Their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.

Do not let them say to themselves, “Aha! We have what we wanted!” Do not let them say, “We have devoured him!”

Even Saul went to his home in Gibeah. With him went some brave men whose hearts God had touched.

They say to themselves, “We will oppress all of them.” They burn down all the places where people worship God in the land.

I will do this in order to capture the hearts of the house of Israel, who have alienated themselves from me on account of all their idols.’

Then the leaders of Judah will say to themselves, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem are a means of strength to us through their God, the Lord who rules over all.’

Listen to me, you who know what is right, you people who are aware of my law! Don’t be afraid of the insults of men; don’t be discouraged because of their abuse!

They do not pray to me, but howl in distress on their beds; They slash themselves for grain and new wine, but turn away from me.

God has made everything fit beautifully in its appropriate time, but he has also placed ignorance in the human heart so that people cannot discover what God has ordained, from the beginning to the end of their lives.