¹⁷ But we will certainly ^(A)carry out every word that has proceeded from our mouths, ^[a]by burning ^[b]sacrifices to the ^(B)queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, just as ^(C)we ourselves, our forefathers, our kings, and our leaders did in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; for then we had ^(D)plenty of ^[c]food and were well off and saw no ^[d]misfortune. ¹⁸ But since we stopped burning ^[e]sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have ^(E)lacked everything, and have met our end by the sword and by famine.”