26. “But they were disobedient and turned against you.They ignored your teachings.Your prophets warned them to come back to you.But they killed those prophets.And they spoke against you.
27. So you allowed their enemies to defeat them.Their enemies treated them badly.But in this time of trouble our ancestors cried out to you.And you heard from heaven.You had great mercy.You gave them saviors who saved them from the power of their enemies.
28. But as soon as they had rest,they again did what was evil.So you left them to their enemieswho ruled over them.But they cried out to you again.And you heard from heaven.Because of your mercy, you saved them again and again.
29. You warned them to return to obeying your teachings.But they were proud. They did not obey your commands.If a man obeys your laws, he will live.But they sinned against your laws.They were stubborn and disobedient.They would not listen.
30. You were patient with them for many years.You warned them by your Spirit through the prophets.But they did not pay attention.So you allowed them to be defeated by other countries.
31. But because your mercy is great, you did not kill them all.You did not leave them.You are a kind and merciful God.
32. “And so, our God, you are the great and mighty and wonderful God.You keep your agreement of love.Do not let all our trouble seem unimportant in your eyes.This trouble has come to us, to our kings and to our leaders.It has come to our priests and prophets.It has come to our ancestors and all your people.This trouble has come to us since the days of the kings of Assyria.And it has lasted until today.
33. You have been fair in everything that has happened to us.You have been loyal, but we have been wicked.
34. Our kings, leaders, priests and ancestors did not obey your teachings.They did not pay attention to the commands and warnings you gave them.
35. Even when our ancestors were living in their kingdom,they did not serve you.They were enjoying all the good things you had given them.They were enjoying the land that was fertile and full of room.But they did not stop their evil ways.
36. “Look, we are slaves todayin the land you gave our ancestors.They were to enjoy its fruit and its good things.But look, we are slaves here.
37. The land’s great harvest belongs to the kings you have put over us.This is because of our sins.Those kings rule over us and our cattle as they please.And we are in much trouble.
38. “Because of all this, we are making an agreement in writing. Our leaders, Levites and priests are putting their seals on it.”