The People Confess Their Sins
1 On the twenty-fourth day of the seventh month, the people of Israel went without eating, and they dressed in sackcloth and threw dirt on their heads to show their sorrow. 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 worshiped 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 praises
to your Lord,
the eternal God!
Praise his wonderful name,
though he is greater
than words can express.”
The People Pray
6 You alone are the Lord,
Creator of the heavens
and all the stars,
Creator of the earth
and those who live on it,
Creator of the ocean
and all its creatures.
You are the source of life,
praised by the stars
that fill the heavens.
7 You are the Lord our God,
the one who chose Abram—
you brought him from Ur
in Babylonia
and named him Abraham.
8 Because he was faithful,
you made an agreement
to give his descendants
the land of the Canaanites
and Hittites,
of the Amorites and Perizzites,
and of the Jebusites
and Girgashites.
Now you have kept your promise,
just as you always do.
9 When our ancestors
were 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 Egypt
and his officials and his nation
had mistreated your people.
So you worked fearsome miracles
against the Egyptians
and earned a reputation
that still remains.
11 You divided the deep sea,
and your people walked through
on dry land.
But you tossed their enemies in,
and they sank down
like a heavy stone.
12 Each day you led your people
with a thick cloud,
and at night you showed the way
with a flaming fire.
13 At Sinai you came down
from heaven,
and you gave your people
good laws and teachings
that are fair and honest.
14 You commanded them to respect
your holy Sabbath,
and you instructed
your servant Moses
to teach them your laws.
15 When they were hungry,
you sent bread from heaven,
and when they were thirsty,
you let water flow
from a rock.
Then you commanded them
to capture the land
that you had solemnly promised.
* 16 Our stubborn ancestors
refused to obey—
they forgot about the miracles
you had worked for them,
and they were determined
to return to Egypt
and become slaves again.
17 But, our God, you are merciful
and quick to forgive;
you are loving, kind,
and very patient.
So you never turned away
from them—
18 not even when they made
an idol shaped like a calf
and insulted you by claiming,
“This is the god who rescued us
from Egypt.”
19 Because of your great mercy,
you never abandoned them
in the desert.
And you always guided them
with a cloud by day
and a fire at night.
20 Your gentle Spirit
instructed them,
and you gave them manna to eat
and water to drink.
21 You took good care of them,
and for forty years
they never lacked a thing.
Their clothes didn't wear out,
and their feet were never swollen.
22 You let them conquer kings
and take their land,
including King Sihon of Heshbon
and King Og of Bashan.
23 You brought them into the land
that you had promised
their ancestors,
and you blessed their nation
with people that outnumbered
the stars in the sky.
24 Then their descendants
conquered the land.
You helped them defeat
the kings and nations
and treat their enemies
however they wished.
25 They captured strong cities
and rich farmland;
they took furnished houses,
as well as cisterns,
vineyards, olive orchards,
and numerous fruit trees.
They ate till they were satisfied,
and they celebrated
your abundant blessings.
26 In spite of this, they rebelled
and disobeyed your laws.
They killed your prophets,
who warned them
to turn back to you,
and they cursed your name.
27 So you handed them over
to their enemies,
who treated them terribly.
But in their sufferings,
they begged you to help.
From heaven you listened
to their prayers
and because of your great mercy,
you sent leaders to rescue them.
28 But when they were at peace,
they would turn against you,
and you would hand them over
to their enemies.
Then they would beg for help,
and because you are merciful,
you rescued them
over and over again.
29 You warned them to turn back
and discover true life
by obeying your laws.
But they stubbornly refused
and continued to sin.
30 For years, you were patient,
and your Spirit warned them
with messages spoken
by your prophets.
Still they refused to listen,
and you handed them over
to their enemies.
31 But you are merciful and kind,
and so you never forgot them
or let them be destroyed.
32 Our God, you are powerful,
fearsome, and faithful,
always true to your word.
So please keep in mind
the terrible sufferings
of our people, kings, leaders,
priests, and prophets,
from the time Assyria ruled
until this very day.
33 You have always been fair
when you punished us
for our sins.
34 Our kings and leaders,
our priests and ancestors
have never obeyed your commands
or heeded your warnings.
35 You blessed them with a kingdom
and with an abundance
of rich, fertile land,
but they refused to worship you
or turn from their evil.
36 Now we are slaves
in this fruitful land
you gave to our ancestors.
37 Its plentiful harvest is taken
by kings you placed over us
because of our sins.
