The Lord said to Jeremiah:
     
     If they say unto thee,
     Whither shall we go?
     then thou shalt tell them:
    
     Thus saith the Lord,
          Such as are for death,
     to death;
          and such as are for the sword,
     to the sword;
         and such as are for the famine,
     to the famine;
         and such as are for the captivity,
     to the captivity.
                            
                          ― Jeremiah 15:2

    >>>    70 Years Later    <<<
              Daniel Prayed

((    Lord                                    ))
ss::                                              ::ss
((   Giver of love’s covenant  ))
 
                          See
                       Our sin
           Sprouted and full-grown
        Wrench us from wrongness
Put fire to the seedling of this harvest
              That rebellion halt
                In grace's pinion
           
     Amen.
 
We listened not to them
Who balanced your word
On hematite tongues
In whose belly churned
The chastisement of our stretched-out necks
Wo, wo, unto us
For you have seen
Our abominations!
 
     Amen.
 
This day we are         covered with shame
A people          naked       of your holiness
Our crown a     scab       of unfaithfulness
Israel’s hope                  both near and far
Scattered       as seafoam upon the rocks
We and  our  prophets and       ancestors
Lie          bruised beside                    Sheol
​Because       we sinned
                                                 against you
 
Who shall declare
   The Lord’s mercy?
      Even those who disobeyed
        And kept not your laws
      Shall follow your Condescension
   And wash the stain of judgment
From their hearts in the Fuller’s soap
 
                       Now
                       Lord
                       our
          God bring us forward
           Turn not away those
                      who
                      would
                      serve
                      upon
                      your
                      holy
                      hill
 
Lord, look with favor
On your desolate sanctuary
A people sorrowing for your namesake
We request this not because we are righteous
     But because of your great mercy
 
     Lord, listen
     Lord, forgive
     Lord, hear and act
     My God, do not delay
 
Amen.

――――​

[This modern retelling was inspired by Daniel's intercessory prayer for Israel recorded in Daniel Chapter 9.]