Exil

The People's Confession of Sin under Nehemiah

After the reading of the Law, the people of Israel gathered in mourning and fasting. The Levites led a great prayer in which they praised God as Creator, remembered His faithfulness from Abraham through the Exodus and the wilderness journey, confessed the people's repeated rebellion, and acknowledged that they were now slaves in their own land because of their sins.

Nehemia 9,1-37

1On the twenty-fourth day of that same month the Israelites gathered together, fasting and dressed in sackcloth, with dust on them.
וּבְיוֹם֩ עֶשְׂרִ֨ים וְאַרְבָּעָ֜ה לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַזֶּ֗ה נֶאֶסְפ֤וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בְּצ֣וֹם וּבְשַׂקִּ֔ים וַאֲדָמָ֖ה עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ ‬
2Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners, and they stood and confessed their sins and the guilt of their fathers.
וַיִּבָּֽדְלוּ֙ זֶ֣רַע יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִכֹּ֖ל בְּנֵ֣י נֵכָ֑ר וַיַּעַמְד֗וּ וַיִּתְוַדּוּ֙ עַל־חַטֹּ֣אתֵיהֶ֔ם וַעֲוֺנ֖וֹת אֲבֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ ‬
3They stood in their places, and for a quarter of the day they read aloud from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God, and for another quarter they confessed and bowed down before the LORD their God.
וַיָּק֙וּמוּ֙ עַל־עָמְדָ֔ם וַֽיִּקְרְא֗וּ בְּסֵ֨פֶר תּוֹרַ֧ת יְהוָ֛ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֖ם רְבִעִ֣ית הַיּ֑וֹם וּרְבִעִית֙ מִתְוַדִּ֣ים וּמִֽשְׁתַּחֲוִ֔ים לַיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃ פ ‬
4On the platform of the Levites stood Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Kenani, and they cried out with a loud voice to the LORD their God.
וַיָּ֜קָם עַֽל־מַֽעֲלֵ֣ה הַלְוִיִּ֗ם יֵשׁ֨וּעַ וּבָנִ֜י קַדְמִיאֵ֧ל שְׁבַנְיָ֛ה בֻּנִּ֥י שֵׁרֵבְיָ֖ה בָּנִ֣י כְנָ֑נִי וַֽיִּזְעֲקוּ֙ בְּק֣וֹל גָּד֔וֹל אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃ ‬
5Then the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah—said: "Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting." "Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above every blessing and praise.
וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ הַלְוִיִּ֡ם יֵשׁ֣וּעַ וְ֠קַדְמִיאֵל בָּנִ֨י חֲשַׁבְנְיָ֜ה שֵׁרֵֽבְיָ֤ה הֽוֹדִיָּה֙ שְׁבַנְיָ֣ה פְתַֽחְיָ֔ה ק֗וּמוּ בָּרֲכוּ֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם מִן־הָעוֹלָ֖ם עַד־הָעוֹלָ֑ם וִיבָֽרְכוּ֙ שֵׁ֣ם כְּבוֹדֶ֔ךָ וּמְרוֹמַ֥ם עַל־כָּל־בְּרָכָ֖ה וּתְהִלָּֽה׃ ‬
6You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, the highest heavens and all their host, the earth and everything on it, the seas and everything in them. You give life to them all, and the host of heaven bows down before you.
אַתָּה־ה֣וּא יְהוָה֮ לְבַדֶּךָ֒ *את **אַתָּ֣ה עָשִׂ֡יתָ אֶֽת־הַשָּׁמַיִם֩ שְׁמֵ֨י הַשָּׁמַ֜יִם וְכָל־צְבָאָ֗ם הָאָ֜רֶץ וְכָל־אֲשֶׁ֤ר עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ הַיַּמִּים֙ וְכָל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּהֶ֔ם וְאַתָּ֖ה מְחַיֶּ֣ה אֶת־כֻּלָּ֑ם וּצְבָ֥א הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם לְךָ֥ מִשְׁתַּחֲוִֽים׃ ‬
7You are the LORD God, who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham.
