18. For there arose none in our age, neither is there any of us today, tribe, or kindred, or family, or city, which worship gods made with hands, as it was in the former days;
19. for the which cause our fathers were given to the sword, and for a spoil, and fell with a great fall before our enemies.
20. But we know none other god beside him, wherefore we hope that he will not despise us, nor any of our race.
21. For if we be taken so, all Judaea shall sit upon the ground, and our sanctuary shall be spoiled; and of our blood shall he require the profanation thereof.
22. And the slaughter of our brethren, and the captivity of the land, and the desolation of our inheritance, shall he turn upon our heads among the Gentiles, wherever we shall be in bondage; and we shall be an offence and a reproach before them that take us for a possession.
23. For our bondage shall not be ordered to favor: but the Lord our God shall turn it to dishonor.
24. And now, brethren, let us show an example to our brethren, because their soul hangs upon us, and the sanctuary and the house and the altar rest upon us.
25. Besides all this let us give thanks to the Lord our God, which tries us, even as he did our fathers also.
26. Remember all the things which he did to Abraham, and all the things in which he tried Isaac, and all the things which happened to Jacob in Mesopotamia of Syria, when he kept the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother.
27. For he has not tried us in the fire, as he did them, to search out their hearts, neither has he taken vengeance on us; but the Lord does scourge them that come near to him, to admonish them.
28. And Ozias said to her, All that you have spoken have you spoken with a good heart, and there is none that shall gainsay your words.
29. For this is not the first day wherein your wisdom is manifested; but from the beginning of your days all the people have known your understanding, because the disposition of your heart is good.
30. But the people were exceeding thirsty, and compelled us to do as we spoke to them, and to bring an oath upon ourselves, which we will not break.
31. And now pray you for us, because you are a godly woman, and the Lord shall send us rain to fill our cisterns, and we shall faint no more.