1 Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them. 2 And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers. 3 And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God.
4 ¶ Then stood up upon the stairs, of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto the LORD their God. 5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless the LORD your God for ever and ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. 6 Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee. 7 Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham; 8 And foundest his heart faithful before thee, and madest a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give it, I say , to his seed, and hast performed thy words; for thou art righteous: 9 And didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red sea; 10 And shewedst signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land: for thou knewest that they dealt proudly against them. So didst thou get thee a name, as it is this day. 11 And thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their persecutors thou threwest into the deeps, as a stone into the mighty waters. 12 Moreover thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar; and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go. 13 Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments: 14 And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant: 15 And gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promisedst them that they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them. 16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments, 17 And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not. 18 Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations; 19 Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go. 20 Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst. 21 Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not. 22 Moreover thou gavest them kingdoms and nations, and didst divide them into corners: so they possessed the land of Sihon, and the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan. 23 Their children also multipliedst thou as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them into the land, concerning which thou hadst promised to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it . 24 So the children went in and possessed the land, and thou subduedst before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gavest them into their hands, with their kings, and the people of the land, that they might do with them as they would. 25 And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells digged, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness. 26 Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations. 27 Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies. 28 But after they had rest, they did evil again before thee: therefore leftest thou them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned, and cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and many times didst thou deliver them according to thy mercies; 29 And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear. 30 Yet many years didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by thy spirit in thy prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people of the lands. 31 Nevertheless for thy great mercies’ sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God. 32 Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day. 33 Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly: 34 Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, nor hearkened unto thy commandments and thy testimonies, wherewith thou didst testify against them. 35 For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works. 36 Behold, we are servants this day, and for the land that thou gavest unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof, behold, we are servants in it: 37 And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins: also they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress. 38 And because of all this we make a sure covenant , and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it .
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!”
