The Unrepentance of Israel and Judah

¹Come, let us return to the LORD.For He has torn us to pieces,but He will heal us;He has wounded us,but He will bind up our wounds.

²After two days He will revive us;on the third day He will raise us up,that we may live in His presence.

³So let us know—let us press on to know the LORD.As surely as the sun rises,He will appear;He will come to us like the rain,like the spring showers that water the earth.

⁴What shall I do with you, O Ephraim?What shall I do with you, O Judah?For your loyalty is like a morning mist,like the early dew that vanishes.

⁵Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets;I have slain them by the words of My mouth,and My judgments go forth like lightning.

⁶For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,and the knowledge of Godrather than burnt offerings.

⁷But they, like Adam, have transgressedthe covenant;there they were unfaithful to Me.

⁸Gilead is a city of evildoers,tracked with footprints of blood.

⁹Like raiders who lie in ambush,so does a band of priests;they murder on the way to Shechem;surely they have committed atrocities.

¹⁰In the house of IsraelI have seen a horrible thing:Ephraim practices prostitution there,and Israel is defiled.

¹¹Also for you, O Judah,a harvest is appointed,when I restoreMy people from captivity.

Job Affirms His Integrity

¹Job continued his discourse:

²“As surely as God lives, who has deprived me of justice—the Almighty, who has embittered my soul—

³as long as my breath is still within meand the breath of God remains in my nostrils,

⁴my lips will not speak wickedness,and my tongue will not utter deceit.

⁵I will never say that you are right;I will maintain my integrity until I die.

⁶I will cling to my righteousness and never let go.As long as I live, my conscience will not accuse me.

The Wicked Man’s Portion

⁷May my enemy be like the wickedand my opponent like the unjust.

⁸For what is the hope of the godless when he is cut off,when God takes away his life?

⁹Will God hear his crywhen distress comes upon him?

¹⁰Will he delight in the Almighty?Will he call upon God at all times?

¹¹I will instruct you in the power of God.I will not conceal the ways of the Almighty.

¹²Surely all of you have seen it for yourselves.Why then do you keep up this empty talk?

¹³This is the wicked man’s portion from God—the heritage the ruthless receive from the Almighty.

¹⁴Though his sons are many, they are destined for the sword;and his offspring will never have enough food.

¹⁵His survivors will be buried by the plague,and their widows will not weep for them.

¹⁶Though he heaps up silver like dustand piles up a wardrobe like clay,

¹⁷what he lays up, the righteous will wear,and his silver will be divided by the innocent.

¹⁸The house he built is like a moth’s cocoon,like a hut set up by a watchman.

¹⁹He lies down wealthy, but will do so no more;when he opens his eyes, all is gone.

²⁰Terrors overtake him like a flood;a tempest sweeps him away in the night.

²¹The east wind carries him away, and he is gone;it sweeps him out of his place.

²²It hurls itself against him without mercyas he flees headlong from its power.

²³It claps its hands at himand hisses him out of his place.

Jehoshaphat Reproved by Jehu

¹When Jehoshaphat king of Judah had returned safely to his home in Jerusalem,

²Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to confront him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of the LORD is upon you.

³However, some good is found in you, for you have removed the Asherah poles from the land and have set your heart on seeking God.”

Jehoshaphat’s Reforms

⁴Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and once again he went out among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and turned them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers.

⁵He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah.

⁶Then he said to the judges, “Consider carefully what you do, for you are not judging for man, but for the LORD, who is with you when you render judgment.

⁷And now, may the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.”

⁸Moreover, Jehoshaphat appointed in Jerusalem some of the Levites, priests, and heads of the Israelite families to judge on behalf of the LORD and to settle disputes. And they lived in Jerusalem.

⁹He commanded them, saying, “You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the LORD.

¹⁰For every dispute that comes before you from your brothers who dwell in their cities—whether it regards bloodshed or some other violation of law, commandments, statutes, or ordinances—you are to warn them, so that they will not incur guilt before the LORD and wrath will not come upon you and your brothers. Do this, and you will not incur guilt.

¹¹Note that Amariah, the chief priest, will be over you in all that pertains to the LORD, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all that pertains to the king. And the Levites will serve as officers before you. Act resolutely; may the LORD be with the upright!”

How Long, O LORD?

¹How long, O LORD?Will You forget me forever?How long will You hide Your face from me?

²How long must I wrestle in my soul,with sorrow in my heart each day?How long will my enemy dominate me?

³Consider me and respond, O LORD my God.Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death,

⁴lest my enemy say, “I have overcome him,”and my foes rejoice when I fall.

⁵But I have trusted in Your loving devotion;my heart will rejoice in Your salvation.

⁶I will sing to the LORD,for He has been good to me.