Our kings, our leaders, our priests, and our ancestors have not kept your law. They have not paid attention to your commandments or your testimonies by which you have solemnly admonished them.

Now I was paying you close attention, ¹  yet ²  there was no one proving Job wrong, ³  not one of you was answering his statements!

However, ¹  because ²  I called but you refused to listen, ³  because ⁴  I stretched out my hand ⁵  but no one paid attention,

Neither he nor the officials who served him nor the people of Judah paid any attention to what the Lord said through the prophet Jeremiah. ¹ 

and said, “What will you give me to betray him into your hands?” ¹  So they set out thirty silver coins for him.

All the people, ¹  from the least to the greatest, paid close attention to him, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called ‘Great.’” ² 

When Jacob came in from the fields that evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must sleep ¹  with me because I have paid for your services ²  with my son’s mandrakes.” So he had marital relations ³  with her that night.

Jehoiakim paid Pharaoh the required amount of silver and gold, but to meet Pharaoh’s demands Jehoiakim had to tax the land. He collected an assessed amount from each man among the people of the land in order to pay Pharaoh Necho. ¹ 

Repay her the same way she repaid others; ¹  pay her back double ²  corresponding to her deeds. In the cup she mixed, mix double the amount for her.

Certainly you will see it with your very own eyes – you will see the wicked paid back. ¹ 

they did not comply with my advice, they spurned ¹  all my rebuke.

Then you came back and wept before the Lord, but he ¹  paid no attention to you whatsoever. ² 

Bathsheba bowed down to the king with her face to the floor ¹  and said, “May my master, King David, live forever!”

Now King Mesha of Moab was a sheep breeder. ¹  He would send as tribute ²  to the king of Israel 100,000 male lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams.

Pul ¹  king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem paid ²  him ³  a thousand talents ⁴  of silver to gain his support ⁵  and to solidify his control of the kingdom. ⁶ 

After Jehoiada died, the officials of Judah visited the king and declared their loyalty to him. ¹  The king listened to their advice. ² 

Let the king also be aware that if this city is built and its walls are completed, no more tax, custom, or toll will be paid, and the royal treasury ¹  will suffer loss.

He delivered his people; ¹  he ordained that his covenant be observed forever. ²  His name is holy and awesome.

Yet which of them has ever stood in the Lord’s inner circle ¹  so they ²  could see and hear what he has to say? ³  Which of them have ever paid attention or listened to what he has said?

Over and over again ¹  the Lord has sent ²  his servants the prophets to you. But you have not listened or paid attention. ³