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You reign as king forever, but we die and are gone forever.
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O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, hear our prayer. We are no better off than the dead. Our ancestors sinned against you, the Lord their God. They refused to obey you, and we are suffering the consequences of their sin.
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Forget the sinful things that our ancestors did in the past; at a time like this, think only of your power and reputation,
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for you are the Lord our God, and we will praise you.
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You have made us fear you, so that we might pray to you. Here in exile we will praise you because we have turned away from the sins of our ancestors.
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You have scattered us among the nations, and you have made them despise and curse us. You are punishing us for the sins of our ancestors when they rebelled against you, the Lord our God."
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Listen, Israel, to the commands that promise life; pay attention, and you will become wise.
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Why is it, Israel, that you find yourself in an enemy land? Why have you grown old in a foreign country? You are ritually unclean, like the dead;
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you are already counted among the dead. But why?
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It is because you have left the source of Wisdom!
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If you had walked in God's ways, you would have lived in peace forever.