¹And now, my brethren, I make known unto you that when the enemy had surrounded the city, the angels of the Most High were sent, and they overthrew the fortifications of the strong wall, and they destroyed the firm iron corners, which could not be rooted out.

²Nevertheless, they hid all the vessels of the sanctuary, lest the enemy should get possession of them.

³And when they had done these things, they delivered thereupon to the enemy the overthrown wall, and the plundered house, and the burnt temple, and the people who were overcome for they were delivered up, lest the enemy should boast and say: 'Thus by force have we been able to lay waste even the house of the Most High in war.'

⁴Thy brethren also have they bound and led away to Babylon, and have caused them to dwell there.

⁵But we have been left here, being very few.

⁶This is the tribulation about which I wrote unto thee.

⁷For assuredly I know that (the consolation of) the inhabitants of Zion consoles you: so far as you knew that it was prospered (thy consolation) was greater than the tribulation which you endured in having to depart from it.