becausethey have forsakenMe, and have worshipedAshtoreththe goddessof the Sidonians,Chemoshthe godof Moab,and Milcomthe godof the sonsof Ammon;and they have not walkedin My ways,doingwhatis rightin My sightand [observing] My statutesand My ordinances,as his fatherDavid[did].
Nevertheless I will not takethe wholekingdomout of his hand,but I will makehim rulerallthe daysof his life,for the sakeof My servantDavidwhomI chose,whoobservedMy commandmentsand My statutes;
For whenSolomonwas old,his wivesturnedhis heartawayafterothergods;and his heartwas not whollydevotedto the LORDhis God,as the heartof Davidhis father[had been].
Now the LORDwas angrywith Solomonbecausehis heartwas turnedawayfrom the LORD,the Godof Israel,who had appearedto him twice,
and torethe kingdomawayfrom the houseof Davidand gaveit to you-- yet you have not beenlike My servantDavid,whokeptMy commandmentsand whofollowedMe with allhis heart,to doonlythat whichwas rightin My sight;
"Ifyou walkin My ways,keepingMy statutesand commandments,as your fatherDavidwalked,then I will prolongyour days."
But the angelof the LORDsaidto Elijahthe Tishbite,"Arise,goup to meetthe messengersof the kingof Samariaand sayto them, 'Is it becausethereis noGodin Israel[that] you are goingto inquireof Baal-zebub,the godof Ekron?'
So he forsookthe LORD,the Godof his fathers,and did not walkin the wayof the LORD.
"As for you, my sonSolomon,knowthe Godof your father,and serveHim with a wholeheartand a willingmind;for the LORDsearchesallhearts,and understandseveryintentof the thoughts.Ifyou seekHim, He will let you findHim; but ifyou forsakeHim, He will rejectyou forever.
and he wentout to meetAsaand saidto him, "Listento me, Asa,and allJudahand Benjamin:the LORDis with you when you are with Him. And ifyou seekHim, He will let you findHim; but ifyou forsakeHim, He will forsakeyou.
"Has a nationchangedgodsWhen they were not gods?But My peoplehave changedtheir gloryFor that which does not profit.
"For My peoplehave committedtwoevils:They have forsakenMe, The fountainof livingwaters,To hewfor themselves cisterns,BrokencisternsThat canholdnowater.
"And Moabwill be ashamedof Chemosh,as the houseof Israelwas ashamedof Bethel,their confidence.
"For becauseof your trustin your own achievementsand treasures,Evenyou yourselfwill be captured;And Chemoshwill gooffinto exileTogetherwith his priestsand his princes.
Ephraimis joinedto idols;Lethim alone.
"And those who bowdownon the housetopsto the hostof heaven,And those who bowdown[and] swearto the LORDand [yet] swearby Milcom,
"Woeto you, O Moab!You are ruined,O peopleof Chemosh!He has givenhis sonsas fugitives,And his daughtersinto captivity,To an Amoriteking,Sihon.
Then Samuelspoketo allthe houseof Israel,saying,"Ifyou returnto the LORDwith allyour heart,removethe foreigngodsand the Ashtarothfrom amongyou and directyour heartsto the LORDand serveHim alone;and He will deliveryou from the handof the Philistines."
