25
who alone art bountiful, who alone art just and almighty and eternal, who dost rescue Israel from every evil, who didst choose the fathers and consecrate them,
26
accept this sacrifice on behalf of all thy people Israel and preserve thy portion and make it holy.
27
Gather together our scattered people, set free those who are slaves among the Gentiles, look upon those who are rejected and despised, and let the Gentiles know that thou art our God.
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Afflict those who oppress and are insolent with pride.
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Plant thy people in thy holy place, as Moses said."
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Then the priests sang the hymns.
31
And when the materials of the sacrifice were consumed, Nehemiah ordered that the liquid that was left should be poured upon large stones.
32
When this was done, a flame blazed up; but when the light from the altar shone back, it went out.
33
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,
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the king investigated the matter, and enclosed the place and made it sacred.
35
And with those persons whom the king favored he exchanged many excellent gifts.