Daniel’s Prayer

9 In the first year of Dariuss son of Xerxesa t (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonianb kingdom—2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventyu years. 3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting,v and in sackcloth and ashes.w

4 I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:x

“Lord, the great and awesome God,y who keeps his covenant of lovez with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinneda and done wrong.b We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned awayc from your commands and laws.d 6 We have not listenede to your servants the prophets,f who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors,g and to all the people of the land.

7 “Lord, you are righteous,h but this day we are covered with shamei—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scatteredj us because of our unfaithfulnessk to you.l