When the king heard the words of the law scroll, he tore his clothes.

Then the local people began to discourage the people of Judah and to dishearten them from building.

and the temple servants who were living on Ophel worked up to the area opposite the Water Gate toward the east and the protruding tower.

When the wall had been rebuilt and I had positioned the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed,

In the days of Joiakim, these were the priests who were leaders of the families: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;

Now the day came when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord – and Satan also arrived among them.

Now the day came when Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

and a messenger came to Job, saying, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing beside them,

That day – let it be darkness; let not God on high regard it, nor let light shine on it!

Indeed, let that night be barren; let no shout of joy penetrate it!

Or why was I not buried like a stillborn infant, like infants who have never seen the light?

Then I would yet have my comfort, then I would rejoice, in spite of pitiless pain, for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.

Relent, let there be no falsehood; reconsider, for my righteousness is intact!

For then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be securely established and will not fear.

I am a laughingstock to my friends, I, who called on God and whom he answered – a righteous and blameless man is a laughingstock!

I was in peace, and he has shattered me. He has seized me by the neck and crushed me. He has made me his target;

“While he is filling his belly, God sends his burning anger against him, and rains down his blows upon him.

There are those who rebel against the light; they do not know its ways and they do not stay on its paths.

Before daybreak the murderer rises up; he kills the poor and the needy; in the night he is like a thief.

May my words and my thoughts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my sheltering rock and my redeemer.