12
And in order that we might inform you in writing who the leaders are, we questioned them and asked them for a list of the names of those who are at their head.
13
They answered us, `We are the servants of the Lord who created the heaven and the earth.
14
And the house was built many years ago by a king of Israel who was great and strong, and it was finished.
15
But when our fathers sinned against the Lord of Israel who is in heaven, and provoked him, he gave them over into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of the Chaldeans;
16
and they pulled down the house, and burned it, and carried the people away captive to Babylon.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.