3. For a fourth of the day they stood where they were. And they read from the Book of the Teachings of the Lord their God. Then they spent another fourth of the day confessing their sins. And they worshiped the Lord their God.
4. These Levites were standing on the stairs: Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani and Kanani. They called out to the Lord their God with loud voices.
5. And these Levites spoke: Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiah. They said, “Stand up and praise the Lord your God. He lives forever and ever.”“Blessed be your wonderful name.It is more wonderful than all blessing and praise.
6. You are the only Lord.You made the heavens, even the highest heavens.You made all the stars.You made the earth and everything that is on it.You made the seas and everything that is in them.You give life to everything.The heavenly army worships you.
7. “You are the Lord God.You chose Abram.You brought him out of Ur of the Babylonians.You named him Abraham.
8. You found that he was faithful to you.So you made an agreement with him.You promised to give his descendants the land of the Canaanites,Hittites, Amorites,Perizzites, Jebusites and Girgashites.You have kept your promise.You are fair.
9. “You saw our ancestors suffering in Egypt.You heard them cry out at the Red Sea.
10. You did signs and miracles against the king of Egypt.And you did them against all his officers and all the people of Egypt.You knew how proud they were.You made everyone know your name.And it is still known today.
11. You divided the sea in front of our ancestors.They walked through it on dry ground.But you threw the people chasing them into the deep water.They were like a stone being thrown into mighty waters.
12. You led our ancestors with a pillar of cloud in the daytime.And you led them with a pillar of fire at night.It lit the waythey were supposed to go.
13. You came down to Mount Sinai.You talked to our ancestors from heaven.You gave them fair rules and true teachings.You gave them good orders and commands.
14. You told them about your holy Sabbath.You gave commands, orders and teachings to themthrough your servant Moses.
15. When they were hungry, you gave them bread from heaven.When they were thirsty, you brought them water from the rock.You told them to go into the land and take it over.You had promised to give it to them.
16. “But our ancestors were proud and stubborn.They did not obey your commands.