Then those in Judah said, “The strength of the laborers has failed! The debris is so great that we are unable to rebuild the wall.”

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.

He will not escape the darkness; a flame will wither his shoots and he will depart by the breath of God’s mouth.

For the Lord promotes justice, and never abandons his faithful followers. They are permanently secure, but the children of evil men are wiped out.

You love justice and hate evil. For this reason God, your God has anointed you with the oil of joy, elevating you above your companions.

He drove the nations out from before them; he assigned them their tribal allotments and allowed the tribes of Israel to settle down.

Your eyes saw me when I was inside the womb. All the days ordained for me were recorded in your scroll before one of them came into existence.

Free me from prison, that I may give thanks to your name. Because of me the godly will assemble, for you will vindicate me.

His mouth is very sweet; he is totally desirable. This is my beloved! This is my companion, O maidens of Jerusalem!

You must recognize the authority of the Lord who commands armies. He is the one you must respect; he is the one you must fear.

(9:1) The people walking in darkness see a bright light; light shines on those who live in a land of deep darkness.

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.

The king heard that King Tirhakah of Ethiopia was marching out to fight him. He again sent messengers to Hezekiah, ordering them:

The Lord says, ‘Be very careful if you value your lives! Do not carry any loads in through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day.

Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise up beside them because the spirit of the living being was in the wheel.

These were the living creatures which I saw at the Kebar River underneath the God of Israel; I knew that they were cherubim.

And with all your abominable practices and prostitution you did not remember the days of your youth when you were naked and bare, kicking around in your blood.

“This is what the sovereign Lord says: ‘Edom has taken vengeance against the house of Judah; they have made themselves fully culpable by taking vengeance on them.

“‘But you, mountains of Israel, will grow your branches, and bear your fruit for my people Israel; for they will arrive soon.

So these men concluded, “We won’t find any pretext against this man Daniel unless it is in connection with the law of his God.”