24. and of all the lands of the world you have chosen you one country: and of all the flowers of the world you have chosen you one lily:
25. and of all the depths of the sea you have filled you one river: and of all builded cities you have hallowed Sion to yourself:
26. and of all the fowls that are created you have named you one dove: and of all the cattle that are made you have provided you one sheep:
27. and among all the multitudes of peoples you have gotten you one people: and to this people, whom you loved, you gave a law that is approved of all.
28. And now, O Lord, why have you given this one people over to many, and have dishonored the one root above others, and have scattered your only one among many?
29. And they which did gainsay your promises have trodden them down that believed your covenants.
30. If you do so much hate your people, they should be punished with your own hands.
31. Now when I had spoken these words, the angel that came to me the night before was sent to me,
32. and said to me, Hear me, and I will instruct you; hearken to me, and I shall tell you more.
33. And I said, Speak on, my Lord. Then said he to me, You are sore troubled in mind for Israel’s sake: love you that people better than he that made them?
34. And I said, No, Lord: but of very grief have I spoken: for my reins torment me every hour, while I labor to comprehend the way of the Most High, and to seek out part of his judgement.
35. And he said to me, You can not. And I said, Wherefore, Lord, or whereunto was I born? or why was not my mother’s womb then my grave, that I might not have seen the travail of Jacob, and the wearisome toil of the stock of Israel?
36. And he said to me, Number me them that are not yet come, gather me together the drops that are scattered abroad, make me the flowers green again that are withered,
37. open me the chambers that are closed, and bring me forth the winds that in them are shut up, or show me the image of a voice: and then I will declare to you the travail that you asked to see.
38. And I said, O Lord that bear rule, who may know these things, but he that has not his dwelling with men?
39. As for me, I am unwise: how may I then speak of these things whereof you asked me?