אַתָּה־הוּא֙ יְהוָ֣ה הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר בָּחַ֙רְתָּ֙ בְּאַבְרָ֔ם וְהוֹצֵאת֖וֹ מֵא֣וּר כַּשְׂדִּ֑ים וְשַׂ֥מְתָּ שְּׁמ֖וֹ אַבְרָהָֽם׃ ‬
8You found his heart faithful before you, and you made a covenant with him to give him the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites—to give it to his descendants. And you have kept your word, for you are righteous.
וּמָצָ֣אתָ אֶת־לְבָבוֹ֮ נֶאֱמָ֣ן לְפָנֶיךָ֒ וְכָר֨וֹת עִמּ֜וֹ הַבְּרִ֗ית לָתֵ֡ת אֶת־אֶרֶץ֩ הַכְּנַעֲנִ֨י הַחִתִּ֜י הָאֱמֹרִ֧י וְהַפְּרִזִּ֛י וְהַיְבוּסִ֥י וְהַגִּרְגָּשִׁ֖י לָתֵ֣ת לְזַרְע֑וֹ וַתָּ֙קֶם֙ אֶת־דְּבָרֶ֔יךָ כִּ֥י צַדִּ֖יק אָֽתָּה׃ ‬
9You saw the misery of our fathers in Egypt; you heard their cry at the Red Sea.
וַתֵּ֛רֶא אֶת־עֳנִ֥י אֲבֹתֵ֖ינוּ בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם וְאֶת־זַעֲקָתָ֥ם שָׁמַ֖עְתָּ עַל־יַם־סֽוּף׃ ‬
10You sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh, against all his servants and all the people of his land, for you knew how arrogantly they treated them. And you made a name for yourself that endures to this day.
וַ֠תִּתֵּן אֹתֹ֨ת וּמֹֽפְתִ֜ים בְּפַרְעֹ֤ה וּבְכָל־עֲבָדָיו֙ וּבְכָל־עַ֣ם אַרְצ֔וֹ כִּ֣י יָדַ֔עְתָּ כִּ֥י הֵזִ֖ידוּ עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם וַתַּֽעַשׂ־לְךָ֥ שֵׁ֖ם כְּהַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ ‬
11You split the sea before them, and they passed through it on dry ground; but their pursuers you hurled into the depths like a stone into raging waters.
וְהַיָּם֙ בָּקַ֣עְתָּ לִפְנֵיהֶ֔ם וַיַּֽעַבְר֥וּ בְתוֹךְ־הַיָּ֖ם בַּיַּבָּשָׁ֑ה וְֽאֶת־רֹ֨דְפֵיהֶ֜ם הִשְׁלַ֧כְתָּ בִמְצוֹלֹ֛ת כְּמוֹ־אֶ֖בֶן בְּמַ֥יִם עַזִּֽים׃ ‬
12By a pillar of cloud you led them by day, and by a pillar of fire at night, to light the way they were to travel.
וּבְעַמּ֣וּד עָנָ֔ן הִנְחִיתָ֖ם יוֹמָ֑ם וּבְעַמּ֥וּד אֵשׁ֙ לַ֔יְלָה לְהָאִ֣יר לָהֶ֔ם אֶת־הַדֶּ֖רֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֵֽלְכוּ־בָֽהּ׃ ‬
13You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven. You gave them just decrees and true laws, good statutes and commandments.
וְעַ֤ל הַר־סִינַי֙ יָרַ֔דְתָּ וְדַבֵּ֥ר עִמָּהֶ֖ם מִשָּׁמָ֑יִם וַתִּתֵּ֨ן לָהֶ֜ם מִשְׁפָּטִ֤ים יְשָׁרִים֙ וְתוֹר֣וֹת אֱמֶ֔ת חֻקִּ֥ים וּמִצְוֺ֖ת טוֹבִֽים׃ ‬
14You made known to them your holy Sabbath, and through your servant Moses you gave them commandments, statutes, and law.
