and together they sang praises and gave thanks to the Eternal. Priests and Levites: We praise him because He is good and because of His continual and loyal love for Israel. All the people joined in, shouting praises to the Eternal because the foundation of His temple was complete.

You have blessed me with Your loyal love and strengthened me with Your motivation as I stood before the king and his cabinet and his princes. Because of You I was able to convince the elders of Israel to accompany me back to Jerusalem.

We are still their slaves. In this bondage, You, our True God, have not forgotten us; Your loyal love inspired the kings of Persia to allow us to rebuild Your house and the walls to provide protection in Judah and Jerusalem.

But in spite of Your love, we have abandoned Your commands, and we have no excuse.