People will reside again in his shade; they will plant and harvest grain in abundance. They will blossom like a vine, and his fame will be like the wine from Lebanon.

The Lord decided not to do this. The sovereign Lord said, “This will not happen either.”

As a matter of fact, Amos is saying this: ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword and Israel will certainly be carried into exile away from its land.’”

But as for me, I promise to offer a sacrifice to you with a public declaration of praise; I will surely do what I have promised. Salvation belongs to the Lord!”

So now, Lord, kill me instead, because I would rather die than live!”

Shave your heads bald as you mourn for the children you love; shave your foreheads as bald as an eagle, for they are taken from you into exile.

I will angrily seek vengeance on the nations that do not obey me.”

Will he then continue to fill and empty his throw net? Will he always destroy nations and spare none?

For recognition of the Lord’s sovereign majesty will fill the earth just as the waters fill up the sea.

I see the tents of Cushan overwhelmed by trouble; the tent curtains of the land of Midian are shaking.

Indeed, Gaza will be deserted and Ashkelon will become a heap of ruins. Invaders will drive away the people of Ashdod by noon, and Ekron will be overthrown.

‘Do not fear, because I made a promise to your ancestors when they left Egypt, and my spirit even now testifies to you.’

Be silent in the Lord’s presence, all people everywhere, for he is being moved to action in his holy dwelling place.

He replied, “To build a temple for her in the land of Babylonia. When it is finished, she will be placed there in her own residence.”

Then someone will ask him, ‘What are these wounds on your chest?’ and he will answer, ‘Some that I received in the house of my friends.’

“All nations will call you happy, for you indeed will live in a delightful land,” says the Lord who rules over all.

Then once more you will see that I make a distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and the one who does not.

Abijah launched the attack with 400,000 well-trained warriors, while Jeroboam deployed against him 800,000 well-trained warriors.

Uzziel son of Harhaiah, a member of the goldsmiths’ guild, worked on the section adjacent to him. Hananiah, a member of the perfumers’ guild, worked on the section adjacent to him. They plastered the city wall of Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.

After him Hananiah son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, worked on another section. After them Meshullam son of Berechiah worked opposite his quarters.