וְאֶת־שַׁבַּ֥ת קָדְשְׁךָ֖ הוֹדַ֣עַתָ לָהֶ֑ם וּמִצְו֤וֹת וְחֻקִּים֙ וְתוֹרָ֔ה צִוִּ֣יתָ לָהֶ֔ם בְּיַ֖ד מֹשֶׁ֥ה עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃ ‬
15For their hunger you gave them bread from heaven, and for their thirst you brought water out of the rock. You told them to go in and take possession of the land you had sworn with uplifted hand to give them.
וְ֠לֶחֶם מִשָּׁמַ֜יִם נָתַ֤תָּה לָהֶם֙ לִרְעָבָ֔ם וּמַ֗יִם מִסֶּ֛לַע הוֹצֵ֥אתָ לָהֶ֖ם לִצְמָאָ֑ם וַתֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֗ם לָבוֹא֙ לָרֶ֣שֶׁת אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־נָשָׂ֥אתָ אֶת־יָדְךָ֖ לָתֵ֥ת לָהֶֽם׃ ‬
16But they and our fathers acted arrogantly; they stiffened their necks and did not obey your commandments.
וְהֵ֥ם וַאֲבֹתֵ֖ינוּ הֵזִ֑ידוּ וַיַּקְשׁוּ֙ אֶת־עָרְפָּ֔ם וְלֹ֥א שָׁמְע֖וּ אֶל־מִצְוֺתֶֽיךָ׃ ‬
17They refused to listen and forgot the wonders you had done among them. They became stiff-necked, and in their rebellion they appointed a leader to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love; you did not abandon them.
וַיְמָאֲנ֣וּ לִשְׁמֹ֗עַ וְלֹא־זָכְר֤וּ נִפְלְאֹתֶ֙יךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשִׂ֣יתָ עִמָּהֶ֔ם וַיַּקְשׁוּ֙ אֶת־עָרְפָּ֔ם וַיִּתְּנוּ־רֹ֛אשׁ לָשׁ֥וּב לְעַבְדֻתָ֖ם בְּמִרְיָ֑ם וְאַתָּה֩ אֱל֨וֹהַּ סְלִיח֜וֹת חַנּ֧וּן וְרַח֛וּם אֶֽרֶךְ־אַפַּ֥יִם וְרַב־*וחסד **חֶ֖סֶד וְלֹ֥א עֲזַבְתָּֽם׃ ‬
18Even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, 'This is your god who brought you up out of Egypt,' committing terrible blasphemies,
אַ֗ף כִּֽי־עָשׂ֤וּ לָהֶם֙ עֵ֣גֶל מַסֵּכָ֔ה וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ זֶ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶעֶלְךָ֖ מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם וֽ͏ַיַּעֲשׂ֔וּ נֶאָצ֖וֹת גְּדֹלֽוֹת׃ ‬
19you in your great mercy did not abandon them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud did not depart from over them by day to lead them on their way, nor the pillar of fire by night to give them light on the road they were to travel.
וְאַתָּה֙ בְּרַחֲמֶ֣יךָ הָֽרַבִּ֔ים לֹ֥א עֲזַבְתָּ֖ם בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר אֶת־עַמּ֣וּד הֶ֠עָנָן לֹא־סָ֨ר מֵעֲלֵיהֶ֤ם בְּיוֹמָם֙ לְהַנְחֹתָ֣ם בְּהַדֶּ֔רֶךְ וְאֶת־עַמּ֨וּד הָאֵ֤שׁ בְּלַ֙יְלָה֙ לְהָאִ֣יר לָהֶ֔ם וְאֶת־הַדֶּ֖רֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֵֽלְכוּ־בָֽהּ׃ ‬
20You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst.
