The Lord God of their ancestors continually warned them through his messengers, for he felt compassion for his people and his dwelling place.

You multiplied their descendants like the stars of the sky. You brought them to the land you had told their ancestors to enter in order to possess.

Our kings, our leaders, our priests, and our ancestors have not kept your law. They have not paid attention to your commandments or your testimonies by which you have solemnly admonished them.

For the music director; by the Korahites, a well-written song. O God, we have clearly heard; our ancestors have told us what you did in their days, in ancient times.

Our ancestors in Egypt failed to appreciate your miraculous deeds, they failed to remember your many acts of loyal love, and they rebelled at the sea, by the Red Sea.

Prepare to execute his sons for the sins their ancestors have committed. They must not rise up and take possession of the earth, or fill the surface of the world with cities.”

This is what the Lord says: “What fault could your ancestors have possibly found in me that they strayed so far from me? They paid allegiance to worthless idols, and so became worthless to me.

I will scatter them among nations that neither they nor their ancestors have known anything about. I will send people chasing after them with swords until I have destroyed them.’”

How long will they go on plotting to make my people forget who I am through the dreams they tell one another? That is just as bad as what their ancestors did when they forgot who I am by worshiping the god Baal.

So I will carry you far off and throw you away. I will send both you and the city I gave to you and to your ancestors out of my sight.

“When that time comes, people will no longer say, ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, but the children’s teeth have grown numb.’

We have not paid attention to your servants the prophets, who spoke by your authority to our kings, our leaders, and our ancestors, and to all the inhabitants of the land as well.

he will rule them with an iron rod and like clay jars he will break them to pieces,

Micah said to him, “Stay with me. Become my adviser and priest. I will give you ten pieces of silver per year, plus clothes and food.”

I will put your robe on him, tie your belt around him, and transfer your authority to him. He will become a protector of the residents of Jerusalem and of the people of Judah.

His son Shemaiah also had sons, who were leaders of their families, for they were highly respected.

You kept the promise that you swore on oath to their ancestors. You gave them a land flowing with milk and honey.

We have lived in tents. We have obeyed our ancestor Jonadab and done exactly as he commanded us.

Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

After God spoke long ago in various portions and in various ways to our ancestors through the prophets,