When the foundations are destroyed, what can the godly accomplish?”

I will remove you from your office; you will be thrown down from your position.

Your children hurry back, while those who destroyed and devastated you depart.

“You must not bow down to their gods; you must not serve them or do according to their practices. Instead you must completely overthrow them and smash their standing stones to pieces.

In the abundance of your majesty you have overthrown those who rise up against you. You sent forth your wrath; it consumed them like stubble.

A city is exalted by the blessing provided from the upright, but it is destroyed by the counsel of the wicked.

Every wise woman builds her household, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.

A king brings stability to a land by justice, but one who exacts tribute tears it down.

I will destroy the cities of your land, and tear down all your fortresses.

If he tears down, it cannot be rebuilt; if he imprisons a person, there is no escape.

For they do not understand the Lord’s actions, or the way he carries out justice. The Lord will permanently demolish them.

O God, break the teeth in their mouths! Smash the jawbones of the lions, O Lord!

I saw that thorns had grown up all over it, the ground was covered with weeds, and its stone wall was broken down.

Is this the one who made the world like a desert, who ruined its cities, and refused to free his prisoners so they could return home?”’

They will destroy the walls of Tyre and break down her towers. I will scrape her soil from her and make her a bare rock.

The grains of seed have shriveled beneath their shovels. Storehouses have been decimated and granaries have been torn down, for the grain has dried up.

The Lord said to Moses, “Go down and solemnly warn the people, lest they force their way through to the Lord to look, and many of them perish.

Elijah then told all the people, “Approach me.” So all the people approached him. He repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down.

Know for certain that I hereby give you the authority to announce to nations and kingdoms that they will be uprooted and torn down, destroyed and demolished, rebuilt and firmly planted.”

I will look after their welfare and will restore them to this land. There I will build them up and will not tear them down. I will plant them firmly in the land and will not uproot them.