וְרוּחֲךָ֨ הַטּוֹבָ֔ה נָתַ֖תָּ לְהַשְׂכִּילָ֑ם וּמַנְךָ֙ לֹא־מָנַ֣עְתָּ מִפִּיהֶ֔ם וּמַ֛יִם נָתַ֥תָּה לָהֶ֖ם לִצְמָאָֽם׃ ‬
21For forty years you sustained them in the wilderness; they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell.
וְאַרְבָּעִ֥ים שָׁנָ֛ה כִּלְכַּלְתָּ֥ם בַּמִּדְבָּ֖ר לֹ֣א חָסֵ֑רוּ שַׂלְמֹֽתֵיהֶם֙ לֹ֣א בָל֔וּ וְרַגְלֵיהֶ֖ם לֹ֥א בָצֵֽקוּ׃ ‬
22You gave them kingdoms and peoples and allotted to them the lands on every side. They took possession of the land of Sihon, the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.
וַתִּתֵּ֨ן לָהֶ֤ם מַמְלָכוֹת֙ וַעֲמָמִ֔ים וַֽתַּחְלְקֵ֖ם לְפֵאָ֑ה וַיִּֽירְשׁ֞וּ אֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ סִיח֗וֹן וְאֶת־אֶ֙רֶץ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ חֶשְׁבּ֔וֹן וְאֶת־אֶ֖רֶץ ע֥וֹג מֶֽלֶךְ־הַבָּשָֽׁן׃ ‬
23You made their children as numerous as the stars in the sky, and you brought them into the land you had told their fathers to enter and possess.
וּבְנֵיהֶ֣ם הִרְבִּ֔יתָ כְּכֹכְבֵ֖י הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וַתְּבִיאֵם֙ אֶל־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־אָמַ֥רְתָּ לַאֲבֹתֵיהֶ֖ם לָב֥וֹא לָרָֽשֶׁת׃ ‬
24So their children went in and took possession of the land. You subdued before them the Canaanites who lived there and handed them over to them, with their kings and the peoples of the land, to do with them as they pleased.
וַיָּבֹ֤אוּ הַבָּנִים֙ וַיִּֽירְשׁ֣וּ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ וַתַּכְנַ֨ע לִפְנֵיהֶ֜ם אֶת־יֹשְׁבֵ֤י הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ הַכְּנַ֣עֲנִ֔ים וַֽתִּתְּנֵ֖ם בְּיָדָ֑ם וְאֶת־מַלְכֵיהֶם֙ וְאֶת־עַֽמְמֵ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת בָּהֶ֖ם כִּרְצוֹנָֽם׃ ‬
25They captured fortified cities and fertile land. They took over houses full of every good thing, cisterns already hewn, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. They ate and were satisfied; they grew fat and delighted themselves in your great goodness.
וַֽיִּלְכְּד֞וּ עָרִ֣ים בְּצֻרוֹת֮ וַאֲדָמָ֣ה שְׁמֵנָה֒ וַיִּֽירְשׁ֡וּ בָּתִּ֣ים מְלֵֽאִים־כָּל־ט֠וּב בֹּר֨וֹת חֲצוּבִ֜ים כְּרָמִ֧ים וְזֵיתִ֛ים וְעֵ֥ץ מַאֲכָ֖ל לָרֹ֑ב וַיֹּאכְל֤וּ וַֽיִּשְׂבְּעוּ֙ וַיַּשְׁמִ֔ינוּ וַיִּֽתְעַדְּנ֖וּ בְּטוּבְךָ֥ הַגָּדֽוֹל׃ ‬
26But they were defiant and rebelled against you. They cast your law behind their backs and killed your prophets, who had warned them to turn back to you; and they committed terrible blasphemies.
