Now David was sitting between the inner and outer gates, ¹  and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate at the wall. When he looked, he saw a man running by himself.

Around the great courtyard were three rows of chiseled stones and one row of cedar beams, like the inner courtyard of the Lord’s temple and the hall of the palace. ¹ 

On these frames and joints were ornamental lions, bulls, and cherubs. Under the lions and bulls were decorative wreaths. ¹ 

After this the following episode took place. ¹  Naboth the Jezreelite owned a vineyard in Jezreel adjacent to the palace of King Ahab of Samaria. ² 

The prophet ¹  asked, “Where did it drop in?” When he showed him the spot, Elisha ²  cut off a branch, threw it in at that spot, and made the ax head float.

King David replied to Ornan, “No, I insist on buying it for top price. ¹  I will not offer to the Lord what belongs to you or offer a burnt sacrifice ²  that cost me nothing. ³ 

He made a bronze altar, 30 feet ¹  long, 30 feet ²  wide, and 15 feet ³  high.

Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was close by, said, “If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!”

Wait patiently for the Lord! ¹  Wait confidently ²  for him! Do not fret over the apparent success of a sinner, ³  a man who carries out wicked schemes!

For the music director; by the Korahites; a psalm. All you nations, clap your hands! Shout out to God in celebration! ² 

For the music director, Jeduthun; a psalm of Asaph. I will cry out to God ²  and call for help! I will cry out to God and he will pay attention ³  to me.

Wisdom is supreme ¹  – so ²  acquire wisdom, and whatever you acquire, ³  acquire understanding! ⁴ 

If she is a wall, ¹  we will build on her a battlement ²  of silver; but if she is a door, we will barricade ³  her with boards ⁴  of cedar. ⁵ 

¹ On a bare hill raise a signal flag, shout to them, wave your hand, so they might enter the gates of the princes!

The fortified city (along with the very tops of your ¹  walls) ²  he will knock down, he will bring it down, he will throw it down to the dusty ground. ³ 

“The rebellious ¹  children are as good as dead,” ²  says the Lord, “those who make plans without consulting me, ³  who form alliances without consulting my Spirit, ⁴  and thereby compound their sin. ⁵ 

I will make streams flow down the slopes and produce springs in the middle of the valleys. I will turn the desert into a pool of water and the arid land into springs.

Does the snow ever completely vanish from the rocky slopes of Lebanon? Do the cool waters from those distant mountains ever cease to flow? ¹ 

But just watch! ¹  The wrath of the Lord will come like a storm! ²  Like a raging storm it will rage down ³  on the heads of those who are wicked.

On all the housetops in Moab and in all its public squares there will be nothing but mourning. For I will break Moab like an unwanted jar. I, the Lord, affirm it! ¹