The Babylonian Exile

He may cause grief, but he will take pity, in keeping with the greatness of his grace.

For he does not arbitrarily torment or punish human beings.

When anyone tramples underfoot any of the prisoners of the land;

when anyone deprives a person of justice, in defiance of the Most High;

when someone is cheated of justice in court -does Adonai not take note of such things?

Who can say something and have it happen without Adonai's commanding it?

Don't both bad things and good proceed from the mouth of the Most High?

Why should anyone alive complain, even a strong man, about the punishment for his sins?

Let us examine and test our ways and return to ADONAI.

Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven and say,

"We, for our part, have transgressed and rebelled; you, for your part, have not forgiven.

"You have covered us with anger, pursued and slaughtered us without pity.

You have covered yourself with a cloud so thick that no prayer can pass through.

You have reduced us to rubbish and filth among the peoples.

"All our adversaries open their mouths to jeer at us.

Panic and pitfall have come upon us, desolation and destruction.

My eyes stream with rivers of water over the destruction of the daughter of my people."

My eyes weep ceaselessly; there is no respite,

until ADONAI looks down and sees from heaven.

My eyes make me so upset at the fate of the women in my city.

Those who are my enemies for no reason hunted me down like a bird.

They forced me alive into a pit and threw stones on me.

Water rose above my head; I thought, "I am finished!"

I called on your name, ADONAI, from the bottom of the pit.

You heard my voice; don't close your ear at my sighs, at my cries.