Daniel 9:1-13

These things happened during the first year Darius son of Xerxes was king over Babylon. He was a descendant of the Medes. During his first year of rule, I, Daniel, was studying the Scriptures and noticed that according to the word YAHWEH had revealed to the prophet Jeremiah, seventy years must pass while Jerusalem lay in ruins. Then I turned my heart to the Lord God, seeking an answer from him, pleading for mercy with fasting, wearing sackcloth, and sitting among ashes. I prayed to YAHWEH, my God, and made this confession: “My Lord, you are the great and awesome God who faithfully keeps your covenant of love with those who love you and keep your commands. Yet we have sinned, acted wickedly, and done evil; we have rebelled and turned aside from your laws and commands. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who prophesied in your name to our kings, our leaders, our fathers, and all the people of the land. Righteousness belongs to you, Lord, but we are all covered with shame even to this day—the people of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, and all Israel, near and far. You have scattered us to many lands because of our treachery against you. Yes, YAHWEH, we are all clothed with shame—our kings, our princes, and our fathers, because we have sinned against you. In spite of all that, Lord, our God, you are filled with compassion and overflow with forgiveness, even though we have openly rebelled against you. “YAHWEH, we have not listened to your voice, our God, nor kept your instructions that you gave us through your servants the prophets. All the people of Israel have ignored your voice; we have defied your instructions and gone astray. Now, the solemn curses confirmed by your promises of punishment in the law of your servant Moses have been poured out upon us because we sinned against you. You have fulfilled the words that you spoke against us and against the rulers over us by bringing upon us such a great calamity. Your severe punishment of Jerusalem has never been equaled under all heaven! As the law of Moses warns, this calamity came upon us in full measure. And even now, YAHWEH, we have not sought to please you, our God, by turning away from our wickedness and following your ways of truth.