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‘Ah, they have erred and gone astray from Me, and consecrated themselves to strange gods; they counselled to hew out cisterns for them—but broken cisterns are theirs. How shall I refrain Me, when they break the ten commandments?’

And thus cried Isaac wofully unto the Dweller of the skies: ‘In vain was I appointed to be slain, since my seed is crushed and ruined. Where is Thy pledge: “But I will establish My covenant with Isaac”?’^[59]

‘They rebelled against the prophet Jeremiah, and defiled mount Moriah; I am weary of hearing the complaint which rises to Me from the earth. And how shall I refrain Me since Zechariah is slain?’

And then spoke he who was born for study,^[60] like jackals shedding tears: ‘My little ones whom I reared with care, why did they fly away so soon? Why was I punished a thousandfold for my blood-guilt?’

Then spoke the faithful shepherd,^[61] covered with ashes, wallowing in dust: ‘The flocks that were entrusted to my care, why were they cut off before their time? Where is Thy pledge: “They shall not be widowed”?’^[62]