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

David was going back and forth from Saul in order to care for his father’s sheep in Bethlehem.

The Philistine kept coming closer to David, with his shield bearer walking in front of him.

When the two of them had made a covenant before the Lord, David stayed on at Horesh, but Jonathan went to his house.

They brought it with the ark of God up from the house of Abinadab on the hill. Ahio was walking in front of the ark,

He abandoned the Lord God of his ancestors and did not follow the Lord’s instructions.

Jehozadak went into exile when the Lord sent the people of Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

Then Solomon went to Ezion Geber and to Elat on the coast in the land of Edom.

but instead sought the God of his ancestors and obeyed his commands, unlike the Israelites.

Jehoshaphat’s power kept increasing. He built fortresses and storage cities throughout Judah.

He followed in the footsteps of Ahab’s dynasty, for his mother gave him evil advice.

If my footsteps have strayed from the way, if my heart has gone after my eyes, or if anything has defiled my hands,

I will favor the honest people of the land, and allow them to live with me. Those who walk in the way of integrity will attend me.

Even when a fool walks along the road he lacks sense, and shows everyone what a fool he is.

The Maidens to the Beloved: Where has your beloved gone, O most beautiful among women? Where has your beloved turned? Tell us, that we may seek him with you.

Lord, we know that people do not control their own destiny. It is not in their power to determine what will happen to them.

“They have blown the trumpet and everyone is ready, but no one goes to battle, because my anger is against their whole crowd.

But those whose hearts are devoted to detestable things and abominations, I hereby repay them for what they have done, says the sovereign Lord.”

Ephraim will be oppressed, crushed under judgment, because he was determined to pursue worthless idols.

Therefore they will disappear like the morning mist, like early morning dew that evaporates, like chaff that is blown away from a threshing floor, like smoke that disappears through an open window.