The Prophet’s Prayer

16 Now, after I had given the purchase-deed to Baruch, the son of Neriah, I prayed in these words to Jehovah: 17 "Ah, Lord Jehovah! Thou, by Thy mighty power and outstretched arm, hast made the heavens and the earth, and nothing is too hard for Thee. 18 Kindness Thou showest to thousands, and retribution for the guilt of the fathers thou bringest home to their children after them, Thou great and mighty God, 19 great in purpose and mighty in action, whose eyes are open to all the ways of men, giving to each his deserts and the fruit of his deeds. 20 In the land of Egypt Thou didst set in Israel and among (other) men signs and wonders (which are commemorated) unto this day, and so didst win for Thyself the renown that is Thine to-day; 21 and Thou didst bring Thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt by signs and wonders, with mighty hand and 22 outstretched arm and terrors great; and Thou gavest them this land which Thou didst swear to their fathers to give them – a land flowing with milk and honey – 23 and they came in and took possession of it. But they would not listen to Thy voice, nor live in accordance with Thy law; they have left undone all that Thou didst command them to do; and so Thou hast brought all this misery upon them.

24 Behold how the siege-mounds for storming the city are already close upon it, and under the stress of sword, famine and pestilence, the city is already as good as given into the hands of the Chaldeans that are assailing it. What Thou hast threatened has come, as Thou Thyself seest. 25 And it was Thou Thyself, O Lord Jehovah, who didst command me to buy the land; (and this I have done), writing and sealing the deed and calling witnesses, though all the while the city is already as good as delivered into the hands of the Chaldeans."