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1. On the twenty-fourth day of that same month, the people of Israel gathered. They did not eat, and they wore rough cloth and put dust on their heads to show their sadness.
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1. Now in the twenty H6242 and fourth H702 day H3117 of this H2088 month H2320 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 were assembled H622 with fasting H6685 , and with sackclothes H8242 , and earth H127 upon H5921 them.
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2. Those people whose ancestors were from Israel had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood and confessed their sins and their ancestors' sins.
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2. And the seed H2233 of Israel H3478 separated themselves H914 from all H4480 H3605 strangers H1121 H5236 , and stood H5975 and confessed H3034 H5921 their sins H2403 , and the iniquities H5771 of their fathers H1 .
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3. For a fourth of the day they stood where they were and read from the Book of the Teachings of the Lord their God. For another fourth of the day they confessed their sins and worshiped the Lord their God.
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3. And they stood up H6965 in H5921 their place H5977 , and read H7121 in the book H5612 of the law H8451 of the LORD H3068 their God H430 one fourth H7243 part of the day H3117 ; and another fourth H7243 part they confessed H3034 , and worshiped H7812 the LORD H3068 their God H430 .
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4. These Levites were standing on the stairs: Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Kenani. They called out to the Lord their God with loud voices.
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4. Then stood up H6965 upon H5921 the stairs H4608 , of the Levites H3881 , Jeshua H3442 , and Bani H1137 , Kadmiel H6934 , Shebaniah H7645 , Bunni H1138 , Sherebiah H8274 , Bani H1137 , and Chenani H3662 , and cried H2199 with a loud H1419 voice H6963 unto H413 the LORD H3068 their God H430 .
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5. Then these Levites spoke: Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah. They said, "Stand up and praise the Lord your God, who lives forever and ever." "Blessed be your wonderful name. It is more wonderful than all blessing and praise.
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5. Then the Levites H3881 , Jeshua H3442 , and Kadmiel H6934 , Bani H1137 , Hashabniah H2813 , Sherebiah H8274 , Hodijah H1941 , Shebaniah H7645 , and Pethahiah H6611 , said H559 , Stand up H6965 and bless H1288 H853 the LORD H3068 your God H430 forever H4480 H5769 and H5704 ever H5769 : and blessed H1288 be thy glorious H3519 name H8034 , which is exalted H7311 above H5921 all H3605 blessing H1293 and praise H8416 .
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6. You are the only Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, with all the stars. You made the earth and everything on it, the seas and everything in them; you give life to everything. The heavenly army worships you.
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6. Thou H859 , even thou H1931 , art LORD H3068 alone H905 ; thou H859 hast made H6213 H853 heaven H8064 , the heaven H8064 of heavens H8064 , with all H3605 their host H6635 , the earth H776 , and all H3605 things that H834 are therein H5921 , the seas H3220 , and all H3605 that H834 is therein , and thou H859 preservest H2421 H853 them all H3605 ; and the host H6635 of heaven H8064 worshipeth H7812 thee.
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7. "You are the Lord, the God who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur in Babylonia and named him Abraham.
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7. Thou H859 art the LORD H3068 the God H430 , who H834 didst choose H977 Abram H87 , and broughtest him forth H3318 out of Ur H4480 H218 of the Chaldees H3778 , and gavest H7760 him the name H8034 of Abraham H85 ;
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8. You found him faithful to you, so you made an agreement with him to give his descendants the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites. You have kept your promise, because you do what is right.
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8. And foundest H4672 H853 his heart H3824 faithful H539 before H6440 thee , and madest H3772 a covenant H1285 with H5973 him to give H5414 H853 the land H776 of the Canaanites H3669 , the Hittites H2850 , the Amorites H567 , and the Perizzites H6522 , and the Jebusites H2983 , and the Girgashites H1622 , to give H5414 it, I say , to his seed H2233 , and hast performed H6965 H853 thy words H1697 ; for H3588 thou H859 art righteous H6662 :
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9. "You saw our ancestors suffering in Egypt and heard them cry out at the Red Sea.
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9. And didst see H7200 H853 the affliction H6040 of our fathers H1 in Egypt H4714 , and heardest H8085 their cry H2201 by H5921 the Red H5488 sea H3220 ;
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10. You did signs and miracles against the king of Egypt, and against all his officers and all his people, because you knew how proud they were. You became as famous as you are today.