Our suffering is unbearable,
because they do as they wish
to us and our livestock.
The People Make an Agreement
38 And so, a firm agreement was made that had the official approval of the leaders, the Levites, and priests.
Tauta izsūdz grēkus
1 Šī paša mēneša divdesmit ceturtajā dienā Israēla dēli, tērpušies maisos un zemi uz galvas, sapulcējās gavēt. 2 Israēla dzimums nošķīrās no visiem svešinieku dēliem un sāka sūdzēt savus grēkus un savu tēvu vainas. 3 Tad tie cēlās katrs no savas vietas un dienas ceturtās daļas garumā lasīja Kunga, sava Dieva, bauslības grāmatu, bet otru ceturto daļu dienas tie sūdzēja grēkus un zemojās Kungam, savam Dievam.
4 Uz paaugstinājuma stāvēja levīti: Jozua, Bānī, Kadmiēls, Šebanja, Šērēbja, Bunnī, Kenānī un skaļā balsī raudāja uz Kungu, savu Dievu. 5 Levīti Jozua, Kadmiēls, Bānī, Hašabnja, Šērēbja, Hodija, Šebanja un Petahja sacīja: “Celieties, slavējiet Kungu, savu Dievu!
No mūžības līdz mūžībai
slavēts tavs godības vārds,
augstāks par visu slavu un svētību!
6 Tu vienīgais Kungs,
tu veidoji debesis,
debesu debesis,
visus to pulkus,
zemi un visu uz tās,
jūru un visu tajā –
visu tu dari dzīvu!
Tev zemojas debesu pulki!
7 Tu esi Kungs Dievs,
tu izvēlējies Ābramu,
liki tam aiziet no kaldiešu Ūras,
devi tam vārdu Ābrahāms!
8 Tu redzēji,
ka viņa sirds taisnīga,
slēdzi ar viņu derību,
ka dosi tam zemi –
kanaāniešu, hetiešu, amoriešu,
periziešu, jebūsiešu, girgašiešu, –
dosi tā pēcnācējiem!
Tu savu vārdu turēji,
jo tu esi taisns!
9 Mūsu tēvu ciešanas Ēģiptē
tu uzlūkoji,
viņu raudas pie Niedru jūras
tu sadzirdēji!
10 Zīmes un brīnumus
tu darīji faraonam,
visiem viņa kalpiem
un viņa zemes ļaudīm!
Tu zināji,
kā tie pār mums dižojās,
tu pierādīji savu vārdu
gluži kā šodien!
11 Tu viņu priekšā pāršķēli jūru,
tie šķērsoja jūru pa sausu zemi!
Viņu vajātājus tu iemeti dzīlē
kā akmeni varenos ūdeņos!
12 Tu vadīji tos
ar mākoņu stabu dienā,
ar uguns stabu naktī,
lai ir gaisma ceļā,
pa kuru iet!
13 Uz Sīnaja kalna tu nāci lejā,
no debesīm tu ar tiem runāji,
tu devi tiem taisnu tiesu,
patiesu bauslību,
labus likumus,
labas pavēles!
14 Tu viņiem mācīji svēto sabatu,
pavēles, likumus, bauslību –
viņiem tos pavēlēji
caur savu kalpu Mozu!
15 Kad tie bija izsalkuši,
tu devi maizi no debesīm,
kad tie bija izslāpuši,
tu liki no klints plūst ūdenim!
Tu sacīji tiem: ejiet, mantojiet zemi!
Tu biji zvērējis viņiem to dot!
16 Mūsu tēvi bija iedomīgi,
bija stūrgalvīgi, taviem baušļiem neklausīja!
17 Tie liedzas klausīt!
Tavus darītos brīnumus
viņi neatceras –
stūrgalvīgi ieceļ vadoņus,
lai atgrieztos Ēģiptes verdzībā!
Bet tu, Dievs,
tu piedod, žēlo un apžēlo!
Lēns dusmās, dāsns žēlastībā!
Tu viņus nepamet!
18 Kaut arī viņi sev izlēja metāla teļu
un sacīja: šis mums ir dievs,
kas no Ēģiptes izveda!
Tā viņi tevi zaimoja!
19 Bet tu savā lielajā žēlastībā
tos tuksnesī nepameti!
Mākoņu stabs no tiem neatkāpās,
dienā vadīdams ceļā,
un naktī uguns stabs –
lai gaisma ceļā, pa kuru tie iet.
