"Now,our God,whatshall we sayafterthis?For we have forsakenYour commandments,
So Judahsaid,"Whatcan we sayto my lord?Whatcan we speak?And howcan we justifyourselves? Godhas foundout the iniquityof your servants;behold,we are my lord'sslaves,bothwe and the one in whosepossessionthe cuphas been found."
whichYou have commandedby Your servantsthe prophets,saying,'The landwhichyou are enteringto possessis an uncleanlandwith the uncleannessof the peoplesof the lands,with their abominationswhichhave filledit from endto end[and] with their impurity.
"For we are slaves;yet in our bondageour Godhas not forsakenus, but has extendedlovingkindnessto us in the sightof the kingsof Persia,to giveus revivingto raiseup the houseof our God,to restoreits ruinsand to giveus a wallin Judahand Jerusalem.
"However, You borewith them for manyyears,And admonishedthem by Your SpiritthroughYour prophets,Yet they would not giveear.Therefore You gavethem into the handof the peoplesof the lands.
"For our kings,our leaders,our priestsand our fathershave not keptYour lawOr paidattentionto Your commandmentsand Your admonitionswith whichYou have admonishedthem.
We have sinnedlikeour fathers,We have committediniquity,we have behavedwickedly.
The LORD'Slovingkindnessesindeednevercease,For His compassionsneverfail.
Nowwe knowthat whateverthe Lawsays,it speaksto thosewho are underthe Law,sothat everymouthmay be closedand allthe worldmay becomeaccountableto God;
"OLord,whatcan I saysinceIsraelhas turned[their] backbeforetheir enemies?
