"Sincethe daysof our fathersto thisdaywe [have been] in greatguilt,and on account of our iniquitieswe, our kings[and] our priestshave been giveninto the handof the kingsof the lands,to the sword,to captivityand to plunderand to openshame,as [it is] thisday.
if they takethoughtin the landwherethey have been takencaptive,and repentand makesupplicationto You in the landof those who have takenthem captive,saying,We have sinnedand have committediniquity,we have actedwickedly';
"For our fathershave beenunfaithfuland have doneevilin the sightof the LORDour God,and have forsakenHim and turnedtheir facesawayfrom the dwellingplaceof the LORD,and have turned[their] backs.
"Do not be like your fathersand your brothers,whowere unfaithfulto the LORDGodof their fathers,so that He madethem a horror,as you see.
thussaysthe LORD,"Behold,I am bringingevilon thisplaceand on its inhabitants,[even] allthe curseswrittenin the bookwhichthey have readin the presenceof the kingof Judah.
"Afterallthat has comeupon us for our evildeedsand our greatguilt,sinceYou our Godhave requited[us] lessthanour iniquities[deserve], and have givenus an escapedremnantas this,
"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 from daysof oldthey have not heardorperceivedby ear,Norhas the eyeseena GodbesidesYou, Who actsin behalf of the one who waitsfor Him.
Jerusalemand the citiesof Judahand its kings[and] its princes,to makethem a ruin,a horror,a hissingand a curse,as it is thisday;
"Let us liedownin our shame,and let our humiliationcoverus; for we have sinnedagainst the LORDour God,we and our fathers,from our youtheven to thisday.And we have not obeyedthe voiceof the LORDour God."
They camein and tookpossessionof it, but they did not obeyYour voiceor walkin Your law;they have donenothingof allthat You commandedthem to do;therefore You have made allthiscalamitycomeupon them.
becauseof allthe evilof the sonsof Israeland the sonsof Judahwhichthey have doneto provokeMe to anger--they, their kings,their leaders,their priests,their prophets,the menof Judahand the inhabitantsof Jerusalem.
"So the LORDwas nolongerableto endure[it], becauseof the evilof your deeds,becauseof the abominationswhichyou have committed;thus your landhas becomea ruin,an objectof horrorand a curse,withoutan inhabitant,as [it is] thisday.
"Have you forgottenthe wickednessof your fathers,the wickednessof the kingsof Judah,and the wickednessof their wives,your own wickedness,and the wickednessof your wives,whichthey committedin the landof Judahand in the streetsof Jerusalem?
Our fatherssinned,[and] are nomore;It is we who have bornetheir iniquities.
"And I will bringyou out of the midstof the city and deliveryou into the handsof strangersand executejudgmentsagainst you.
"The nationswill knowthat the houseof Israelwentinto exilefor their iniquitybecausethey actedtreacherouslyagainst Me, and I hidMy facefrom them; so I gavethem into the handof their adversaries,and allof them fellby the sword.
"Now behold,you have risenup in your fathers'place,a broodof sinfulmen,to addstillmoreto the burningangerof the LORDagainstIsrael.
"Ifyou will not listento the voiceof the LORD,but rebelagainstthe commandof the LORD,then the handof the LORDwill be against you, [as it was] against your fathers.