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10. And showedst H5414 signs H226 and wonders H4159 upon Pharaoh H6547 , and on all H3605 his servants H5650 , and on all H3605 the people H5971 of his land H776 : for H3588 thou knewest H3045 that H3588 they dealt proudly H2102 against H5921 them . So didst thou get H6213 thee a name H8034 , as it is this H2088 day H3117 .
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11. You divided the sea in front of our ancestors; they walked through on dry ground. But you threw the people chasing them into the deep water, like a stone thrown into mighty waters.
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11. And thou didst divide H1234 the sea H3220 before H6440 them , so that they went through H5674 the midst H8432 of the sea H3220 on the dry land H3004 ; and their persecutors H7291 thou threwest H7993 into the deeps H4688 , as H3644 a stone H68 into the mighty H5794 waters H4325 .
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12. You led our ancestors with a pillar of cloud by day and with a pillar of fire at night. It lit the way they were supposed to go.
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12. Moreover thou leddest H5148 them in the day H3119 by a cloudy H6051 pillar H5982 ; and in the night H3915 by a pillar H5982 of fire H784 , to give them light H215 in H853 the way H1870 wherein H834 they should go H1980 .
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13. You came down to Mount Sinai and spoke from heaven to our ancestors. You gave them fair rules and true teachings, good orders and commands.
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13. Thou camest down H3381 also upon H5921 mount H2022 Sinai H5514 , and spakest H1696 with H5973 them from heaven H4480 H8064 , and gavest H5414 them right H3477 judgments H4941 , and true H571 laws H8451 , good H2896 statutes H2706 and commandments H4687 :
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14. You told them about your holy Sabbath and gave them commands, orders, and teachings through your servant Moses.
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14. And madest known H3045 unto them thy holy H6944 sabbath H7676 , and commandedst H6680 them precepts H4687 , statutes H2706 , and laws H8451 , by the hand H3027 of Moses H4872 thy servant H5650 :
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15. When they were hungry, you gave them bread from heaven. When they were thirsty, you brought them water from the rock. You told them to enter and take over the land you had promised to give them.
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15. And gavest H5414 them bread H3899 from heaven H4480 H8064 for their hunger H7458 , and broughtest forth H3318 water H4325 for them out of the rock H4480 H5553 for their thirst H6772 , and promisedst H559 them that they should go in H935 to possess H3423 H853 the land H776 which H834 thou hadst sworn H5375 H853 H3027 to give H5414 them.
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16. "But our ancestors were proud and stubborn and did not obey your commands.
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16. But they H1992 and our fathers H1 dealt proudly H2102 , and hardened H7185 H853 their necks H6203 , and hearkened H8085 not H3808 to H413 thy commandments H4687 ,
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17. They refused to listen; they forgot the miracles you did for them. So they became stubborn and turned against you, choosing a leader to take them back to slavery. But you are a forgiving God. You are kind and full of mercy. You do not become angry quickly, and you have great love. So you did not leave them.
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17. And refused H3985 to obey H8085 , neither H3808 were mindful H2142 of thy wonders H6381 that H834 thou didst H6213 among H5973 them ; but hardened H7185 H853 their necks H6203 , and in their rebellion H4805 appointed H5414 a captain H7218 to return H7725 to their bondage H5659 : but thou H859 art a God H433 ready to pardon H5547 , gracious H2587 and merciful H7349 , slow H750 to anger H639 , and of great H7227 kindness H2617 , and forsookest H5800 them not H3808 .
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18. Our ancestors even made an idol of a calf for themselves. They said, 'This is your god, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.' They spoke against you.
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18. Yea H637 , when H3588 they had made H6213 them a molten H4541 calf H5695 , and said H559 , This H2088 is thy God H430 that H834 brought thee up H5927 out of Egypt H4480 H4714 , and had wrought H6213 great H1419 provocations H5007 ;
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19. "You have great mercy, so you did not leave them in the desert. The pillar of cloud guided them by day, and the pillar of fire led them at night, lighting the way they were to go.
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19. Yet thou H859 in thy manifold H7227 mercies H7356 forsookest H5800 them not H3808 in the wilderness H4057 : H853 the pillar H5982 of the cloud H6051 departed H5493 not H3808 from H4480 H5921 them by day H3119 , to lead H5148 them in the way H1870 ; neither the pillar H5982 of fire H784 by night H3915 , to show them light H215 , and the way H1870 wherein H834 they should go H1980 .
