40
When the seven days had passed and all the people heard that I had not yet returned to the city, all of them, rich and poor, came and asked me,
41
"What wrong have we done to you? How have we mistreated you? Why have you abandoned us and settled down in this place?
42
You are the only one of all our prophets who is left. You are like the last bunch of grapes in a vineyard, like a lantern in a dark place, like a safe harbor for a ship in a storm.
43
Haven't we suffered enough already?
44
If you abandon us, it would have been better if we had died like the others in the fire that destroyed Jerusalem.
45
We are no better than those who died." Then they all started crying loudly. I answered,
46
"Be brave, Israel, put away your sorrow.
47
God Most High will keep you in mind; the Almighty One has not forgotten you in all your troubles.
48
And I haven't left you or abandoned you. I came here to pray for Jerusalem in her time of trouble and to ask mercy for her and for your Temple, now in disgrace.
49
Please return to your homes, all of you. I will come back to you in a few days."
50
So they left me and went back to the city.