Then I said, &#8220;Please, O <sc>LORDsc> God of heaven, great and awesome God, who keeps his loving covenant<n id="1" /> with those who love him and obey<n id="2" /> his commandments,

<p class="bodytext">Please remember me for this, O my God, and do not wipe out the kindness that I have done for the temple of my God and for its services!p>

They refused to obey and did not recall your miracles that you had performed among them. Instead, they rebelled and appointed a leader to return to their bondage in Egypt.<n id="1" /> But you are a God of forgiveness, merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and unfailing in your loyal love.<n id="2" /> You did not abandon them,

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;So now, our God &#8211; the great, powerful, and awesome God, who keeps covenant fidelity<n id="1" /> &#8211; do not regard as inconsequential<n id="2" /> all the hardship that has befallen us &#8211; our kings, our leaders, our priests, our prophets, our ancestors, and all your people &#8211; from the days of the kings of Assyria until this very day!

Then I directed the Levites to purify themselves and come and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy.p> <p class="bodytext">For this please remember me, O my God, and have pity on me in keeping with your great love.p>