Chapter 131

¹ Since, then, the angel Gabriel, just as it has been understood by us, recounted these things to the prophet, even as they also came to pass and have all been plainly recorded in the books of the Maccabees, let us see also what he says concerning the weeks.

² For having thus read the book of Jeremiah the prophet, in which it is written that the sanctuary would be desolate for seventy years, in fasting and supplication, confessing, he entreated that the people might more quickly return from the captivity to the city of Jerusalem.

³ Thus, then, recounting, he says: In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, who reigned over the kingdom of the Chaldeans, I, Daniel, understood in the books the number of the years, as the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolation of Jerusalem, seventy years. And I set my face toward the Lord my God, to seek prayer and supplications in fasting and sackcloth; and I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed and said: O Lord, the great and wonderful God, who keeps your covenant and mercy to those who love you and to those who keep your commandments, we have sinned, we have done wrong, we have transgressed, and we have departed and turned aside from your commandments and from your judgments, and we have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings and our rulers and our fathers and all the people of the land. To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, and to us the shame of face, as at this day, to the man of Judah and to those who dwell in Jerusalem.