The people said to Joshua, “We will worship the Lord our God and obey him.”

Again they wept loudly. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung tightly to her.

But the people refused to heed Samuel’s warning. Instead they said, “No! There will be a king over us!

Why haven’t you obeyed the Lord? Instead you have greedily rushed upon the plunder! You have done what is wrong in the Lord’s estimation.”

Saul accepted Jonathan’s advice and took an oath, “As surely as the Lord lives, he will not be put to death.”

David and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord, shouting and blowing trumpets.

But he refused to listen to her. He overpowered her and humiliated her by raping her.

In my distress I called to the Lord; I called to my God. From his heavenly temple he heard my voice; he listened to my cry for help.

When he stood up, he pronounced a blessing over the entire assembly of Israel, saying in a loud voice:

The Lord answered Elijah’s prayer; the boy’s breath returned to him and he lived.

So they yelled louder and, in accordance with their prescribed ritual, mutilated themselves with swords and spears until their bodies were covered with blood.

Then Elijah told Ahab, “Go on up and eat and drink, for the sound of a heavy rainstorm can be heard.”

After the earthquake, there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a soft whisper.

When Athaliah heard the royal guard shout, she joined the crowd at the Lord’s temple.

A proclamation was circulated throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles were to be assembled in Jerusalem.

All the assembly replied in a loud voice: “We will do just as you have said!

It stands still, but I cannot recognize its appearance; an image is before my eyes, and I hear a murmuring voice:

In excitement and impatience it consumes the ground; it cannot stand still when the trumpet is blown.

To the Lord I cried out, and he answered me from his holy hill. (Selah)

Pay attention to my cry for help, my king and my God, for I am praying to you!