Nehemiah 9:35-37

Easy-to-Read Version

³⁵ Our ancestors didn’t serve you even when they were living in their own kingdom.
    They didn’t stop doing evil.
    They enjoyed all the wonderful things you gave them.
They enjoyed the rich land and had plenty of room,
    but they didn’t stop their evil ways.
³⁶ And now, we are slaves.
We are slaves in this land,
    the land you gave our ancestors
    so they could enjoy its fruit
    and all the good things that grow here.
³⁷ The harvest is big in this land.
    But we sinned, so that harvest goes to the kings you put over us.
They control us and our cattle.
    They do anything they want.
    We are in a lot of trouble.