Solomon plated the inside of the temple with gold. ¹  He hung golden chains in front of the inner sanctuary and plated the inner sanctuary ²  with gold.

But ¹  the tents of robbers are peaceful, and those who provoke God are confident ²  – who carry their god in their hands. ³ 

You give me your protective shield; ¹  your right hand supports me; ²  your willingness to help ³  enables me to prevail. ⁴ 

O Lord, how long are you going to just stand there and watch this? ¹  Rescue ²  me ³  from their destructive attacks; guard my life ⁴  from the young lions!

He will rescue ¹  me and protect me from those who attack me, ²  even though ³  they greatly outnumber me. ⁴ 

He will shelter you ¹  with his wings; ²  you will find safety under his wings. His faithfulness is like a shield or a protective wall. ³ 

Our cattle will be weighted down with produce. ¹  No one will break through our walls, no one will be taken captive, and there will be no terrified cries in our city squares. ² 

When you walk about, ¹  they ²  will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you wake up, ³  they will talk ⁴  to you.

The one who tends a fig tree ¹  will eat its fruit, ²  and whoever takes care of ³  his master will be honored.

The one who is tormented ¹  by the murder ²  of another will flee to the pit; ³  let no one support him.

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 

I, the Lord, protect it; ¹  I water it regularly. ²  I guard it night and day, so no one can harm it. ³ 

He will give discernment to the one who makes judicial decisions, and strength to those who defend the city from attackers. ¹ 

I remove the guilt of your rebellious deeds as if they were a cloud, the guilt of your sins as if they were a cloud. ¹  Come back to me, for I protect ²  you.”

Stop putting your confidence in the false belief that says, ¹  “We are safe! ²  The temple of the Lord is here! The temple of the Lord is here! The temple of the Lord is here!” ³ 

How long will you vacillate, ¹  you who were once like an unfaithful daughter? ²  For I, the Lord, promise ³  to bring about something new ⁴  on the earth, something as unique as a woman protecting a man!’” ⁵ 

Ebed Melech ¹  called down to Jeremiah, “Put these rags and worn-out clothes under your armpits to pad the ropes. ²  Jeremiah did as Ebed Melech instructed. ³ 

The Lord says, ¹  “Army of Babylon, ²  go and attack a nation that lives in peace and security. They have no gates or walls to protect them. ³  They live all alone.

I acted for the sake of my reputation, so that I would not be profaned before the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.

Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and that he would send me more than twelve legions ¹  of angels right now?