So I registered a complaint with the leaders, asking “Why is the temple of God neglected?” Then I gathered them and reassigned them to their positions.

So I registered a complaint with the nobles of Judah, saying to them, “What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day?

And he said to mankind, ‘The fear of the Lord – that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

“Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wickedness, from the Almighty to do evil.

Rise up, Lord! Deliver me, my God! Yes, you will strike all my enemies on the jaw; you will break the teeth of the wicked.

Moreover, keep me from committing flagrant sins; do not allow such sins to control me. Then I will be blameless, and innocent of blatant rebellion.

Then we will shout for joy over your victory; we will rejoice in the name of our God! May the Lord grant all your requests!

For he did not despise or detest the suffering of the oppressed; he did not ignore him; when he cried out to him, he responded.

For the music director; according to the tune of “Lilies;” by David. Deliver me, O God, for the water has reached my neck.

Though you have allowed me to experience much trouble and distress, revive me once again! Bring me up once again from the depths of the earth!

He decreed it as a regulation in Joseph, when he attacked the land of Egypt. I heard a voice I did not recognize.

when he gave the sea his decree that the waters should not pass over his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,

How tragic that the once-faithful city has become a prostitute! She was once a center of justice, fairness resided in her, but now only murderers.

He lifts a signal flag for a distant nation, he whistles for it to come from the far regions of the earth. Look, they come quickly and swiftly.

Indeed this is what the Lord told me. He took hold of me firmly and warned me not to act like these people:

On a bare hill raise a signal flag, shout to them, wave your hand, so they might enter the gates of the princes!

Whom have you taunted and hurled insults at? At whom have you shouted and looked so arrogantly? At the Holy One of Israel!

If only you had obeyed my commandments, prosperity would have flowed to you like a river, deliverance would have come to you like the waves of the sea.

Yet, Lord, you are our father. We are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the product of your labor.

For whenever I prophesy, I must cry out, “Violence and destruction are coming!” This message from the Lord has made me an object of continual insults and derision.