Nehemiah 9:32–37

THE PRESENT

³²And now, our God, you are the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God. 

You faithfully keep your promises. 

Do not consider all the hardships 

that we have been going through as unimportant. 

The hardships have come to our kings, leaders, priests, prophets, 

ancestors, and all your people 

from the time of the kings of Assyria until now. 

³³But you were fair about everything that has happened to us. 

You have been faithful, but we have been wicked. 

³⁴Our kings, leaders, priests, and ancestors didn’t obey your teachings. 

They didn’t pay attention to your commandments or the warnings 

that you gave them. 

³⁵When they lived in their own kingdom and enjoyed the many good things 

that you gave them in a vast, fertile land 

which was set in front of them, they didn’t serve you 

or turn away from their wicked lives. 

³⁶Look ⸤at us⸥ now. We’re slaves! 

In the land you gave our ancestors, 

they could eat its produce and ⸤enjoy⸥ its good things. 

But now we’re slaves! 

³⁷The many products ⸤from our land⸥ go to the kings you put over us. 

This is because of our sins. 

These kings have control over our bodies, 

and they do as they please with our livestock. 

We are in agony.^b