The Book of Steps

And at the time when sin was completed, the prayer of the righteous who pray was no longer heard. For the Holy One said to Jeremiah: "In this time, if Moses and Samuel should stand before me, my soul does not desire this people; rather, cast them out from before my face, and let them go. And if they say to you, 'Where shall we go?' say to them: 'To death, and to the sword, and to famine, and to captivity.' Four scourges I have commanded against them." And also to Ezekiel, God said: "If I command the sword against the land and say, 'Let the sword pass through the land and destroy its people,' even if Noah, and Daniel, and Job were in that land, as I live, says the Lord of Lords, they shall not deliver sons or daughters; but by their righteousness they shall deliver their own souls, and the land shall be for a desert." It is easy to understand that the prophet was distressed because he prayed but was not heard; for this reason, the Lord answered him by pointing to those three righteous men, because a thought had entered his heart: "Why were Noah, and Job, and Daniel heard, each in their own generation, in their prayers, but my own prayer was not heard?" Noah was heard, and the members of his house were delivered with him from the wrath of the flood. And Job prayed for his friends...

5. And when the measure of the wicked has superabounded, the prayer of the just is no longer heard. For the Most Holy said to Jeremiah: "At this time, if Moses and Samuel stood before me, my soul would not be delighted with this people; but cast them out from my presence, and let them depart. But if they say to you, 'Where shall we go?' say to them: 'To the sword, to captivity, to famine, and to death. I will send four scourges upon them'¹." To Ezekiel also the Lord said: "If I send the sword upon this land and say: 'Let the sword pass through the land, or a worst beast; even if there were in that land Noah, Daniel, and Job, as I live, says the Lord of lords, they would not deliver sons or daughters, but they themselves would deliver their souls by their righteousness; the land, however, shall be in desolation'²." It is easy to understand that the prophet was greatly grieved because he prayed and was not heard, and therefore the Lord gave him an answer by the example of those three just men. For such a thought had entered his mind: Why were Noah, Job, and Daniel, each in his own generation, heard, and my prayer is not heard? Noah, indeed, was heard, and the children of his house with him were snatched from the wrath of the flood. Job prayed for his friends...