Our guilt has been terrible from the days of our ancestors until the present. Because of our iniquities we have been handed over, along with our kings and priests, to the surrounding kings, and to the sword, captivity, plundering, and open shame, as it is today.
Since the residents of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognise him or the sayings of the prophets that are read every Sabbath, they have fulfilled their words by condemning him.
‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
I will do this because they have not listened to my words’ #– #this is the Lord’s declaration #– #‘the words that I sent to them with my servants the prophets time and time again. , And you too have not listened.’ This is the Lord’s declaration.
Now, because you have done all these things #– #this is the Lord’s declaration #– #and because I have spoken to you time and time again but you wouldn’t listen, and I have called to you, but you wouldn’t answer,
So now, our God #– #the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God who keeps his gracious covenant – do not view lightly all the hardships that have afflicted us, our kings and leaders, our priests and prophets, our ancestors and all your people, from the days of the Assyrian kings until today.
because they did not listen to the Lord their God but violated his covenant #– #all he had commanded Moses the servant of the Lord. They did not listen, and they did not obey.
You were patient with them for many years, and your Spirit warned them through your prophets, but they would not listen. Therefore, you handed them over to the surrounding peoples.