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The Law was placed in our hearts, and we are the ones who will be destroyed because we have sinned.
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The Law will not be destroyed; it will remain in all its glory."
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While I was saying these things to myself, I looked around and saw a woman on my right. She was weeping and wailing, terribly upset; her clothes were torn, and there were ashes on her head.
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I immediately put my own troubles out of my mind, turned to the woman,
40
and asked, "Why are you crying? Why are you so upset?"
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"Please, sir," she answered, "leave me alone and let me go on crying and mourning; I am bitter and depressed."
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"Tell me what's wrong," I said.
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She answered, "Sir, I was married for thirty years, but I was never able to have a child.
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During those thirty years I prayed every day and every hour, day and night, to God Most High for a child.
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After thirty years God answered my prayer; he saw my suffering, took away my distress, and gave me a son. What great joy this brought to my husband and me and to all our neighbors! We sang the praises of the Almighty.