Solomon rebuilt the cities that Huram<n id="1" /> had given him and settled Israelites there.

There were twelve statues of lions on the six steps, one lion at each end of each step. There was nothing like it in any other kingdom.<n id="1" />p>

From the time Amaziah turned from following the <sc>Lordsc>, conspirators plotted against him in Jerusalem,<n id="1" /> so he fled to Lachish. But they sent assassins after him<n id="2" /> and they killed him there.

<p class="bodytext">I called for a fast there by the Ahava Canal, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and seek from him a safe journey<n id="1" /> for us, our children, and all our property.

<p class="bodytext">They said to me, &#8220;The remnant that remains from the exile there in the province are experiencing considerable<n id="1" /> adversity and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem lies breached, and its gates have been burned down!&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

I gave myself to the work on this wall, without even purchasing<n id="1" /> a field. All my associates were gathered there for the work.p>

He said, &#8220;Naked<n id="1" /> I came from my mother&#8217;s womb, and naked I will return there.<n id="2" /> The <sc>Lordsc> gives, and the <sc>Lordsc> takes away.<n id="3" /> May the name of the <sc>Lordsc><n id="4" /> be blessed!&#8221;

<p class="poetry">They are absolutely terrified,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">even by things that do not normally cause fear.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">For God annihilates<n id="3" /> those who attack you.<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">You are able to humiliate them because God has rejected them.<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">Over here is the deep, wide sea,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">which teems with innumerable swimming creatures,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">living things both small and large.p>

<p class="poetry">It is like the dew of Hermon,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">which flows down upon the hills of Zion.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Indeed<n id="3" /> that is where the <sc>Lordsc> has decreedp> <p class="poetry">a blessing will be available &#8211; eternal life.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">All the streams flow<n id="1" /> into the sea, but the sea is not full,p> <p class="poetry">and to the place where the streams flow, there they will flow again.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">I thought to myself, &#8220;God will judge both the righteous and the wicked;p> <p class="poetry">for there is an appropriate time for every activity,p> <p class="poetry">and there is a time of judgment<n id="1" /> for every deed. p>

<p class="poetry">If the clouds are full of rain, they will empty themselves on the earth,p> <p class="poetry">and whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, the tree will lie wherever it falls.p>

<p class="poetry">Let us rise early to go to the vineyards,p> <p class="poetry">to see if the vines have budded,p> <p class="poetry">to see if their blossoms have opened,p> <p class="poetry">if the pomegranates are in bloom &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">there I will give you my love.p>

At that time<n id="1" /> every place where there had been a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels will be overrun<n id="2" /> with thorns and briers.

<p class="poetry">&#8220;I will rise up against them,&#8221;p> <p class="poetry">says the <sc>Lordsc> who commands armies.p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;I will blot out all remembrance of Babylon and destroy all her people,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">including the offspring she produces,&#8221;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">says the <sc>Lordsc>.p>

<p class="poetry">He said,p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;You will no longer celebrate,p> <p class="poetry">oppressed<n id="1" /> virgin daughter Sidon!p> <p class="poetry">Get up, travel to Cyprus,p> <p class="poetry">but you will find no relief there.&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">For the fortified city<n id="1" /> is left alone;p> <p class="poetry">it is a deserted settlementp> <p class="poetry">and abandoned like the desert.p> <p class="poetry">Calves<n id="2" /> graze there;p> <p class="poetry">they lie down therep> <p class="poetry">and eat its branches bare.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">Look, the name<n id="1" /> of the <sc>Lordsc> comes from a distant placep> <p class="poetry">in raging anger and awesome splendor.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">He speaks angrilyp> <p class="poetry">and his word is like destructive fire.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">Wild animals and wild dogs will congregate there;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">wild goats will bleat to one another.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Yes, nocturnal animals<n id="3" /> will rest therep> <p class="poetry">and make for themselves a nest.<n id="4" />p>