3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and ^dshame. ^eThe wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”

36 Behold, ^hwe are slaves this day; in the land that you gave to our fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, behold, we are slaves. 37 ⁱAnd its rich yield goes to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and over our livestock as they please, and we are in great distress.

38 “Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of² our princes, our Levites, and our priests.