35. With your blessing, kings ruled your peoplewhen they lived in the broad, fertile land you gave them;but they failed to turn from sin and serve you.
36. And now we are slaves in the land that you gave us,this fertile land which gives us food.
37. What the land produces goes to the kingsthat you put over us because we sinned.They do as they please with us and our livestock,and we are in deep distress!”
38. Because of all that has happened, we, the people of Israel, hereby make a solemn written agreement, and our leaders, our Levites, and our priests put their seals to it.