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Lord our God, we are not basing our prayer for mercy on any righteous actions of our ancestors and rulers.
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You've sent your anger and wrath on us just as you spoke through your servants the prophets. You said:
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"The Lord says: ‘Bend your shoulders and serve the king of Babylon, and then you'll reside in the land that I gave to your ancestors.
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But if you don't listen to the Lord's voice and serve the king of Babylon,
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I'll bring an end to the sound of joy and gladness and the celebration of marriage from the cities of Judah and around Jerusalem. The whole land will be a wasteland without life.'"