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(A)I prayed to the Lord, my God, and confessed, “Ah, Lord, great and awesome God, you who keep your covenant and show mercy toward those who love you and keep your commandments and your precepts! We have sinned, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and turned from your commandments and your laws. We have not obeyed your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, our ancestors, and all the people of the land. Justice, O Lord, is on your side; we are shamefaced even to this day: the men of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, and all Israel, near and far, in all the lands to which you have scattered them because of their treachery toward you. O Lord, we are ashamed, like our kings, our princes, and our ancestors, for having sinned against you. But to the Lord, our God, belong compassion and forgiveness, though we rebelled against him 10 and did not hear the voice of the Lord, our God, by walking in his laws given through his servants the prophets. 11 (B)The curse and the oath written in the law of Moses, the servant of God, were poured out over us for our sins, because all Israel transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to hear your voice. 12 He fulfilled the words he spoke against us and against those who ruled us, by bringing upon us an evil—no evil so great has happened under heaven as happened in Jerusalem. 13 As it is written[a] in the law of Moses, this evil has come upon us. We did not appease the Lord, our God, by turning back from our wickedness and acting according to your truth, 14 so the Lord kept watch over the evil and brought it upon us. The Lord, our God, is just in all that he has done: we did not listen to his voice.

15 “Now, Lord, our God, who led your people out of the land of Egypt with a strong hand, and made a name for yourself even to this day, we have sinned, we are guilty. 16 Lord, in keeping with all your just deeds, let your anger and your wrath be turned away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain. On account of our sins and the crimes of our ancestors, Jerusalem and your people have become the reproach of all our neighbors. 17 Now, our God, hear the prayer and petition of your servant; and for your own sake, Lord, let your face shine upon your desolate sanctuary. 18 Give ear, my God, and listen; open your eyes and look upon our desolate city upon which your name is invoked. When we present our petition before you, we rely not on our just deeds, but on your great mercy. 19 Lord, hear! Lord, pardon! Lord, be attentive and act without delay, for your own sake, my God, because your name is invoked upon your city and your people!”

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Footnotes

  1. 9:13 As it is written: the first time that this formula of Scriptural citation is used in the Bible. The reference (v. 11) is to the sanctions of Lv 26:14–16; Dt 28:15–17.

I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:(A)

“Lord, the great and awesome God,(B) who keeps his covenant of love(C) with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned(D) and done wrong.(E) We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away(F) from your commands and laws.(G) We have not listened(H) to your servants the prophets,(I) who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors,(J) and to all the people of the land.

“Lord, you are righteous,(K) but this day we are covered with shame(L)—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered(M) us because of our unfaithfulness(N) to you.(O) We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against you.(P) The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving,(Q) even though we have rebelled against him;(R) 10 we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets.(S) 11 All Israel has transgressed(T) your law(U) and turned away, refusing to obey you.

“Therefore the curses(V) and sworn judgments(W) written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned(X) against you. 12 You have fulfilled(Y) the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster.(Z) Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like(AA) what has been done to Jerusalem.(AB) 13 Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord(AC) our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth.(AD) 14 The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster(AE) on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does;(AF) yet we have not obeyed him.(AG)

15 “Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand(AH) and who made for yourself a name(AI) that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. 16 Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts,(AJ) turn away(AK) your anger and your wrath(AL) from Jerusalem,(AM) your city, your holy hill.(AN) Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn(AO) to all those around us.

17 “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor(AP) on your desolate sanctuary. 18 Give ear,(AQ) our God, and hear;(AR) open your eyes and see(AS) the desolation of the city that bears your Name.(AT) We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.(AU) 19 Lord, listen! Lord, forgive!(AV) Lord, hear and act! For your sake,(AW) my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”

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