40 It came to pass, when all the people saw[fn] that the seven days were past, and I had not come again into the city, they all gathered together, from the least to the greatest, and came to me, and spoke to me, saying, 41 “How have we offended you? What evil have we done against you, that you have utterly forsaken us, and sit in this place? 42 Because of all the prophets, only you are left to us, like a cluster of the vintage, and like a lamp in a dark place, and like a harbour for a ship saved from the tempest. 43 Aren’t the evils which have come to us sufficient? 44 If you will forsake us, how much better had it been for us if we also had been consumed in the burning of Tsiyon (Zion)! 45 Because we are not better than those who died there.” Then they wept with a loud voice. I answered them, 46 “Take courage, Oh Yisrael (Israel)! Don’t be sorrowful, you house of Ya’akov (Jacob); 47 for the Most High remembers you. The Mighty has not forgotten you forever.[fn] 48 As for me, I have not forsaken you. I haven’t departed from you; but I have come into this place to pray for the desolation of Tsiyon, and that I might seek mercy for the humiliation of your sanctuary. 49 Now go your way, every man to his own house, and after these days I will come to you.”

50 So the people went their way into the city, as I told them to do. 51 But I sat in the field seven days, as the angel commanded me. In those days, I ate only of the flowers of the field, and my food was from plants.