Nehemiah 9:9-12

9:9 “You saw the affliction of our ancestors in Egypt, and you heard their cry at the Red Sea. ¹  9:10 You performed awesome signs ²  against Pharaoh, against his servants, and against all the people of his land, for you knew that the Egyptians ³  had acted presumptuously ⁴  against them. You made for yourself a name that is celebrated to this day. 9:11 You split the sea before them, and they crossed through ⁵  the sea on dry ground! But you threw their pursuers ⁶  into the depths, like a stone into surging ⁷  waters. 9:12 You guided them with a pillar of cloud by day and with a pillar of fire by night to illumine for them the path they were to travel.

Nehemiah 9:27-28

9:27 Therefore you delivered them into the hand of their adversaries, who oppressed them. But in the time of their distress they called to you, and you heard from heaven. In your abundant compassion you provided them with deliverers to rescue them from ⁸  their adversaries.

9:28 “Then, when they were at rest again, they went back to doing evil before you. Then you abandoned them to ⁹  their enemies, and they gained dominion over them. When they again cried out to you, in your compassion you heard from heaven and rescued them time and again.

¹ tn Heb “the Sea of Reeds.” Traditionally this is identified as the Red Sea, and the modern designation has been used in the translation for clarity.

² tn Heb “signs and wonders.” This phrase is a hendiadys. The second noun functions adjectivally, while the first noun retains its full nominal sense: “awesome signs” or “miraculous signs.”

³ tn Heb “they”; the referent (the Egyptians) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁴ tn Or “arrogantly” (so NASB); NRSV “insolently.”

⁵ tn Heb “in the midst of.”

⁶ tn Heb “those who pursued them.”

⁷ tn Heb “mighty.”

⁸ tn Heb “from the hand of” (so NASB, NIV); NAB “from the power of.”

⁹ tn Heb “in the hand of” (so KJV, ASV); NAB “to the power of.”