22. So the disease became permanent, and although the Law was in the hearts of the people, so also was the root of evil! That is why what was good passed away, while what was evil continued.
23. “Many years later you sent your servant David
24. and told him to build a city which would bear your name and in which sacrifices would be offered to you.
25. This was done for many years, but then the inhabitants of the city disobeyed you
26. and sinned just like Adam and all his descendants, because they had the same evil impulse.
27. So you handed over your own city to your enemies.
28. “I said to myself, ‘Perhaps Babylon has been allowed to conquer Jerusalem because the people who live there are better than we are.’