3 So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petitions, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.
4 I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:Ah, Lord — the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps His gracious covenant with those who love Him and keep His commands —
5 we have sinned, done wrong, acted wickedly, rebelled, and turned away from Your commands and ordinances.
6 We have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, leaders, fathers, and all the people of the land.
7 Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but this day public shame belongs to us: the men of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, and all Israel — those who are near and those who are far, in all the countries where You have dispersed them because of the disloyalty they have shown toward You.
8 Lord, public shame belongs to us, our kings, our leaders, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You.
9 Compassion and forgiveness belong to the Lord our God, though we have rebelled against Him