³ They said to me, “The remnant there in the ^(A)province who remain from the captivity are in great calamity and ^(B)reproach, and ^(C)the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and ^(D)its gates are burned with fire.”

⁴ Now it happened that when I heard these words, ^(E)I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before ^(F)the God of heaven. ⁵ I said, “I beseech You, O ^[a]Yahweh, the God of heaven, ^(G)the great and fearsome God, ^(H)who keeps the covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments,