The entire assembly worshiped, as the singers sang and the trumpeters played. They continued until the burnt sacrifice was completed.

and on the first day of the first month they finished considering all the men who had married foreign wives.

“It is all one! ¹  That is why I say, ²  ‘He destroys the blameless and the guilty.’

But the eyes of the wicked fail, ¹  and escape ²  eludes them; their one hope ³  is to breathe their last.” ⁴ 

whom I will see for myself, ¹  and whom my own eyes will behold, and not another. ²  My heart ³  grows faint within me. ⁴ 

For my life nears its end in pain; my years draw to a close as I groan. ¹  My strength fails me because of ²  my sin, and my bones become brittle. ³ 

I am exhausted from shouting for help; my throat is sore; ¹  my eyes grow tired of looking for my God. ² 

May my accusers be humiliated and defeated! May those who want to harm me ¹  be covered with scorn and disgrace!

Yes, ¹  throughout all our days we experience your raging fury; ²  the years of our lives pass quickly, like a sigh. ³ 

For my days go up in smoke, ¹  and my bones are charred like a fireplace. ² 

The splendor of his forest and his orchard will be completely destroyed, ¹  as when a sick man’s life ebbs away. ² 

For very soon my fury ¹  will subside, and my anger will be directed toward their destruction.”

For tyrants will disappear, those who taunt will vanish, and all those who love to do wrong will be eliminated ¹  –

In a year’s time ¹  you carefree ones will shake with fear, for the grape ²  harvest will fail, and the fruit harvest will not arrive.

Wild donkeys stand on the hilltops and pant for breath like jackals. Their eyes are strained looking for food, because there is none to be found.” ¹ 

Why did I ever come forth from my mother’s womb? All I experience is trouble and grief, and I spend my days in shame. ¹ 

ח (Khet) The Lord’s loyal kindness ¹  never ceases; ²  his compassions ³  never end.

כ (Kaf) The Lord fully vented ¹  his wrath; he poured out his fierce anger. ²  He started a fire in Zion; it consumed her foundations. ³ 

So I have poured my anger on them, and destroyed them with the fire of my fury. I hereby repay them for what they have done, ¹  declares the sovereign Lord.”

When you have finished purifying it, you will offer an unblemished young bull and an unblemished ram from the flock.