16. O Lord, according to all your justice, please turn your raging anger away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain. For due to our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors, Jerusalem and your people are mocked by all our neighbors.
17. “So now, our God, accept the prayer and requests of your servant, and show favor to your devastated sanctuary for your own sake.
18. Listen attentively, my God, and hear! Open your eyes and look on our desolated ruins and the city called by your name. For it is not because of our own righteous deeds that we are praying to you, but because your compassion is abundant.
19. O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, pay attention, and act! Don’t delay, for your own sake, O my God! For your city and your people are called by your name.”
20. While I was still speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and presenting my request before the lord my God concerning his holy mountain –
21. yes, while I was still praying, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen previously in a vision, was approaching me in my state of extreme weariness, around the time of the evening offering.
22. He spoke with me, instructing me as follows: “Daniel, I have now come to impart understanding to you.