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And while the sacrifice was being consumed, the priests offered prayer—the priests and everyone. Jonathan led, and the rest responded, as did Nehemiah.
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The prayer was to this effect: "O Lord, Lord God, Creator of all things, you are awe-inspiring and strong and just and merciful, you alone are king and are kind,
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you alone are bountiful, you alone are just and almighty and eternal. You rescue Israel from every evil; you chose the ancestors and consecrated them.
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Accept this sacrifice on behalf of all your people Israel and preserve your portion and make it holy.
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Gather together our scattered people, set free those who are slaves among the Gentiles, look on those who are rejected and despised, and let the Gentiles know that you are our God.
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Punish those who oppress and are insolent with pride.
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Plant your people in your holy place, as Moses promised."
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Then the priests sang the hymns.
31
After the materials of the sacrifice had been consumed, Nehemiah ordered that the liquid that was left should be poured on large stones.
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When this was done, a flame blazed up; but when the light from the altar shone back, it went out.
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When this matter became known, and it was reported to the king of the Persians that, in the place where the exiled priests had hidden the fire, the liquid had appeared with which Nehemiah and his associates had burned the materials of the sacrifice,