26. “But they were disobedient and turned against youand ignored your teachings.Your prophets warned them to come back to you,but they killed those prophetsand spoke against you.
27. So you handed them over to their enemies,and 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 mercyand 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.When they cried out to you again,you heard from heaven.Because of your mercy, you saved them again and again.
29. You warned them to return to your teachings,but they were proud and did not obey your commands.If someone obeys your laws, he will live,but they sinned against your laws.They were stubborn, unwilling, and disobedient.
30. You were patient with them for many yearsand warned them by your Spirit through the prophets,but they did not pay attention.So you handed them over to other countries.
31. But because your mercy is great, you did not kill them all or 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 to you.This trouble has come to us, to our kings and our leaders,to our priests and prophets,to our ancestors and all your peoplefrom the days of the kings of Assyria 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,enjoying all the good things you had given them,enjoying the land that was fertile and full of room,they did not stop their evil ways.