74
I said, "O Lord, I am ashamed and confused in your presence.
75
Our sins tower over our heads; they reach as high as the heavens.
76
This has been true from the days of our ancestors until now; we, your people, have sinned greatly.
77
Because of our sins and the sins of our ancestors, we and our relatives, our kings, and our priests have fallen into the hands of foreign kings, and we have been slaughtered, robbed, and carried away as prisoners. We have been totally disgraced, as we still are today.
78
Now, Lord, for a short time you have shown us great mercy. You have allowed just a few of us to survive in order to carry on the name Israel here in your holy Temple.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.