Lord God of Israel, you are righteous, for we survive as a remnant today. Here we are before you with our guilt, though no one can stand in your presence because of this.
Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are subject to the law, , so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgement. ,
Since they are ignorant of the righteousness of God and attempted to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness.
‘Now as for you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, “You have said this: ‘Our transgressions and our sins are heavy on us, and we are wasting away because of them! How then can we survive? ’ ”
You will be righteous, Lord, even if I bring a case against you. Yet I wish to contend with you: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the treacherous live at ease?
And I said: My God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face towards you, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads and our guilt is as high as the heavens.
‘But when they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their ancestors #– #their unfaithfulness that they practised against me, and how they acted with hostility towards me,
and I acted with hostility towards them and brought them into the land of their enemies #– #and when their uncircumcised hearts are humbled and they make amends for their iniquity,
Let every survivor, wherever he resides, be assisted by the men of that region with silver, gold, goods, and livestock, along with a freewill offering for the house of God in Jerusalem.’
You found his heart faithful in your sight, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, Hethites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites – to give it to his descendants. You have fulfilled your promise, for you are righteous.