4. Israel, we are blessedbecause we knowwhat is pleasing to God.
5. Be confident, my people,you who are the legacy of Israel!
6. You weren’t sold to the nationsfor complete destruction,but you were handed overto your opponentsbecause you made God angry.
7. You upset your creatorwhen you sacrificed to demonsand not to God.
8. You forgot the eternal Godwho raised you;and you caused pain to Jerusalem,who nurtured you.
9. Jerusalem saw the wrath of Godthat came on you and said:Neighbors of Zion, listen!God has brought me great grief.
10. I have watched my sons and daughters taken captive,the action of the eternal one.
11. I nursed them joyfully,but I sent them awaywith tears and mourning.
12. Don’t any of you rejoice over me,a widow deserted by many.My children avoided God’s Law,so I was stripped barebecause of their sins.
13. They didn’t acknowledgeGod’s requirements,walk in the ways ofGod’s commandments,or follow the paths in whichhis righteousness trained them.
14. Neighbors of Zion, come!Remember the exilemy sons and daughters suffered,brought on them by the eternal one.
15. God brought a nationfrom far away against them,a nation that is shamelessand speaks a strange language,that showed no respect for the elderly or pity for the child.
16. It took away the widow’sdearly loved sonsand deprived the lonely womanof her daughters.
17. But how am I able to help you?