But your ancestors did not listen to me nor pay attention to me. They became obstinate and were more wicked than even their own forefathers.’”

But there is little hope for you ever doing good, you who are so accustomed to doing evil. Can an Ethiopian change the color of his skin? Can a leopard remove its spots?

Sing to the Lord! Praise the Lord! For he rescues the oppressed from the clutches of evildoers.

“In that day,” says the Lord, “I will gather the lame, and assemble the outcasts whom I injured.

David said to God, “Was I not the one who decided to number the army? I am the one who sinned and committed this awful deed! As for these sheep – what have they done? O Lord my God, attack me and my family, but remove the plague from your people!”

but your father has humiliated me and changed my wages ten times. But God has not permitted him to do me any harm.

Doesn’t my master drink from this cup and use it for divination? You have done wrong!’”

Moses returned to the Lord, and said, “Lord, why have you caused trouble for this people? Why did you ever send me?

From the time I went to speak to Pharaoh in your name, he has caused trouble for this people, and you have certainly not rescued them!”

The man among you who is by nature tender and sensitive will turn against his brother, his beloved wife, and his remaining children.

If you abandon the Lord and worship foreign gods, he will turn against you; he will bring disaster on you and destroy you, though he once treated you well.”

I left here full, but the Lord has caused me to return empty-handed. Why do you call me ‘Naomi,’ seeing that the Lord has opposed me, and the Sovereign One has caused me to suffer?”

But this request displeased Samuel, for they said, “Give us a king to lead us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord.

This made Saul very angry. The statement displeased him and he thought, “They have attributed to David tens of thousands, but to me they have attributed only thousands. What does he lack, except the kingdom?”

You have sinned more than all who came before you. You went and angered me by making other gods, formed out of metal; you have completely disregarded me.

Then he called out to the Lord, “O Lord, my God, are you also bringing disaster on this widow I am staying with by killing her son?”

I replied to the king, “O king, live forever! Why would I not appear dejected when the city with the graves of my ancestors lies desolate and its gates destroyed by fire?”

When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard all this, they were very displeased that someone had come to seek benefit for the Israelites.

They will no longer injure or destroy on my entire royal mountain. For there will be universal submission to the Lord’s sovereignty, just as the waters completely cover the sea.

You will not be buried with them, because you destroyed your land and killed your people. The offspring of the wicked will never be mentioned again.