17
"But rather* we will certainlycarry out everyword that has proceeded from our mouths, by burningsacrifices to the queen of heaven and pouring out drinkofferings to her, just as we ourselves, our forefathers, our kings and our princesdid in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; for then we had plenty of food and were welloff and sawnomisfortune.
18
"But since* we stoppedburningsacrifices to the queen of heaven and pouring out drinkofferings to her, we have lackedeverything and have met our end by the sword and by famine."
19
"And," said the women, "when we were burningsacrifices to the queen of heaven and were pouring out drinkofferings to her, was it without* our husbands that we made for her sacrificial cakes in her image and poured out drinkofferings to her?"