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1. Then on the 24 day of that same month, the Israelites gathered together for a day of fasting. They wore sackcloth and put ashes on their heads to show they were sad and upset.
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1. Now in the twenty H6242 and fourth H702 day H3117 of this H2088 month H2320 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 were assembled H622 with fasting H6685 , and with sackclothes H8242 , and earth H127 upon H5921 them.
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2. Those people who were true Israelites separated themselves from foreigners. The Israelites stood and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors.
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2. And the seed H2233 of Israel H3478 separated themselves H914 from all H4480 H3605 strangers H1121 H5236 , and stood H5975 and confessed H3034 H5921 their sins H2403 , and the iniquities H5771 of their fathers H1 .
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3. They stood there for about three hours, and the people read the Book of the Law of the Lord their God. Then for three more hours they confessed their sins and bowed down to worship the Lord their God.
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3. And they stood up H6965 in H5921 their place H5977 , and read H7121 in the book H5612 of the law H8451 of the LORD H3068 their God H430 one fourth H7243 part of the day H3117 ; and another fourth H7243 part they confessed H3034 , and worshiped H7812 the LORD H3068 their God H430 .
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4. Then these Levites stood on the stairs: Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Kenani. They called out to the Lord their God with loud voices.
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4. Then stood up H6965 upon H5921 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 with a loud H1419 voice H6963 unto H413 the LORD H3068 their God H430 .
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5. Then these Levites spoke again: Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah. They said, "Stand up and praise the Lord your God! "God has always lived and will live forever. People should praise your glorious name. May your name be lifted above all blessing and praise.
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5. Then the Levites H3881 , Jeshua H3442 , and Kadmiel H6934 , Bani H1137 , Hashabniah H2813 , Sherebiah H8274 , Hodijah H1941 , Shebaniah H7645 , and Pethahiah H6611 , said H559 , Stand up H6965 and bless H1288 H853 the LORD H3068 your God H430 forever H4480 H5769 and H5704 ever H5769 : and blessed H1288 be thy glorious H3519 name H8034 , which is exalted H7311 above H5921 all H3605 blessing H1293 and praise H8416 .
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6. You are God. Lord, only you are God. You made the sky and the highest heavens, and everything in them. You made the earth, and everything on it. You made the seas, and everything in them. You give life to everything. All the heavenly angels bow down and worship you.
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6. Thou H859 , even thou H1931 , art LORD H3068 alone H905 ; thou H859 hast made H6213 H853 heaven H8064 , the heaven H8064 of heavens H8064 , with all H3605 their host H6635 , the earth H776 , and all H3605 things that H834 are therein H5921 , the seas H3220 , and all H3605 that H834 is therein , and thou H859 preservest H2421 H853 them all H3605 ; and the host H6635 of heaven H8064 worshipeth H7812 thee.
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7. You are the Lord God. You chose Abram. You led him from Ur in Babylonia. You changed his name to Abraham.
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7. Thou H859 art the LORD H3068 the God H430 , who H834 didst choose H977 Abram H87 , and broughtest him forth H3318 out of Ur H4480 H218 of the Chaldees H3778 , and gavest H7760 him the name H8034 of Abraham H85 ;
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8. You saw he was true and loyal to you, and you made an agreement with him. You promised to give him the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites. But you promised to give that land to Abraham's descendants. And you kept your promise because you are good.
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8. And foundest H4672 H853 his heart H3824 faithful H539 before H6440 thee , and madest H3772 a covenant H1285 with H5973 him to give H5414 H853 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 it, I say , to his seed H2233 , and hast performed H6965 H853 thy words H1697 ; for H3588 thou H859 art righteous H6662 :
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9. You saw our ancestors suffering in Egypt and heard them call for help by the Red Sea.
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9. And didst see H7200 H853 the affliction H6040 of our fathers H1 in Egypt H4714 , and heardest H8085 their cry H2201 by H5921 the Red H5488 sea H3220 ;
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10. You showed the miracles to Pharaoh. You did amazing things to his officials and his people. You knew that the Egyptians thought they were better than our ancestors. But you proved how great you are, and they remember that even today.
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10. And showedst H5414 signs H226 and wonders H4159 upon Pharaoh H6547 , and on all H3605 his servants H5650 , and on all H3605 the people H5971 of his land H776 : for H3588 thou knewest H3045 that H3588 they dealt proudly H2102 against H5921 them . So didst thou get H6213 thee a name H8034 , as it is this H2088 day H3117 .
