1
In the thirtieth year after the ruin of the city I was in Babylon, and lay troubled upon my bed, and my thoughts came up over my heart:
2
For I saw the desolation of Sion, and the wealth of them that dwelt at Babylon.
3
And my spirit was sore moved, so that I began to speak words full of fear to the most High, and said,
4
O Lord, who bearest rule, thou spakest at the beginning, when thou didst plant the earth, and that thyself alone, and commandedst the people,
5
And gavest a body unto Adam without soul, which was the workmanship of thine hands, and didst breathe into him the breath of life, and he was made living before thee.
6
And thou leadest him into paradise, which thy right hand had planted, before ever the earth came forward.
7
And unto him thou gavest commandment to love thy way: which he transgressed, and immediately thou appointedst death in him and in his generations, of whom came nations, tribes, people, and kindreds, out of number.
8
And every people walked after their own will, and did wonderful things before thee, and despised thy commandments.
9
And again in process of time thou broughtest the flood upon those that dwelt in the world, and destroyedst them.