He followed in the footsteps of ¹  the kings of Israel; he also made images of the Baals.

Instead ¹  he finds pleasure in obeying the Lord’s commands; ²  he meditates on ³  his commands ⁴  day and night.

He chose the tribe of Judah, and Mount Zion, which he loves.

Just as there is futility in many dreams, so also in many words. ¹  Therefore, fear God!

We hoped for good fortune, but nothing good has come of it. We hoped for a time of relief, but instead we experience terror. ¹ 

It must not be this way among you! Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant,

But one of the soldiers pierced ¹  his side with a spear, and blood and water ²  flowed out immediately.

Our ¹  ancestors ²  were unwilling to obey ³  him, but pushed him aside ⁴  and turned back to Egypt in their hearts,

And do not get drunk with wine, which ¹  is debauchery, ²  but be filled by the Spirit, ³ 

Absalom had made Amasa general in command of the army in place of Joab. (Now Amasa was the son of an Israelite man named Jether, who had married ¹  Abigail the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother.)

Now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in my father David’s place, even though I am only a young man and am inexperienced. ¹ 

The king of Assyria brought foreigners ¹  from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in the cities of Samaria ²  in place of the Israelites. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities.

I have become a brother to jackals and a companion of ostriches. ¹ 

Go ¹  instead to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

But this is what was spoken about through the prophet Joel: ¹ 

so they passed through ¹  Mysia ²  and went down to Troas. ³ 

Although they claimed ¹  to be wise, they became fools

Then they said to one another, ¹  “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” ²  (They had brick instead of stone and tar ³  instead of mortar.) ⁴ 

My father may touch me! Then he’ll think I’m mocking him ¹  and I’ll bring a curse on myself instead of a blessing.”

I spoke to you, but you did not listen. Instead you rebelled against the Lord ¹  and recklessly went up to the hill country.