There were those who said, &#8220;With our sons and daughters, we are many. We must obtain<n id="1" /> grain in order to eat and stay alive.&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">I replied to the king, &#8220;O king, live forever! Why would I not appear dejected when the city with the graves of my ancestors<n id="1" /> lies desolate and its gates destroyed<n id="2" /> by fire?&#8221;

and in the presence of his colleagues<n id="1" /> and the army of Samaria<n id="2" /> he said, &#8220;What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they be left to themselves?<n id="3" /> Will they again offer sacrifice? Will they finish this in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones to life again from piles of dust?&#8221;p>

You alone are the <sc>LORDsc>. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens,<n id="1" /> along with all their multitude of stars,<n id="2" /> the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You impart life to them all, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.p>

And you solemnly admonished them in order to return them to your law, but they behaved presumptuously and did not obey your commandments. They sinned against your ordinances &#8211; those by which an individual, if he obeys them,<n id="1" /> will live. They boldly turned from you;<n id="2" /> they rebelled<n id="3" /> and did not obey.