38. They killed those who weren't guilty of doing anything wrong. They killed their own sons and daughters. They sacrificed them as offerings to statues of the gods of Canaan. The land became "unclean" because of the blood of their children.
39. The people polluted themselves by what they had done. They weren't faithful to the Lord.
40. So the Lord became angry with his people. He turned away from his own children.
41. He handed them over to the nations. Their enemies ruled over them.
42. They beat them down and kept them under their power.
43. Many times the Lord saved them. But they refused to obey him. So he destroyed them because of their sins.
44. But he heard them when they cried out. He paid special attention to their suffering.
45. Because they were his people, he remembered his covenant. Because of his great love, he felt sorry for them.
46. He made all those who held them as prisoners show concern for them.
47. Lord our God, save us. Bring us back from among the nations. Then we will give thanks to you, because your name is holy. We will celebrate by praising you.