²⁸ “But as soon as they were at rest, they again did what was evil in your sight.^(A) Then you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies so that they ruled over them. And when they cried out to you again, you heard from heaven, and in your compassion^(B) you delivered them^(C) time after time.

²⁹ “You warned^(D) them in order to turn them back to your law, but they became arrogant^(E) and disobeyed your commands. They sinned against your ordinances, of which you said, ‘The person who obeys them will live by them.’^(F) Stubbornly they turned their backs^(G) on you, became stiff-necked^(H) and refused to listen.^{(I) 30} For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit you warned them through your prophets.^(J) Yet they paid no attention, so you gave them into the hands of the neighboring peoples.^{(K) 31} But in your great mercy you did not put an end^(L) to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful^(M) God.

³² “Now therefore, our God, the great God, mighty^(N) and awesome,^(O) who keeps his covenant of love,^(P) do not let all this hardship seem trifling in your eyes—the hardship^(Q) that has come on us, on our kings and leaders, on our priests and prophets, on our ancestors and all your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until today. ³³ In all that has happened to us, you have remained righteous;^(R) you have acted faithfully, while we acted wickedly.^{(S) 34} Our kings,^(T) our leaders, our priests and our ancestors^(U) did not follow your law; they did not pay attention to your commands or the statutes you warned them to keep. ³⁵ Even while they were in their kingdom, enjoying your great goodness^(V) to them in the spacious and fertile land you gave them, they did not serve you^(W) or turn from their evil ways.