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11. You split the Red Sea in front of them, and they walked through on dry land. The Egyptian soldiers were chasing them, but you threw that enemy into the sea. And they sank like a rock into the sea.
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11. And thou didst divide H1234 the sea H3220 before H6440 them , so that they went through H5674 the midst H8432 of the sea H3220 on the dry land H3004 ; and their persecutors H7291 thou threwest H7993 into the deeps H4688 , as H3644 a stone H68 into the mighty H5794 waters H4325 .
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12. With the tall cloud, you led them by day, and at night you used the column of fire. That is the way you lit their path and showed them where to go.
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12. Moreover thou leddest H5148 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 in H853 the way H1870 wherein H834 they should go H1980 .
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13. Then you came down to Mount Sinai. You spoke to them from heaven. You gave them good laws. You gave them true teachings. You gave them laws and commands that were very good.
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13. Thou camest down H3381 also upon H5921 mount H2022 Sinai H5514 , and spakest H1696 with H5973 them from heaven H4480 H8064 , and gavest H5414 them right H3477 judgments H4941 , and true H571 laws H8451 , good H2896 statutes H2706 and commandments H4687 :
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14. You told them about your special day of rest�the Sabbath. Through your servant Moses, you gave them commands, laws, and teachings.
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14. And madest known H3045 unto them thy holy H6944 sabbath H7676 , and commandedst H6680 them precepts H4687 , statutes H2706 , and laws H8451 , by the hand H3027 of Moses H4872 thy servant H5650 :
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15. They were hungry, so you gave them food from heaven. They were thirsty, so you gave them water from a rock. You told them, 'Come, take this land.' You used your power, and took the land for them.
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15. And gavest H5414 them bread H3899 from heaven H4480 H8064 for their hunger H7458 , and broughtest forth H3318 water H4325 for them out of the rock H4480 H5553 for their thirst H6772 , and promisedst H559 them that they should go in H935 to possess H3423 H853 the land H776 which H834 thou hadst sworn H5375 H853 H3027 to give H5414 them.
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16. But our ancestors became proud and stubborn. They refused to obey your commands.
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16. But they H1992 and our fathers H1 dealt proudly H2102 , and hardened H7185 H853 their necks H6203 , and hearkened H8085 not H3808 to H413 thy commandments H4687 ,
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17. They refused to listen. They forgot the amazing things you did with them. They became stubborn. They decided to return to Egypt and become slaves again. "But you are a forgiving God! You are kind and full of mercy. You are patient and full of love. So you didn't leave them!
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17. And refused H3985 to obey H8085 , neither H3808 were mindful H2142 of thy wonders H6381 that H834 thou didst H6213 among H5973 them ; but hardened H7185 H853 their necks H6203 , and in their rebellion H4805 appointed H5414 a captain H7218 to return H7725 to their bondage H5659 : but thou H859 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 them not H3808 .
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18. You didn't leave them even when they made golden calves and said, 'These are the gods that led us out of Egypt.'
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18. Yea H637 , when H3588 they had made H6213 them a molten H4541 calf H5695 , and said H559 , This H2088 is thy God H430 that H834 brought thee up H5927 out of Egypt H4480 H4714 , and had wrought H6213 great H1419 provocations H5007 ;
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19. You are very kind, so you didn't leave them in the desert. You didn't take the tall cloud away from them by day. You continued to lead them. You didn't take the column of fire away from them at night. You continued to light their path and show them which way to go.
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19. Yet thou H859 in thy manifold H7227 mercies H7356 forsookest H5800 them not H3808 in the wilderness H4057 : H853 the pillar H5982 of the cloud H6051 departed H5493 not H3808 from H4480 H5921 them by day H3119 , to lead H5148 them in the way H1870 ; neither the pillar H5982 of fire H784 by night H3915 , to show them light H215 , and the way H1870 wherein H834 they should go H1980 .
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20. You gave them your good Spirit to make them wise. You gave them manna for food. You gave them water for their thirst.
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20. Thou gavest H5414 also thy good H2896 spirit H7307 to instruct H7919 them , and withheldest H4513 not H3808 thy manna H4478 from their mouth H4480 H6310 , and gavest H5414 them water H4325 for their thirst H6772 .
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21. You took care of them for 40 years. They had all they needed in the desert. Their clothes didn't wear out, and their feet didn't swell and hurt.
