Now Jeroboam had sent some men to ambush the Judahite army from behind. The main army was in front of the Judahite army; the ambushers were behind it.

In those days no one could travel safely, for total chaos had overtaken all the people of the surrounding lands.

While the battle raged throughout the day, the king stood propped up in his chariot opposite the Syrians. He died in the evening as the sun was setting.

This is what you must do. One third of you priests and Levites who are on duty during the Sabbath will guard the doors.

He followed God during the lifetime of Zechariah, who taught him how to honor God. As long as he followed the Lord, God caused him to succeed.

But Manasseh misled the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem so that they sinned more than the nations whom the Lord had destroyed ahead of the Israelites.

Leave the work on this temple of God alone. Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild this temple of God in its proper place.

Hanani, who was one of my relatives, along with some of the men from Judah, came to me, and I asked them about the Jews who had escaped and had survived the exile, and about Jerusalem.

Adjacent to him Ezer son of Jeshua, head of Mizpah, worked on another section, opposite the ascent to the armory at the buttress.

Then I said, “The thing that you are doing is wrong! Should you not conduct yourselves in the fear of our God in order to avoid the reproach of the Gentiles who are our enemies?

Please remember me for this, O my God, and do not wipe out the kindness that I have done for the temple of my God and for its services!

Since man’s days are determined, the number of his months is under your control; you have set his limit and he cannot pass it.

“You say, ‘He is foam on the face of the waters; their portion of the land is cursed so that no one goes to their vineyard.

Far from where people live he sinks a shaft, in places travelers have long forgotten, far from other people he dangles and sways.

Is it your opinion that God should recompense it, because you reject this? But you must choose, and not I, so tell us what you know.

How much less, then, when you say that you do not perceive him, that the case is before him and you are waiting for him!

How blessed is the one who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand in the pathway with sinners, or sit in the assembly of scoffers!

may an enemy relentlessly chase me and catch me; may he trample me to death and leave me lying dishonored in the dust. (Selah)

For the music director; by David. In the Lord I have taken shelter. How can you say to me, “Flee to a mountain like a bird!

their troubles multiply, they desire other gods. I will not pour out drink offerings of blood to their gods, nor will I make vows in the name of their gods.