Now Solomonlovedthe LORD,walkingin the statutesof his fatherDavid,excepthe sacrificedand burnedincenseon the highplaces.
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;
Then it will be, that ifyou listento allthat I commandyou and walkin My ways,and dowhatis rightin My sightby observingMy statutesand My commandments,as My servantDaviddid,then I will be with you and buildyou an enduringhouseas I builtfor David,and I will giveIsraelto you.
For whenSolomonwas old,his wivesturnedhis heartawayafterothergods;and his heartwas not whollydevotedto the LORDhis God,as the heartof Davidhis father[had been].
Solomondidwhatwas evilin the sightof the LORD,and did not followthe LORDfully,as Davidhis father[had done].
For they alsobuiltfor themselves highplacesand [sacred] pillarsand Asherimon everyhighhilland beneatheveryluxurianttree.
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;
Asadidwhatwas rightin the sightof the LORD,like Davidhis father.
But the highplaceswere not takenaway;neverthelessthe heartof Asawas whollydevotedto the LORDallhis days.
He walkedin allthe sinsof his fatherwhichhe had committedbeforehim; and his heartwas not whollydevotedto the LORDhis God,like the heartof his fatherDavid.
becauseDaviddidwhatwas rightin the sightof the LORD,and had not turnedasidefrom anythingthat He commandedhim allthe daysof his life,exceptin the caseof Uriahthe Hittite.
He walkedin allthe wayof Asahis father;he did not turnasidefrom it, doingrightin the sightof the LORD.However,the highplaceswere not takenaway;the peoplestillsacrificedand burntincenseon the highplaces.
Jehoshaphatalso madepeacewith the kingof Israel.
"Ifyou walkin My ways,keepingMy statutesand commandments,as your fatherDavidwalked,then I will prolongyour days."
Then Solomonsaid,"You have showngreatlovingkindnessto Your servantDavidmy father,accordingas he walkedbeforeYou in truthand righteousnessand uprightnessof hearttowardYou; and You have reservedfor him thisgreatlovingkindness,that You have givenhim a sonto siton his throne,as [it is] thisday.
"Nowtherefore, O LORD,the Godof Israel,keepwith Your servantDavidmy fatherthat whichYou have promisedhim, saying,You shall not lacka manto siton the throneof Israel,ifonlyyour sonstakeheedto their wayto walkbeforeMe as you have walked.'
"Let your hearttherefore be whollydevotedto the LORDour God,to walkin His statutesand to keepHis commandments,as at thisday."
"As for you, ifyou will walkbeforeMe as your fatherDavidwalked,in integrityof heartand uprightness,doingaccording to allthat I have commandedyou [and] will keepMy statutesand My ordinances,
Onlythe highplaceswere not takenaway;the peoplestillsacrificedand burnedincenseon the highplaces.
Then Jehoashsaidto the priests,"Allthe moneyof the sacredthingswhichis broughtinto the houseof the LORD,in currentmoney,[both] the moneyof eachman'sassessment[and] allthe moneywhichanyman'sheartpromptshim to bringinto the houseof the LORD,
He didrightin the sightof the LORD,yetnot like Davidhis father;he didaccording to allthat Joashhis fatherhaddone.
Onlythe highplaceswere not takenaway;the peoplestillsacrificedand burnedincenseon the highplaces.He builtthe uppergateof the houseof the LORD.
"But ifyou sayto me, 'We trustin the LORDour God,'is it not He whosehighplacesand whose altarsHezekiahhas takenaway,and has saidto Judahand to Jerusalem,'You shall worshipbeforethisaltarin Jerusalem'?
He removedthe highplacesand brokedownthe [sacred] pillarsand cutdownthe Asherah.He also brokein piecesthe bronzeserpentthat Moseshad made,for untilthosedaysthe sonsof Israelburnedincenseto it; and it was calledNehushtan.
But the highplaceswere not removedfrom Israel;neverthelessAsa'sheartwas blamelessallhis days.
The LORDkeepsallwho loveHim, But allthe wickedHe will destroy.
O lovethe LORD,allyou His godlyones!The LORDpreservesthe faithfulAnd fullyrecompensesthe prouddoer.
"The reasonis sothat the sonsof Israelmay bringtheir sacrificeswhichthey were sacrificingin the openfield,that they may bringthem in to the LORD,at the doorwayof the tentof meetingto the priest,and sacrificethem as sacrificesof peaceofferingsto the LORD.
And He saidto him, "'YOU SHALL LOVETHE LORDYOUR GODWITH ALLYOUR HEART,AND WITH ALLYOUR SOUL,AND WITH ALLYOUR MIND.'
"Ifyou loveMe, you will keepMy commandments.
"He who hasMy commandmentsand keepsthem is the onewho lovesMe; and he who lovesMe will be lovedby My Father,and I will lovehim and will discloseMyselfto him."
And we knowthat Godcausesall thingsto work togetherfor goodto thosewho loveGod,to thosewho are calledaccordingto [His] purpose.
but ifanyonelovesGod,he is knownby Him.
"Now,Israel,whatdoes the LORDyour Godrequirefrom you, but to fearthe LORDyour God,to walkin allHis waysand loveHim, and to servethe LORDyour Godwith allyour heartand with allyour soul,
[and] to keepthe LORD'Scommandmentsand His statuteswhichI am commandingyou todayfor your good?
"It shall comeabout, ifyou listenobedientlyto my commandmentswhichI am commandingyou today,to lovethe LORDyour Godand to serveHim with allyour heartand allyour soul,
in that I commandyou todayto lovethe LORDyour God,to walkin His waysand to keepHis commandmentsand His statutesand His judgments,that you may liveand multiply,and that the LORDyour Godmay blessyou in the landwhereyou are enteringto possessit.
by lovingthe LORDyour God,by obeyingHis voice,and by holdingfastto Him; for thisis your lifeand the lengthof your days,that you may livein the landwhichthe LORDsworeto your fathers,to Abraham,Isaac,and Jacob,to givethem."
"Moreover the LORDyour Godwill circumciseyour heartand the heartof your descendants,to lovethe LORDyour Godwith allyour heartand with allyour soul,sothat you may live.
"You shall lovethe LORDyour Godwith allyour heartand with allyour souland with allyour might.
Blessedis a manwhoperseveresunder trial;for once he has beenapproved,he will receivethe crownof lifewhich[the Lord] has promisedto thosewho loveHim.
Listen,my belovedbrethren:did not Godchoosethe poorof thisworld[to be] richin faithand heirsof the kingdomwhichHe promisedto thosewho loveHim?
They answeredthem and said,"He is; see,[he is] aheadof you. Hurrynow,for he has comeinto the citytoday,for the peoplehave a sacrificeon the highplacetoday.
