18. But the soul that is sorrowful for the greatness of evil, approaches bowed down and weak, and the failing eyes and the hungering soul give glory and justice to you, the Lord.
19. For it is not according to the righteousness of our fathers that we pour out our petitions and beg mercy in your sight, O Lord our God,
20. but because you have sent your wrath and your fury upon us, just as you have spoken by the hand of your children the prophets, saying:
21. "Thus says the Lord, 'Bow down your shoulder and your neck, and do work for the king of Babylon, and settle in the land which I gave to your fathers,
22. because, if you will not listen to the voice of the Lord your God, to serve the king of Babylon, I will cause you to depart from the cities of Judah and from the gates of Jerusalem.
23. And I will take away from you the voice of cheerfulness and the voice of joy, and the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, and all the land will be without any trace of its inhabitants.' "