Then I said:

Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God,(A) who keeps his covenant of love(B) with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear(C) the prayer(D) your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess(E) the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly(F) toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

“Remember(G) the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter(H) you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather(I) them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’(J)

10 “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand.(K) 11 Lord, let your ear be attentive(L) to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor(M) in the presence of this man.”

I was cupbearer(N) to the king.

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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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