9 It was when Dareyavesh (Darius, the son of Ahashverosh, a descendant of the Medes) was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans (perhaps better known by Westerners as Babylonians), 2 and during that first year of his reign that I, Daniel, understood from the sacred books that Yahweh had told the prophet Yirmeyah (Jeremiah) that Yerushalem city would be destroyed and remain in ruins for seventy years.[ref]

3 Then I turned my focus to the Lord God, to make my requests known to him, as I fasted, wore sackcloth, and sprinkled myself with ashes. 4 I prayed to my God Yahweh, and I confessed to him, “My master, the powerful and awe-inspiring God, who keeps his agreement and shows loyal commitment to those who love him and keep his commandments. 5 We Israelis have sinned and done wrong. We have done wicked things and rebelled against you, not wanting to obey your rules and instructions. 6 We ignored the challenges from your servants the prophets who spoke to our kings, our generals, and our ancestors on your behalf, and to all the people of the land. 7 Perfect goodness can only be found in you, my master, but we have shame on our faces, as we have today. Yes, the men of Yehudah, the inhabitants of Yerushalem, and all Israel whether near or far away, in all the countries where you’ve driven them because of their treachery against you. 8 We’ve sinned against you, Yahweh, and we deserve the shame that’s on our kings, our generals, and our ancestors.

9 “Yet you, our God and master, continue to show compassion and forgiveness, even though we’ve rebelled against you 10 and haven’t obeyed your words, Yahweh our God, by following the instructions that you gave us through your servants the prophets. 11 All Israel has broken your law and turned away—not obeying your words. The curse and oath that are written in the law given through your servant Mosheh, have been applied to us, because we have sinned against you. 12 You have confirmed your words, which warned both us and our rulers about the potential of a great calamity. Yes, what has happened to Yerushalem hasn’t happened anywhere else in the world. 13 As it’s written in the Mosheh’s law, we’ve undergone all that calamity, yet we haven’t tried to earn our God Yahweh’a favour our God by turning away from our disobedience and giving attention to your truth. 14 Therefore Yahweh kept pondering the need for calamity and then eventually brought it on us, because our God Yahweh is always does what is right and yet we haven’t obeyed what he said.

15 “Now, my master, our God, who used his amazing power to bring his people out of Egypt, and have made a reputation for yourself which stands until today, we have sinned against you and been wicked. 16 My master, because you always do what is right, turn your anger from your city Yerushalem—your holy mountain, because Yerushalem and your people have become an object of scorn to all those around us due to our own sins, as well as those of our predecessors. 17 So now, our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy. For your sake, my master, show favour to your devastated sanctuary. 18 My God, turn your ear and listen. Open your eyes and see our terrible state here in exile, and the state of the city that is called by your name. We aren’t asking all this because we’re good enough to deserve it, but because of your extensive mercy. 19 Master, master, listen to us and forgive us. Master, pay attention and take action. Don’t delay, my God, for your own sake, because your city and your people are called by your name.”