He followed in his father Asa’s footsteps and was careful to do what the Lord approved.

He posted guards at the gates of the Lord’s temple, so no one who was ceremonially unclean in any way could enter.

The Lord sent prophets among them to lead them back to him. They warned the people, but they would not pay attention.

King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria came, but he gave him more trouble than support.

everyone who has determined to follow God, the Lord God of his ancestors, even if he is not ceremonially clean according to the standards of the temple.”

He did not humble himself before the Lord as his father Manasseh had done. Amon was guilty of great sin.

He did what the Lord approved and followed in his ancestor David’s footsteps; he did not deviate to the right or the left.

He did evil in the sight of the Lord his God. He did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, the Lord’s spokesman.

They searched for their records in the genealogical materials, but did not find them. They were therefore excluded from the priesthood.

From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord. However, the Lord’s temple was not at that time established.

The men of Tekoa worked on the section adjacent to them, but their town leaders would not assist with the work of their master.

I recognized the fact that God had not sent him, for he had spoken the prophecy against me as a hired agent of Tobiah and Sanballat.

They searched for their records in the genealogical materials, but none were found. They were therefore excluded from the priesthood.

“But they – our ancestors – behaved presumptuously; they rebelled and did not obey your commandments.

You imparted your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths; you provided water for their thirst.

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

Remember that my life is but a breath, that my eyes will never again see happiness.

“Therefore, I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

I loathe it; I do not want to live forever; leave me alone, for my days are a vapor!

For we were born yesterday and do not have knowledge, since our days on earth are but a shadow.