Nehemiah 9:1-3

Expanded Bible

The People’s Prayer^(A)

Israel Confesses Sins

9 On the twenty-fourth day of that same month [October 31], the people of Israel ·gathered [assembled]. They fasted, and they wore ·rough cloth [sackcloth] and put dust on their heads [^Csigns of grief or repentance]. ² ·Those people whose ancestors were from Israel [^LThe seed of Israel] had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood and confessed their sins and their ancestors’ ·sins [iniquities]. ³ For a fourth of the day [^Cthree hours] they stood where they were and read from the ·Book [scroll] of the ·Teachings [Laws; Instructions; ^LTorah] of the Lord their God. For another fourth of the day they confessed their sins and worshiped the Lord their God.