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20. You gave your good Spirit to teach them. You gave them manna to eat and water when they were thirsty.
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20. Thou gavest H5414 also thy good H2896 spirit H7307 to instruct H7919 them , and withheldest H4513 not H3808 thy manna H4478 from their mouth H4480 H6310 , and gavest H5414 them water H4325 for their thirst H6772 .
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21. You took care of them for forty years in the desert; they needed nothing. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell.
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21. Yea, forty H705 years H8141 didst thou sustain H3557 them in the wilderness H4057 , so that they lacked H2637 nothing H3808 ; their clothes H8008 waxed not old H1086 H3808 , and their feet H7272 swelled H1216 not H3808 .
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22. "You gave them kingdoms and nations; you gave them more land. and the country of Og king of Bashan.
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22. Moreover thou gavest H5414 them kingdoms H4467 and nations H5971 , and didst divide H2505 them into corners H6285 : so they possessed H3423 H853 the land H776 of Sihon H5511 , and the land H776 of the king H4428 of Heshbon H2809 , and the land H776 of Og H5747 king H4428 of Bashan H1316 .
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23. You made their children as many as the stars in the sky, and you brought them into the land that you told their fathers to enter and take over.
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23. Their children H1121 also multipliedst H7235 thou as the stars H3556 of heaven H8064 , and broughtest H935 them into H413 the land H776 , concerning which H834 thou hadst promised H559 to their fathers H1 , that they should go in H935 to possess H3423 it .
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24. So their children went into the land and took over. The Canaanites lived there, but you defeated them for our ancestors. You handed over to them the Canaanites, their kings, and the people of the land. Our ancestors could do what they wanted with them.
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24. So the children H1121 went in H935 and possessed H3423 H853 the land H776 , and thou subduedst H3665 before H6440 them H853 the inhabitants H3427 of the land H776 , the Canaanites H3669 , and gavest H5414 them into their hands H3027 , with their kings H4428 , and the people H5971 of the land H776 , that they might do H6213 with them as they would H7522 .
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25. They captured strong, walled cities and fertile land. They took over houses full of good things, wells that were already dug, vineyards, olive trees, and many fruit trees. They ate until they were full and grew fat; they enjoyed your great goodness.
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25. And they took H3920 strong H1219 cities H5892 , and a fat H8082 land H127 , and possessed H3423 houses H1004 full H4392 of all H3605 goods H2898 , wells H953 digged H2672 , vineyards H3754 , and oliveyards H2132 , and fruit H3978 trees H6086 in abundance H7230 : so they did eat H398 , and were filled H7646 , and became fat H8080 , and delighted themselves H5727 in thy great H1419 goodness H2898 .
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26. "But they were disobedient and turned against you and ignored your teachings. Your prophets warned them to come back to you, but they killed those prophets and spoke against you.
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26. Nevertheless they were disobedient H4784 , and rebelled H4775 against thee , and cast H7993 H853 thy law H8451 behind H310 their backs H1458 , and slew H2026 thy prophets H5030 which H834 testified H5749 against them to turn H7725 them to H413 thee , and they wrought H6213 great H1419 provocations H5007 .
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27. So you handed them over to their enemies, and their enemies treated them badly. But in this time of trouble our ancestors cried out to you, and you heard from heaven. You had great mercy and gave them saviors who saved them from the power of their enemies.
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27. Therefore thou deliveredst H5414 them into the hand H3027 of their enemies H6862 , who vexed H6887 them : and in the time H6256 of their trouble H6869 , when they cried H6817 unto H413 thee, thou H859 heardest H8085 them from heaven H4480 H8064 ; and according to thy manifold H7227 mercies H7356 thou gavest H5414 them saviors H3467 , who saved H3467 them out of the hand H4480 H3027 of their enemies H6862 .
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28. But as soon as they had rest, they again did what was evil. So you left them to their enemies who ruled over them. When they cried out to you again, you heard from heaven. Because of your mercy, you saved them again and again.
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28. But after they had rest H5117 , they did H6213 evil H7451 again H7725 before H6440 thee : therefore leftest H5800 thou them in the hand H3027 of their enemies H341 , so that they had the dominion H7287 over them : yet when they returned H7725 , and cried H2199 unto thee, thou H859 heardest H8085 them from heaven H4480 H8064 ; and many H7227 times H6256 didst thou deliver H5337 them according to thy mercies H7356 ;
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29. You warned them to return to your teachings, but they were proud and did not obey your commands. If someone obeys your laws, he will live, but they sinned against your laws. They were stubborn, unwilling, and disobedient.