וַיַּמְר֨וּ וַֽיִּמְרְד֜וּ בָּ֗ךְ וַיַּשְׁלִ֤כוּ אֶת־תּוֹרָֽתְךָ֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י גַוָּ֔ם וְאֶת־נְבִיאֶ֣יךָ הָרָ֔גוּ אֲשֶׁר־הֵעִ֥ידוּ בָ֖ם לַהֲשִׁיבָ֣ם אֵלֶ֑יךָ וֽ͏ַיַּעֲשׂ֔וּ נֶאָצ֖וֹת גְּדוֹלֹֽת׃ ‬
27So you handed them over to their enemies, who oppressed them. But when they were oppressed and cried out to you, you heard from heaven, and in your great mercy you gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the hand of their enemies.
וַֽתִּתְּנֵם֙ בְּיַ֣ד צָֽרֵיהֶ֔ם וַיָּצֵ֖רוּ לָהֶ֑ם וּבְעֵ֤ת צָֽרָתָם֙ יִצְעֲק֣וּ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְאַתָּה֙ מִשָּׁמַ֣יִם תִּשְׁמָ֔ע וּֽכְרַחֲמֶ֣יךָ הָֽרַבִּ֗ים תִּתֵּ֤ן לָהֶם֙ מֽוֹשִׁיעִ֔ים וְיוֹשִׁיע֖וּם מִיַּ֥ד צָרֵיהֶֽם׃ ‬
28But as soon as they were at rest, they again did what was evil in your sight. Then you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, who ruled over them. And when they turned back and cried out to you, you heard from heaven, and time after time you rescued them in your mercy.
וּכְנ֣וֹחַ לָהֶ֔ם יָשׁ֕וּבוּ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת רַ֖ע לְפָנֶ֑יךָ וַתַּֽעַזְבֵ֞ם בְּיַ֤ד אֹֽיְבֵיהֶם֙ וַיִּרְדּ֣וּ בָהֶ֔ם וַיָּשׁ֙וּבוּ֙ וַיִּזְעָק֔וּךָ וְאַתָּ֞ה מִשָּׁמַ֧יִם תִּשְׁמַ֛ע וְתַצִּילֵ֥ם כְּֽרַחֲמֶ֖יךָ רַבּ֥וֹת עִתִּֽים׃ ‬
29You warned them to return to your law, but they became arrogant and did not obey your commandments. They sinned against your decrees, by which a person will live if he keeps them. They turned a stubborn shoulder, stiffened their necks, and would not listen.
וַתָּ֨עַד בָּהֶ֜ם לַהֲשִׁיבָ֣ם אֶל־תּוֹרָתֶ֗ךָ וְהֵ֨מָּה הֵזִ֜ידוּ וְלֹא־שָׁמְע֤וּ לְמִצְוֺתֶ֙יךָ֙ וּבְמִשְׁפָּטֶ֣יךָ חָֽטְאוּ־בָ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה אָדָ֖ם וְחָיָ֣ה בָהֶ֑ם וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ כָתֵף֙ סוֹרֶ֔רֶת וְעָרְפָּ֥ם הִקְשׁ֖וּ וְלֹ֥א שָׁמֵֽעוּ׃ ‬
30For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit you warned them through your prophets, yet they would not listen. So you handed them over to the peoples of the lands.
וַתִּמְשֹׁ֤ךְ עֲלֵיהֶם֙ שָׁנִ֣ים רַבּ֔וֹת וַתָּ֨עַד בָּ֧ם בְּרוּחֲךָ֛ בְּיַד־נְבִיאֶ֖יךָ וְלֹ֣א הֶאֱזִ֑ינוּ וַֽתִּתְּנֵ֔ם בְּיַ֖ד עַמֵּ֥י הָאֲרָצֹֽת׃ ‬
31But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and compassionate God.
וּֽבְרַחֲמֶ֧יךָ הָרַבִּ֛ים לֹֽא־עֲשִׂיתָ֥ם כָּלָ֖ה וְלֹ֣א עֲזַבְתָּ֑ם כִּ֛י אֵֽל־חַנּ֥וּן וְרַח֖וּם אָֽתָּה׃ ‬
32Now therefore, our God—the great, mighty, and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love—do not treat lightly all the hardship that has come upon us, upon our kings and leaders, our priests and prophets, our fathers and all your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until today.
