1. These things happened during the first year that Darius son of Ahasuerus was king. Darius was a Mede by birth, but he was appointed to be the king of Babylon.
2. During his first year as king, I was studying the Scriptures and noticed in the Lord’S message to Jeremiah that 70 years would pass before Jerusalem would be rebuilt.
3. Then I turned to the Lord God. I prayed to him and asked him for help. I did not eat any food. I put ashes on my head and put on the clothes that showed I was sad.
4. I prayed to the Lord my God and told him about all my sins. I said, “Lord, you are a great and awesome God. You keep your agreement of love and kindness with people who love you. You keep your agreement with the people who obey your commands.
5. “But we have sinned. We have done wrong. We have done evil things. We turned against you. We turned away from your commands and good decisions.