36 “But see, we are slaves today, slaves in the land you gave our ancestors so they could eat its fruit and the other good things it produces. 37 Because of our sins, its abundant harvest goes to the kings you have placed over us. They rule over our bodies and our cattle as they please. We are in great distress.

38 “In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement, putting it in writing, and our leaders, our Levites and our priests are affixing their seals to it.”

36 Behold, we are servants this day, and for the land that thou gavest unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof, behold, we are servants in it: 37 And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins: also they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress. 38 And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it.

36 “So now today we are slaves in the land of plenty that you gave our ancestors for their enjoyment! We are slaves here in this good land. 37 The lush produce of this land piles up in the hands of the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They have power over us and our livestock. We serve them at their pleasure, and we are in great misery.”

38 The people responded, “In view of all this, we are making a solemn promise and putting it in writing. On this sealed document are the names of our leaders and Levites and priests.”

36 “Here we are, servants today!

And the land that You gave to our fathers,

To eat its fruit and its bounty,

Here we are, servants in it!

37 And it yields much increase to the kings

You have set over us,

Because of our sins;

Also they have dominion over our bodies and our cattle

At their pleasure;

And we are in great distress.

38 “And because of all this,

We make a sure covenant and write it;

Our leaders, our Levites, and our priests seal it.”

36 “Look, we are slaves today

in the land you gave our ancestors.

They were to enjoy its fruit and its good things,

but look, we are slaves here.

37 The land’s great harvest belongs to the kings you have put over us

because of our sins.

Those kings rule over us and our cattle as they please,

so we are in much trouble.

38 “Because of all this, we are making an agreement in writing, and our leaders, Levites, and priests are putting their seals on it.”

36 Behold, we are servants this day, and as for the land that thou gavest unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof, behold, we are servants in it. 37 And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins: also they have power over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress. 38 And yet for all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, our Levites, and our priests, seal unto it.

36 Behold, we are servants this day, and the land that thou gavest unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof, behold, we are bondmen in it. 37 And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins: and they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure; and we are in great distress. 38 And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, our Levites, and our priests are at the sealing.

36 Look ⸤at us⸥ now. We’re slaves! 

In the land you gave our ancestors, 

they could eat its produce and ⸤enjoy⸥ its good things. 

But now we’re slaves! 

37 The many products ⸤from our land⸥ go to the kings you put over us. 

This is because of our sins. 

These kings have control over our bodies, 

and they do as they please with our livestock. 

We are in agony.

38 “We are making a binding agreement ⸤and putting it⸥ in writing because of all this. Our leaders, Levites, and priests are putting their seals on the document.” 

36 Here we are today,

slaves in the land You gave our ancestors

so that they could enjoy its fruit and its goodness.

Here we are—slaves in it!

37 Its abundant harvest goes to the kings

You have set over us,

because of our sins.

They rule over our bodies

and our livestock as they please.

We are in great distress.

38 In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement in writing on a sealed document containing the names of our leaders, Levites, and priests.

36 Here we are, slaves to this day—slaves in the land that you gave to our ancestors to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts. 37 Its rich yield goes to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins; they have power also over our bodies and over our livestock at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.”

38 Because of all this we make a firm agreement in writing, and on that sealed document are inscribed the names of our officials, our Levites, and our priests.

36 Behold, we are slaves to this day, and the land that you have given to our ancestors to eat its fruits and enjoy its goodness—behold, we are slaves in it! 37 Its rich yield goes to the kings whom you have given over us because of our sins, and they are ruling over our dead bodies and our livestock at their pleasure. We are in great trouble.

38  “Now because of all of this we make a binding written agreement and are writing on the sealed documents the names of our commanders, our Levites, and our priests.”

36 “Now look at us. We are slaves today. We’re slaves in the land you gave our people long ago. You gave it to them so they could eat its fruit and the other good things it produces. 37 But we have sinned against you. So its great harvest goes to the kings of Persia. You have placed them over us. They rule over our bodies and cattle just as they please. And we are suffering terribly.

38 “So we are making a firm agreement. We’re writing it down. Our leaders are stamping it with their seals. And so are our Levites and priests.”

36 “Behold, we are slaves today,

And as to the land which You gave to our fathers to eat of its fruit and its bounty,

Behold, we are slaves in it.

37 “Its abundant produce is for the kings

Whom You have set over us because of our sins;

They also rule over our bodies

And over our cattle as they please,

So we are in great distress.

38 “Now because of all this

We are making an agreement in writing;

And on the sealed document are the names of our leaders, our Levites and our priests.”