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29. And testifiedst H5749 against them , that thou mightest bring them again H7725 unto H413 thy law H8451 : yet they H1992 dealt proudly H2102 , and hearkened H8085 not H3808 unto thy commandments H4687 , but sinned H2398 against thy judgments H4941 , ( which H834 if a man H120 do H6213 , he shall live H2421 in them;) and withdrew H5414 H5637 the shoulder H3802 , and hardened H7185 their neck H6203 , and would not H3808 hear H8085 .
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30. You were patient with them for many years and warned them by your Spirit through the prophets, but they did not pay attention. So you handed them over to other countries.
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30. Yet many H7227 years H8141 didst thou forbear H4900 H5921 them , and testifiedst H5749 against them by thy spirit H7307 in H3027 thy prophets H5030 : yet would they not H3808 give ear H238 : therefore gavest H5414 thou them into the hand H3027 of the people H5971 of the lands H776 .
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31. But because your mercy is great, you did not kill them all or leave them. You are a kind and merciful God.
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31. Nevertheless for thy great H7227 mercies's H7356ake thou didst not H3808 utterly consume H6213 H3617 them, nor H3808 forsake H5800 them; for H3588 thou H859 art a gracious H2587 and merciful H7349 God H410 .
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32. "And so, our God, you are the great and mighty and wonderful God. You keep your agreement of love. Do not let all our trouble seem unimportant to you. This trouble has come to us, to our kings and our leaders, to our priests and prophets, to our ancestors and all your people from the days of the kings of Assyria until today.
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32. Now H6258 therefore , our God H430 , the great H1419 , the mighty H1368 , and the terrible H3372 God H410 , who keepest H8104 covenant H1285 and mercy H2617 , let not H408 H853 all H3605 the trouble H8513 seem little H4591 before H6440 thee, that H834 hath come upon H4672 us , on our kings H4428 , on our princes H8269 , and on our priests H3548 , and on our prophets H5030 , and on our fathers H1 , and on all H3605 thy people H5971 , since the time H4480 H3117 of the kings H4428 of Assyria H804 unto H5704 this H2088 day H3117 .
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33. You have been fair in everything that has happened to us; you have been loyal, but we have been wicked.
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33. Howbeit thou H859 art just H6662 in H5921 all H3605 that is brought H935 upon H5921 us; for H3588 thou hast done H6213 right H571 , but we H587 have done wickedly H7561 :
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34. Our kings, leaders, priests, and ancestors did not obey your teachings; they did not pay attention to the commands and warnings you gave them.
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34. Neither have our kings H4428 , our princes H8269 , our priests H3548 , nor H3808 our fathers H1 , kept H6213 thy law H8451 , nor H3808 hearkened H7181 unto H413 thy commandments H4687 and thy testimonies H5715 , wherewith H834 thou didst testify H5749 against them.
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35. Even when our ancestors were living in their kingdom, enjoying all the good things you had given them, enjoying the land that was fertile and full of room, they did not stop their evil ways.
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35. For they H1992 have not H3808 served H5647 thee in their kingdom H4438 , and in thy great H7227 goodness H2898 that H834 thou gavest H5414 them , and in the large H7342 and fat H8082 land H776 which H834 thou gavest H5414 before H6440 them, neither H3808 turned H7725 they from their wicked H7451 works H4480 H4611 .
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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.
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36. Behold H2009 , we H587 are servants H5650 this day H3117 , and for the land H776 that H834 thou gavest H5414 unto our fathers H1 to eat H398 H853 the fruit H6529 thereof and the good H2898 thereof, behold H2009 , we H587 are servants H5650 in H5921 it:
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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.
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37. And it yieldeth much H7235 increase H8393 unto the kings H4428 whom H834 thou hast set H5414 over H5921 us because of our sins H2403 : also they have dominion H4910 over H5921 our bodies H1472 , and over our cattle H929 , at their pleasure H7522 , and we H587 are in great H1419 distress H6869 .
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38. "Because of all this, we are making an agreement in writing, and our leaders, Levites, and priests are putting their seals on it."
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38. And because of all H3605 this H2063 we H587 make H3772 a sure H548 covenant , and write H3789 it ; and our princes H8269 , Levites H3881 , and priests H3548 , seal H2856 H5921 unto it .
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