4. When I heard this, I sat down and cried. I mourned for days. I continued to fast and pray to the God of heaven.
5. I said,“Lord God of heaven, great and awe-inspiring God, you faithfully keep your promise and show mercy to those who love you and obey your commandments.
6. Open your eyes, and pay close attention with your ears to what I, your servant, am praying. I am praying to you day and night about your servants the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against you as well as the sins that my father’s family and I have committed.
7. We have done you a great wrong. We haven’t obeyed the commandments, laws, or regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses.
8. Please remember what you told us through your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations.
9. But if you return to me and continue to obey my commandments, though your people may be driven to the most distant point on the horizon, I will come and get you from there and bring you to the place where I chose to put my name.’
10. These are your servants and your people whom you have saved by your great power and your strong hand.