Israel

In the seventh year of Artach'shashta the king, some of the people of Isra'el, and some of the cohanim, L'vi'im, singers, gatekeepers and temple servants went up to Yerushalayim.

Let your ear now be attentive and your eyes be open, so that you will listen to the prayer of your servant, which I am praying before you these days, day and night, for the people of Isra'el your servants - even as I confess the sins of the people of Isra'el that we have committed against you. Yes, I and my father's house have sinned.

When Sanvalat the Horoni and Toviyah the servant, the 'Amoni, heard about this, they were very displeased that someone had come to promote the welfare of the people of Isra'el.

"So the cohanim, the L'vi'im, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants and all Isra'el lived in their towns."

They found written in the Torah that ADONAI had ordered through Moshe that the people of Isra'el were to live in sukkot during the feast of the seventh month;

The entire community of those who had returned from the exile made sukkot and lived in the sukkot, for the people of Isra'el had not done this since the days of Yeshua the son of Nun. So there was very great joy.

On the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Isra'el, wearing sackcloth and with dirt on them, assembled for a fast.

For the people of Isra'el and the descendants of Levi are to bring the contribution of grain, wine and olive oil to the rooms where the equipment for the sanctuary, the ministering cohanim, the gatekeepers and the singers are. We will not abandon the house of our God."

because they did not supply the people of Isra'el with food and water, but hired Bil'am against them to put a curse on them - although our God turned the curse into a blessing.

How I wish Isra'el's salvation would come out of Tziyon! When ADONAI restores his people's fortunes, Ya'akov will rejoice, Isra'el will be glad!

For the leader. A psalm of David: May ADONAI answer you in times of distress, may the name of the God of Ya'akov protect you.

"You who fear ADONAI, praise him! All descendants of Ya'akov, glorify him! All descendants of Isra'el, stand in awe of him!

Such is the character of those who seek him, of Ya'akov, who seeks your face. (Selah)

God, you are my king; command complete victory for Ya'akov.

ADONAI-Tzva'ot is with us, our fortress, the God of Ya'akov. (Selah) (Selah)

ADONAI-Tzva'ot is with us, our fortress, the God of Ya'akov. (Selah)

He chooses our heritage for us, the pride of Ya'akov, whom he loves. (Selah)

If only salvation for Isra'el would come out of Tziyon! When God restores his people's fortunes, what joy for Ya'akov! what gladness for Isra'el!

Finish them off in wrath, finish them off, put an end to them, and let them know to the ends of the earth that God is Ruler in Ya'akov. (Selah)

But I will always speak out, singing praises to the God of Ya'akov.

At your rebuke, God of Ya'akov, riders and horses lie stunned.

With your arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Ya'akov and Yosef. (Selah)

He raised up a testimony in Ya'akov and established a Torah in Isra'el. He commanded our ancestors to make this known to their children,

Therefore, when ADONAI heard, he was angry; fire blazed up against Ya'akov; his anger mounted against Isra'el;

from tending nursing ewes he brought him to shepherd Ya'akov his people, Isra'el his heritage.