then I will remove you<n id="1" /> from my land I have given you,<n id="2" /> I will abandon this temple I have consecrated with my presence,<n id="3" /> and I will make you<n id="4" /> an object of mockery and ridicule<n id="5" /> among all the nations.

<p class="bodytext">Abijah ascended Mount Zemaraim, in the Ephraimite hill country, and said: &#8220;Listen to me, Jeroboam and all Israel!

Uzziah, who had an incense censer in his hand, became angry. While he was ranting and raving<n id="1" /> at the priests, a skin disease<n id="2" /> appeared on his forehead right there in front of the priests in the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple near the incense altar.

The <sc>Lordsc> humiliated<n id="1" /> Judah because of King Ahaz of Israel,<n id="2" /> for he encouraged Judah to sin and was very<n id="3" /> unfaithful to the <sc>Lordsc>.

All the leaders of the priests and people became more unfaithful and committed the same horrible sins practiced by the nations.<n id="1" /> They defiled the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.p>

God&#8217;s Spirit energized<n id="1" /> Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood up before the people and said to them, &#8220;This is what God says: &#8216;Why are you violating the commands of the <sc>Lordsc>? You will not be prosperous! Because you have rejected the <sc>Lordsc>, he has rejected you!&#8217;&#8221;

I will not make Israel again leave the land I gave to their ancestors,<n id="1" /> provided that they carefully obey all I commanded them, the whole law, the rules and regulations given to Moses.&#8221;

The musicians, the descendants of Asaph, manned their posts, as prescribed by David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king&#8217;s prophet.<n id="1" /> The guards at the various gates did not need to leave their posts, for their fellow Levites made preparations for them.