1 When Israel went forth into captivity to a strange land, because they departed from the Lord their Saviour:

2 then were they cast out from the inheritance that GOD gave them: amongst all the Gentiles was the dispersion of Israel, according to the word of GOD,

3 that Thou mightest be justified, O GOD, in Thy righteousness over our wickedness:

4 for Thou art a just Judge over all the peoples of the earth.

5 For there will not be hidden from Thy knowledge any one who doeth wickedness:

6 and the righteousness of Thy upright ones, O Lord, is before Thee. And where shall a man be hidden from Thy knowledge, O GOD?

7 For we work by free-will and the choice of our own souls to do either good or evil by the work of our hands:

8 and in Thy righteousness Thou dost visit the children of men.

9 For he who does righteousness lays up a treasure of life with the Lord: and he who does wickedness incurs judgment upon his soul in perdition.

10 For His judgments are in righteousness upon every man and his house.

11 For with whom wilt Thou deal graciously, O GOD, unless with them that call upon the Lord?

12 For he purifies the sins of the soul by confession,

13 because shame is on us and our faces because of all these things.

14 For to whom will He remit sins except to those that have sinned?

15 For the righteous Thou dost bless, and dost not reprove them for any of their sins; for Thy grace is on those that have sinned when they have repented.

16 And, now, Thou art our GOD: and we are Thy people whom Thou hast loved: behold and have mercy, O GOD of Israel; for Thine are we: remove not Thy compassions from us, lest the Gentiles should set upon us;

17 for Thou hast chosen the seed of Abraham rather than all the Gentiles,

18 and Thou hast put on us Thy Name, O Lord: and Thou wilt not remove for ever.

19 Thou didst surely covenant with our fathers concerning us: and we hope in Thee, in the repentance of our souls.

20 The mercies over the house of Israel are of the Lord, now and evermore.