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21. Yea, forty H705 years H8141 didst thou sustain H3557 them in the wilderness H4057 , so that they lacked H2637 nothing H3808 ; their clothes H8008 waxed not old H1086 H3808 , and their feet H7272 swelled H1216 not H3808 .
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22. You gave them kingdoms and nations, and you gave them faraway places where few people live. They got the land of King Sihon of Heshbon. They got the land of King Og of Bashan.
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22. Moreover thou gavest H5414 them kingdoms H4467 and nations H5971 , and didst divide H2505 them into corners H6285 : so they possessed H3423 H853 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 .
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23. You made their descendants as many as the stars in the sky. You brought them to the land you promised to give their ancestors. They went in and took that land.
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23. Their children H1121 also multipliedst H7235 thou as the stars H3556 of heaven H8064 , and broughtest H935 them into H413 the land H776 , concerning which H834 thou hadst promised H559 to their fathers H1 , that they should go in H935 to possess H3423 it .
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24. Their children took the land. They defeated the Canaanites living there. You let them defeat those people. You let them do whatever they wanted to those nations, people, and kings.
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24. So the children H1121 went in H935 and possessed H3423 H853 the land H776 , and thou subduedst H3665 before H6440 them H853 the inhabitants H3427 of the land H776 , the Canaanites H3669 , and gavest H5414 them into their hands H3027 , with their kings H4428 , and the people H5971 of the land H776 , that they might do H6213 with them as they would H7522 .
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25. They defeated powerful cities. They took the fertile land. They got houses filled with good things. They got wells that were already dug. They got vineyards, olive trees, and plenty of fruit trees. They ate until they were full and fat. They enjoyed all the wonderful things you gave them.
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25. And they took H3920 strong H1219 cities H5892 , and a fat H8082 land H127 , and possessed H3423 houses H1004 full H4392 of all H3605 goods H2898 , wells H953 digged H2672 , vineyards H3754 , and oliveyards H2132 , and fruit H3978 trees H6086 in abundance H7230 : so they did eat H398 , and were filled H7646 , and became fat H8080 , and delighted themselves H5727 in thy great H1419 goodness H2898 .
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26. And then they turned against you. They threw away your teachings. They killed your prophets. Those prophets warned the people. They tried to bring them back to you. But our ancestors said terrible things against you.
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26. Nevertheless they were disobedient H4784 , and rebelled H4775 against thee , and cast H7993 H853 thy law H8451 behind H310 their backs H1458 , and slew H2026 thy prophets H5030 which H834 testified H5749 against them to turn H7725 them to H413 thee , and they wrought H6213 great H1419 provocations H5007 .
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27. So you let their enemies have them. The enemy caused them much trouble. When trouble came, our ancestors called to you for help. And in heaven, you heard them. You are very kind, so you sent people to save them. And they rescued them from their enemies.
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27. Therefore thou deliveredst H5414 them into the hand H3027 of their enemies H6862 , who vexed H6887 them : and in the time H6256 of their trouble H6869 , when they cried H6817 unto H413 thee, thou H859 heardest H8085 them from heaven H4480 H8064 ; and according to thy manifold H7227 mercies H7356 thou gavest H5414 them saviors H3467 , who saved H3467 them out of the hand H4480 H3027 of their enemies H6862 .
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28. Then as soon as our ancestors were rested, they started doing terrible things again! So you let the enemy defeat them and punish them. They called to you for help, and in heaven you heard them and helped them. You are so kind. That happened so many times.
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28. But after they had rest H5117 , they did H6213 evil H7451 again H7725 before H6440 thee : therefore leftest H5800 thou them in the hand H3027 of their enemies H341 , so that they had the dominion H7287 over them : yet when they returned H7725 , and cried H2199 unto thee, thou H859 heardest H8085 them from heaven H4480 H8064 ; and many H7227 times H6256 didst thou deliver H5337 them according to thy mercies H7356 ;
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29. You warned them. You told them to come back, but they were too proud. They refused to listen to your commands. If people obey your laws, they will live. But our ancestors broke your laws. They were stubborn. They turned their backs on you. They refused to listen.
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29. And testifiedst H5749 against them , that thou mightest bring them again H7725 unto H413 thy law H8451 : yet they H1992 dealt proudly H2102 , and hearkened H8085 not H3808 unto thy commandments H4687 , but sinned H2398 against thy judgments H4941 , ( which H834 if a man H120 do H6213 , he shall live H2421 in them;) and withdrew H5414 H5637 the shoulder H3802 , and hardened H7185 their neck H6203 , and would not H3808 hear H8085 .