וְעַתָּ֣ה אֱ֠לֹהֵינוּ הָאֵ֨ל הַגָּד֜וֹל הַגִּבּ֣וֹר וְהַנּוֹרָא֮ שׁוֹמֵ֣ר הַבְּרִ֣ית וְהַחֶסֶד֒ אַל־יִמְעַ֣ט לְפָנֶ֡יךָ אֵ֣ת כָּל־הַתְּלָאָ֣ה אֽ͏ֲשֶׁר־מְ֠צָאַתְנוּ לִמְלָכֵ֨ינוּ לְשָׂרֵ֧ינוּ וּלְכֹהֲנֵ֛ינוּ וְלִנְבִיאֵ֥נוּ וְלַאֲבֹתֵ֖ינוּ וּלְכָל־עַמֶּ֑ךָ מִימֵי֙ מַלְכֵ֣י אַשּׁ֔וּר עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ ‬
33In all that has happened to us, you have been just; you have acted faithfully, while we have acted wickedly.
וְאַתָּ֣ה צַדִּ֔יק עַ֖ל כָּל־הַבָּ֣א עָלֵ֑ינוּ כִּֽי־אֱמֶ֥ת עָשִׂ֖יתָ וַאֲנַ֥חְנוּ הִרְשָֽׁעְנוּ׃ ‬
34Our kings, our leaders, our priests, and our fathers did not keep your law; they did not heed your commandments or the warnings you gave them.
וְאֶת־מְלָכֵ֤ינוּ שָׂרֵ֙ינוּ֙ כֹּהֲנֵ֣ינוּ וַאֲבֹתֵ֔ינוּ לֹ֥א עָשׂ֖וּ תּוֹרָתֶ֑ךָ וְלֹ֤א הִקְשִׁ֙יבוּ֙ אֶל־מִצְוֺתֶ֔יךָ וּלְעֵ֣דְוֺתֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הַעִידֹ֖תָ בָּהֶֽם׃ ‬
35Even while they were in their kingdom, enjoying the great goodness you gave them in the spacious and fertile land you set before them, they did not serve you or turn from their evil ways.
וְהֵ֣ם בְּמַלְכוּתָם֩ וּבְטוּבְךָ֨ הָרָ֜ב אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֣תָּ לָהֶ֗ם וּבְאֶ֨רֶץ הָרְחָבָ֧ה וְהַשְּׁמֵנָ֛ה אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥תָּ לִפְנֵיהֶ֖ם לֹ֣א עֲבָד֑וּךָ וְֽלֹא־שָׁ֔בוּ מִמַּֽעַלְלֵיהֶ֖ם הָרָעִֽים׃ ‬
36See, we are slaves today—slaves in the very land you gave our fathers so they could enjoy its fruit and its good things.
הִנֵּ֛ה אֲנַ֥חְנוּ הַיּ֖וֹם עֲבָדִ֑ים וְהָאָ֜רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֣תָּה לַאֲבֹתֵ֗ינוּ לֶאֱכֹ֤ל אֶת־פִּרְיָהּ֙ וְאֶת־טוּבָ֔הּ הִנֵּ֛ה אֲנַ֥חְנוּ עֲבָדִ֖ים עָלֶֽיהָ׃ ‬
37Because of our sins, its abundant harvest goes to the kings you have set over us. They rule over our bodies and our livestock as they please. We are in great distress."
וּתְבוּאָתָ֣הּ מַרְבָּ֗ה לַמְּלָכִ֛ים אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥תָּה עָלֵ֖ינוּ בְּחַטֹּאותֵ֑ינוּ וְעַ֣ל גְּ֠וִיֹּתֵינוּ מֹשְׁלִ֤ים וּבִבְהֶמְתֵּ֙נוּ֙ כִּרְצוֹנָ֔ם וּבְצָרָ֥ה גְדוֹלָ֖ה אֲנָֽחְנוּ׃ פ ‬