18
And, bowing the heavens, Thou didst set fast the earth, moved the whole world, and madest the depths to tremble, and troubled the men of that age.Œ
19
And Thy glory went through four gates: of fire and of earthquake and of wind and of cold, that Thou mightest give the law unto the seed of Jacob and diligence unto the generations of Israel.
20
"And yet tookest Thou not away from them a wicked heart, that Thy law might bring forth fruit in them.
21
For the first Adam, bearing a wicked heart, transgressed and was overcome; and so be all those who are born of him.
22
Thus infirmity was made permanent; and the law was (also) in the heart of the people with the malignity of the root, so that the good departed away and the evil abode still.
23
So the times passed away, and the years were brought to an end. Then didst Thou raise Thee up a servant called David,
24
whom Thou commanded to build a city unto Thy name, and to offer incense and oblations unto Thee therein.
25
When this was done many years, then those who inhabited the city forsook Thee,
26
and in all things did even as Adam and all his generations had done; for they also had a wicked heart.
27
And so Thou gavest Thy city over into the hands of Thine enemies.
28
"Are their deeds then any better who inhabit Babylon, that they should therefore have the dominion over Zion?