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30. "You were very patient with our ancestors. You let them mistreat you for many years. You warned them with your Spirit. You sent the prophets to warn them. But our ancestors didn't listen. So you gave them to people in other countries.
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30. Yet many H7227 years H8141 didst thou forbear H4900 H5921 them , and testifiedst H5749 against them by thy spirit H7307 in H3027 thy prophets H5030 : yet would they not H3808 give ear H238 : therefore gavest H5414 thou them into the hand H3027 of the people H5971 of the lands H776 .
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31. "But you are so kind! You didn't completely destroy them. You didn't leave them. You are such a kind and merciful God!
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31. Nevertheless for thy great H7227 mercies's H7356ake thou didst not H3808 utterly consume H6213 H3617 them, nor H3808 forsake H5800 them; for H3588 thou H859 art a gracious H2587 and merciful H7349 God H410 .
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32. Our God, you are the great God, the awesome, powerful soldier! You are kind and loyal. You keep your agreement. We have had many troubles, and our troubles are important to you. Bad things happened to all our people, and to our kings and leaders, and to our priests and prophets. Those terrible things have happened from the days of the king of Assyria until today!
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32. Now H6258 therefore , our God H430 , the great H1419 , the mighty H1368 , and the terrible H3372 God H410 , who keepest H8104 covenant H1285 and mercy H2617 , let not H408 H853 all H3605 the trouble H8513 seem little H4591 before H6440 thee, that H834 hath come upon H4672 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 H3605 thy people H5971 , since the time H4480 H3117 of the kings H4428 of Assyria H804 unto H5704 this H2088 day H3117 .
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33. But God, you were right about everything that happens to us. You were right, and we were wrong.
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33. Howbeit thou H859 art just H6662 in H5921 all H3605 that is brought H935 upon H5921 us; for H3588 thou hast done H6213 right H571 , but we H587 have done wickedly H7561 :
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34. Our kings, leaders, priests, and fathers did not obey your law. They didn't listen to your commands. They ignored your warnings.
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34. Neither have our kings H4428 , our princes H8269 , our priests H3548 , nor H3808 our fathers H1 , kept H6213 thy law H8451 , nor H3808 hearkened H7181 unto H413 thy commandments H4687 and thy testimonies H5715 , wherewith H834 thou didst testify H5749 against them.
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35. Our ancestors didn't serve you even when they were living in their own kingdom. They didn't stop doing evil. They enjoyed all the wonderful things you gave them. They enjoyed the rich land and had plenty of room, but they didn't stop their evil ways.
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35. For they H1992 have not H3808 served H5647 thee in their kingdom H4438 , and in thy great H7227 goodness H2898 that H834 thou gavest H5414 them , and in the large H7342 and fat H8082 land H776 which H834 thou gavest H5414 before H6440 them, neither H3808 turned H7725 they from their wicked H7451 works H4480 H4611 .
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36. And now, we are slaves. We are slaves in this land, the land you gave our ancestors so they could enjoy its fruit and all the good things that grow here.
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36. Behold H2009 , we H587 are servants H5650 this day H3117 , and for the land H776 that H834 thou gavest H5414 unto our fathers H1 to eat H398 H853 the fruit H6529 thereof and the good H2898 thereof, behold H2009 , we H587 are servants H5650 in H5921 it:
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37. The harvest is big in this land. But we sinned, so that harvest goes to the kings you put over us. They control us and our cattle. They do anything they want. We are in a lot of trouble.
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37. And it yieldeth much H7235 increase H8393 unto the kings H4428 whom H834 thou hast set H5414 over H5921 us because of our sins H2403 : also they have dominion H4910 over H5921 our bodies H1472 , and over our cattle H929 , at their pleasure H7522 , and we H587 are in great H1419 distress H6869 .
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38. Because of all of these things, we are making an agreement that cannot be changed. We are putting this agreement in writing. Our leaders, Levites, and priests are signing their names to this agreement and sealing it with a seal. "
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38. And because of all H3605 this H2063 we H587 make H3772 a sure H548 covenant , and write H3789 it ; and our princes H8269 , Levites H3881 , and priests H3548 , seal H2856 H5921 unto it .
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