15
For if He will not help us within these few days, He hath power to defend us when He will, even every day, or to destroy us before our enemies.
16
Do not bind the counsels of the Lord our God; for God is not as man, that He may be threatened; neither is He as the son of man, that He should be wavering.
17
"Therefore let us wait for salvation from Him, and call upon Him to help us, and He will hear our voice if it please Him.
18
For there arose none in our age, neither is there any now in these days, neither tribe, nor family, nor people, nor city among us, which worship gods made with hands, as hath been in former time.
19
For that cause our fathers were given to the sword and for a spoil, and had a great fall before our enemies.
20
But we know no other god; therefore we trust that He will not despise us nor any of our nation.
21
For if we are so taken, all Judea shall lie waste and our sanctuary shall be despoiled, and He will require the profanation thereof at our mouth.
22
And the slaughter of our brethren, and the captivity of the country, and the desolation of our inheritance will He turn upon our heads among the Gentiles, wheresoever we shall be in bondage; and we shall be an offense and a reproach to all those who possess us.
23
For our servitude shall not be directed to favor, but the Lord our God shall turn it to dishonor.
24
"Now therefore, O brethren, let us show an example to our brethren, because their hearts depend upon us, and the sanctuary and the house and the altar rest upon us.
25
Moreover let us give thanks to the Lord our God, who trieth us even as He did our fathers.