23. While the sacrifice was being burned, the priests recited a prayer, and all present joined in with them. Jonathan led and the rest responded with Nehemiah.
24. The prayer was as follows: “Lord, Lord God, creator of all things, awesome and strong, just and merciful, the only king and benefactor,
25. who alone are gracious, just, almighty, and eternal, Israel’s savior from all evil, who chose our ancestors and sanctified them:
26. accept this sacrifice on behalf of all your people Israel and guard and sanctify your portion.
27. Gather together our scattered people, free those who are slaves among the Gentiles, look kindly on those who are despised and detested, and let the Gentiles know that you are our God.
28. Punish those who lord it over us and in their arrogance oppress us.
29. Plant your people in your holy place, as Moses said.”
30. Then the priests sang hymns.
31. After the sacrifice was consumed, Nehemiah ordered the rest of the liquid to be poured upon large stones.
32. As soon as this was done, a flame blazed up, but its light was lost in the brilliance coming from the altar.
33. When the event became known and the king of the Persians was told that, in the very place where the exiled priests had hidden the fire, a liquid was found with which Nehemiah and his people had burned the sacrifices,
34. the king, after verifying the fact, fenced the place off and declared it sacred.
35. To those whom the king favored, he distributed many benefits he received.
36. Nehemiah and his companions called the liquid nephthar, meaning purification, but most people named it naphtha.