4
O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, hear now the prayer of the dead of Israel and of the sons of those who sinned before thee, who did not heed the voice of the Lord their God, so that calamities have clung to us.
5
Remember not the iniquities of our fathers, but in this crisis remember thy power and thy name.
6
For thou art the Lord our God, and thee, O Lord, will we praise.
7
For thou hast put the fear of thee in our hearts in order that we should call upon thy name; and we will praise thee in our exile, for we have put away from our hearts all the iniquity of our fathers who sinned before thee.
8
Behold, we are today in our exile where thou hast scattered us, to be reproached and cursed and punished for all the iniquities of our fathers who forsook the Lord our God.'"
9
Hear the commandments of life, O Israel; give ear, and learn wisdom!
10
Why is it, O Israel, why is it that you are in the land of your enemies, that you are growing old in a foreign country, that you are defiled with the dead,
11
that you are counted among those in Hades?
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You have forsaken the fountain of wisdom.
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If you had walked in the way of God, you would be dwelling in peace for ever.
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Learn where there is wisdom, where there is strength, where there is understanding, that you may at the same time discern where there is length of days, and life, where there is light for the eyes, and peace.