26-31. But then they mutinied, rebelled against you,threw out your laws and killed your prophets,The very prophets who tried to get them back on your side—and then things went from bad to worse.You turned them over to their enemies,who made life rough for them.But when they called out for help in their troublesyou listened from heaven;And in keeping with your bottomless compassionyou gave them saviors:Saviors who saved themfrom the cruel abuse of their enemies.But as soon as they had it easy againthey were right back at it—more evil.So you turned away and left them again to their fate,to the enemies who came right back.They cried out to you again; in your great compassionyou heard and helped them again.This went on over and over and over.You warned them to return to your Revelation,they responded with haughty arrogance:They flouted your commands, spurned your rules—the very words by which men and women live!They set their jaws in defiance,they turned their backs on you and didn’t listen.You put up with them year after yearand warned them by your spirit through your prophets;But when they refused to listenyou abandoned them to foreigners.Still, because of your great compassion,you didn’t make a total end to them.You didn’t walk out and leave them for good;yes, you are a God of grace and compassion.
32-37. And now, our God, the great God,God majestic and terrible, loyal in covenant and love,Don’t treat lightly the trouble that has come to us,to our kings and princes, our priests and prophets,Our ancestors, and all your people from the timeof the Assyrian kings right down to today.You are not to blamefor all that has come down on us;You did everything right,we did everything wrong.None of our kings, princes, priests, or ancestorsfollowed your Revelation;They ignored your commands,dismissed the warnings you gave them.Even when they had their own kingdomand were enjoying your generous goodness,Living in that spacious and fertile landthat you spread out before them,They didn’t serve youor turn their backs on the practice of evil.And here we are, slaves again today;and here’s the land you gave our ancestorsSo they could eat well and enjoy a good life,and now look at us—no better than slaves on this land.Its wonderful crops go to the kingsyou put over us because of our sins;They act like they own our bodiesand do whatever they like with our cattle.We’re in deep trouble.
38. “Because of all this we are drawing up a binding pledge, a sealed document signed by our princes, our Levites, and our priests.”