But, O Lord of Hosts, who judges righteously, who tries the feelings and the heart, let me see Your vengeance on them, for to You I have revealed my cause.
Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be treated like the wicked; far be it from You. Should not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it. Then Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord and spread it before the Lord.
As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your fathers and serve Him with a whole heart and with a willing spirit, for the Lord searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will abandon you forever.
I know, my God, that You test the heart, and with uprightness You are pleased, so in the uprightness of my heart I have offered freely all these things, and now I have seen Your people, those present here, offer freely and joyously to You.
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For in You my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of Your wings will I take refuge, until these calamities pass by.
Righteous are You, O Lord, that I plead with You. Indeed, let me talk with You about matters of justice. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are all those happy who deal very treacherously?
But You, O Lord, know me; You have seen me and tested my heart toward You. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.
O Lord, You who know, remember me, and take notice of me, and take vengeance on my persecutors. Because of your longsuffering, do not take me away. Know that for Your sake I have suffered rebuke.
Let those who persecute me be humiliated, but let me not be humiliated; let them be dismayed, but let me not be dismayed. Bring upon them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction.
But, O Lord of Hosts, who tests the righteous and sees the mind and the heart, let me see Your vengeance on them, for to You I have presented my cause.
Then the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and He said to me, Say, Thus says the Lord: Thus you have said, O house of Israel, for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them.
For He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a Man whom He has appointed, having given assurance of this to all men by raising Him from the dead.”
I will put her children to death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the hearts and minds. I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him, for the Lord sees not as men see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”