וְהֵ֥ם וַאֲבֹתֵ֖ינוּ הֵזִ֑ידוּ וַיַּקְשׁוּ֙ אֶת־עָרְפָּ֔ם וְלֹ֥א שָׁמְע֖וּ אֶל־מִצְוֺתֶֽיךָ׃
But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their neck, and hearkened not to Thy commandments,
Read kabbalistic (mystical) interpretation of Nehemiah 9:16: and classical mystical sources.