Your
The host of heaven worships You.
commandments.
7 “You are the LORD God, 17 They refused to obey,
Who chose Abram, And they were not mindful of Your
And brought him out of Ur of the wonders
Chaldeans, That You did among them.
And gave him the name Abraham; But they hardened their necks,
8 You found his heart faithful before You, And in their rebellion
And made a covenant with him They appointed a leader
To give the land of the Canaanites, To return to their bondage.
The Hittites, the Amorites, But You are God,
The Perizzites, the Jebusites, Ready to pardon,
And the Girgashites— Gracious and merciful,
To give it to his descendants. Slow to anger,
You have performed Your words, Abundant in kindness,
For You are righteous. And did not forsake them.

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