20 Savu labo Garu tu devi,
lai tiem būtu padoms,
viņu mutēm tu neliedzi mannu,
viņu slāpēm tu devi ūdeni!
21 Četrdesmit gadus tuksnesī baroji,
ka nenieka tiem netrūka –
apģērbs nedila, kājas netūka!
22 Tu viņiem atdevi valstis un tautas,
tu tiem dalīji zemes,
tā viņi mantoja Sīhona zemi
un Hešbonas ķēniņa zemi,
un Bāšānas ķēniņa Oga zemi!
23 Viņu dēlus tu vairoji –
kā zvaigznes debesīs,
ievedi viņus zemē,
ko viņu tēviem solīji mantot!
24 Viņu dēli gāja un mantoja zemi!
Tu pakļāvi viņiem kanaāniešus,
tās zemes iemītniekus,
nodevi tos viņu rokās –
ķēniņus un vienkāršus ļaudis,
lai dara ar tiem pēc sava prāta!
25 Viņi ieņēma cietokšņu pilsētas
un treknu zemi,
viņi ieguva namus,
pilnus visāda labuma,
un klints akas, vīnadārzus, olīvkokus,
un milzum daudz augļu koku!
Viņi ēda, pieēdās un kļuva trekni,
dzīvoja tavā lielajā labumā grezni!
26 Bet viņi nepakļāvās,
pret tevi sacēlās,
tavu bauslību pavisam atmeta,
tavus praviešus,
kas liecināja, lai atgriežas pie tevis,
viņi nokāva –
tā viņi tevi zaimoja!
27 Tad tu viņus atdevi pretiniekiem,
un tie viņus mocīja,
mokās viņi raudāja, sauca tevi,
un tu no debesīm uzklausīji,
jo tu esi liels žēlsirdībā!
Tu devi tiem glābējus,
tie viņus no ienaidniekiem izglāba!
28 Bet, kad tiem bija miers,
tie atkal darīja ļaunu,
un tu tos pameti ienaidniekiem,
un tie pār viņiem valdīja,
tad raudot tie tevi sauca,
un tu no debesīm uzklausīji,
daudzkārt tu viņus atbrīvoji savā žēlsirdībā!
29 Tu liecināji tiem,
lai atgriežas pie tavas bauslības,
bet viņi uzpūtās,
tavas pavēles neklausīja,
grēkoja pret tavu tiesu,
kas cilvēkam jāpilda, lai dzīvotu!
Tie bija stūrgalvīgi –
pagrieza muguru un neklausīja!
30 Tava laipnība pret tiem
bija uz daudziem gadiem,
tu liecināji tiem
caur savu Garu,
caur saviem praviešiem!
Bet viņi neklausīja,
tādēļ tu viņus atdevi svešām tautām!
31 Tu esi jo žēlsirdīgs,
tu nedarīji tiem galu,
tu viņus nepameti,
jo tu esi žēlsirdīgs Dievs,
tu esi žēlīgs!
32 Jel, mūsu Dievs,
liels, varens, bijājams Dievs,
tu turi derību un žēlastību,
lai tev nešķiet mazas
visas grūtības,
kurās mēs nonākam –
mūsu ķēniņi, dižkungi,
mūsu priesteri, pravieši,
mūsu tēvi un visa tava tauta –
kopš Asīrijas ķēniņu laika
līdz pat šim laikam!
33 Tu esi taisnīgs it visā,
kas nācis pār mums,
tu esi uzticīgs,
bet mēs esam ļauni!
34 Mūsu ķēniņi un augstmaņi,
priesteri un mūsu tēvi
nav pildījuši tavu bauslību,
nav ievērojuši tavas pavēles
un tavas liecības, ko tu viņiem devi.
35 Viņu pašu valstī,
savā lielajā labvēlībā
ko tu viņiem devi,
zemē, kas plaša un trekna, –
tu viņiem to devi! –
viņi tev nekalpoja,
neatkāpās no saviem
ļaunajiem darbiem!
36 Redzi, šodien mēs esam vergi,
zemē, kuru tu devi mūsu tēviem,
lai mēs ēstu tās augļus un labumus,
redzi, šeit mēs esam vergi!
37 Tās raža ienākas ķēniņiem,
kurus tu pār mums iecēli
mūsu grēku dēļ, –
pār mūsu miesu un lopiem
tie valda, kā viņiem tīk!
Mēs esam lielā postā!”
