2. They refused to let foreigners join them, as they met to confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors.
3. For three hours they stood and listened to the Law of the Lord their God, and then for the next three hours they confessed their sins and worshipped the Lord.
4. Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani stood on the special platform for the Levites and prayed aloud to the Lord their God.
5. Then the Levites Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah said:“Stand and shout praisesto your Lord,the eternal God!Praise his wonderful name,though he is greaterthan words can express.”
6. You alone are the Lord,Creator of the heavensand all the stars,Creator of the earthand those who live on it,Creator of the oceanand all its creatures.You are the source of life,praised by the starsthat fill the heavens.
7. You are the Lord our God,the one who chose Abram—you brought him from Urin Babyloniaand named him Abraham.
8. Because he was faithful,you made an agreementto give his descendantsthe land of the Canaanitesand Hittites,of the Amorites and Perizzites,and of the Jebusitesand Girgashites.Now you have kept your promise,just as you always do.
9. When our ancestorswere in Egypt,you saw their suffering;when they were at the Red Sea,you heard their cry for help.
10. You knew that the King of Egyptand his officials and his nationhad ill-treated your people.So you worked fearsome miraclesagainst the Egyptiansand earned a reputationthat still remains.
11. You divided the deep sea,and your people walked throughon dry land.But you tossed their enemies in,and they sank downlike a heavy stone.
12. Each day you led your peoplewith a thick cloud,and at night you showed the waywith a flaming fire.