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and from all the depths of the sea Thou hast filled Thee one river, and of all builded cities Thou hast hallowed Zion unto Thyself,
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and of all the fowls that are created Thou hast named Thee one dove, and of all the flocks that are made Thou hast provided Thee one sheep,
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and among all the multitudes of people Thou hast gotten Thee one people; and unto this people, whom Thou loved, Thou gavest a law that is approved by all.
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And now, O Lord, why hast Thou given this one people over unto many? And upon the one root hast Thou prepared others; and why hast Thou scattered Thy only one people among many?
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And they who did gainsay Thy promises and believed not Thy covenants have trodden them down.
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If Thou didst so much hate Thy people, yet shouldest Thou punish them with Thine own hands."
31
Now when I had spoken these words the angel that came to me the night before was sent unto me,Œ
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and said unto me, "Hear me, and I will instruct thee; hearken to the thing that I say, and I shall tell thee more."
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And I said, "Speak on, my lord." Then said he unto me, "Thou art sorely troubled in mind for Israel's sake; lovest thou that people better than He that made them?"
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And I said, "No, lord; but from very grief have I spoken, for my reins pain me every hour while I labor to comprehend the way of the Most High, and to seek out part of His judgment."
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And he said unto me, "Thou canst not." And I said, "Why, lord? Whereunto was I born then? Or why was not my mother's womb then my grave, that I might not have seen the travail of Jacob and the wearisome toil of the stock of Israel?"