When they return to you with all their heart and being in the land where they are held prisoner, and direct their prayers to you toward the land you gave to their ancestors, your chosen city, and the temple I built for your honor,

They rejected his rules, the covenant he had made with their ancestors, and the laws he had commanded them to obey. They paid allegiance to worthless idols, and so became worthless to the Lord. They copied the practices of the surrounding nations in blatant disregard of the Lord’s command.

the promise he made to Abraham, the promise he made by oath to Isaac!

When they return to you with all their heart and being in the land where they are held prisoner and direct their prayers toward the land you gave to their ancestors, your chosen city, and the temple I built for your honor,

and a letter for Asaph the keeper of the king’s nature preserve, so that he will give me timber for beams for the gates of the fortress adjacent to the temple and for the city wall and for the house to which I go.” So the king granted me these requests, for the good hand of my God was on me.

whose trust is in something futile, whose security is a spider’s web.

he who crushes me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds for no reason.

what wise men declare, hiding nothing, from the tradition of their ancestors,

You, whose garments are hot when the earth is still because of the south wind,

to whom I appointed the steppe for its home, the salt wastes as its dwelling place?

who are always ready to do wrong or offer a bribe.

What we have heard and learned – that which our ancestors have told us –

They forgot what he had done, the amazing things he had shown them.

the promise he made to Abraham, the promise he made by oath to Isaac!

Our God is in heaven! He does whatever he pleases!

Confirm to your servant your promise, which you made to the one who honors you.

I will find delight in your commands, which I love.

ז (Zayin) Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.

and how he made a vow to the Lord, and swore an oath to the powerful ruler of Jacob.

They rebel against you and act deceitfully; your enemies lie.