36. They worshiped their idols,which led to their downfall.
37. They even sacrificed their sonsand their daughters to the demons.
38. They shed innocent blood,the blood of their sons and daughters.By sacrificing them to the idols of Canaan,they polluted the land with murder.
39. They defiled themselves by their evil deeds,and their love of idols was adultery in the lord’s sight.
40. That is why the lord’s anger burned against his people,and he abhorred his own special possession.
41. He handed them over to pagan nations,and they were ruled by those who hated them.
42. Their enemies crushed themand brought them under their cruel power.
43. Again and again he rescued them,but they chose to rebel against him,and they were finally destroyed by their sin.
44. Even so, he pitied them in their distressand listened to their cries.
45. He remembered his covenant with themand relented because of his unfailing love.
46. He even caused their captorsto treat them with kindness.
47. Save us, O lord our God!Gather us back from among the nations,so we can thank your holy nameand rejoice and praise you.
48. Praise the lord, the God of Israel,who lives from everlasting to everlasting!Let all the people say, “Amen!”Praise the lord!