Then the LORDsaidto me, "Even thoughMosesand Samuelwere to standbeforeMe, My heartwould not be with thispeople;sendthem awayfrom My presenceand let them go!
Now Abrahamaroseearlyin the morning[and went] to the placewherehe had stoodbeforethe LORD;
The LORDrejectedallthe descendantsof Israeland afflictedthem and gavethem into the handof plunderers,untilHe had castthem out of His sight.
Therefore He saidthat He would destroythem, Had not MosesHis chosenone stoodin the breachbeforeHim, To turnawayHis wrathfrom destroying[them].
Mosesand Aaronwere among His priests,And Samuelwas among those who calledon His name;They calledupon the LORDand He answeredthem.
The king'sfavoris toward a servantwho actswisely,But his angeris toward him who actsshamefully.
For thussaysthe LORD,"Behold,I am slingingout the inhabitantsof the landAt thistime,And will causethem distress,That they may be found."
"Therefore do not prayfor thispeople,norliftup a cryor prayerfor them; for I will not listenwhenthey callto Me becauseof their disaster.
So the LORDsaidto me, "Do not prayfor the welfareof thispeople.
"Whenthey fast,I am not going to listento their cry;and whenthey offerburntofferingand grain offering,I am not going to acceptthem. RatherI am going to makean endof them by the sword,famineand pestilence."
Therefore,thussaysthe LORD,"Ifyou return,then I will restoreyou-- BeforeMe you will stand;And ifyou extractthe preciousfrom the worthless,You will becomeMy spokesman.They for their partmay turnto you, But as for you, you must not turnto them.
So I will hurlyou out of thislandinto the landwhichyou have not known,neither you noryour fathers;and thereyou will serveothergodsdayand night,for I will grantyou nofavor.'
For thussaysthe LORD,"Do not entera houseof mourning,or goto lamentor to consolethem; for I have withdrawnMy peacefrom thispeople,"declaresthe LORD,"[My] lovingkindnessand compassion.
Should goodbe repaidwith evil?For they have duga pitfor me. Rememberhow I stoodbeforeYou To speakgoodon their behalf,So as to turnawayYour wrathfrom them.
"Is thismanConiaha despised,shatteredjar?Oris he an undesirablevessel?Whyhave he and his descendantsbeen hurledout And castinto a landthat they had not known?
"Thereforebehold,I will surelyforgetyou and castyou awayfrom My presence,along with the citywhichI gaveyou and your fathers.
thereforethussaysthe LORDof hosts,the Godof Israel,"Jonadabthe sonof Rechabshall not lacka manto standbeforeMe always."'"
For throughthe angerof the LORD[this] cameabout in Jerusalemand JudahuntilHe castthem out from His presence.And Zedekiahrebelledagainst the kingof Babylon.
"For a voiceof wailingis heardfrom Zion,Howare we ruined!We are putto greatshame,For we have leftthe land,Becausethey have castdownour dwellings.'"
even [though] thesethreemen,Noah,Danieland Jobwere in its midst,by their [own] righteousnessthey could [only] deliverthemselves,"declaresthe LordGOD.
"I searchedfor a manamongthem who would buildup the walland standin the gapbeforeMe for the land,sothat I would not destroyit; but I foundnoone.
Alltheir evilis at Gilgal;Indeed,I came to hatethem there!Becauseof the wickednessof their deedsI will drivethem out of My house!I will lovethem nomore;Alltheir princesare rebels.
Now Joshuawas clothedwith filthygarmentsand standingbeforethe angel.
"I prayedto the LORDand said,'O LordGOD,do not destroyYour people,even Your inheritance,whomYou have redeemedthrough Your greatness,whomYou have broughtout of Egyptwith a mightyhand.
For Christdid not entera holy placemade with hands,a [mere] copyof the true one,but into heavenitself,nowto appearin the presenceof Godfor us;
"My heart[goes out] to the commandersof Israel,The volunteersamong the people;Blessthe LORD!
Then allthe peoplesaidto Samuel,"Prayfor your servantsto the LORDyour God,so that we may not die,for we have addedto allour sins[this] evilby askingfor ourselves a king."
"Moreover,as for me, farbe it from me that I should sinagainst the LORDby ceasingto prayfor you; but I will instructyou in the goodand rightway.
Samueltooka sucklinglamband offeredit for a wholeburntofferingto the LORD;and Samuelcriedto the LORDfor Israeland the LORDansweredhim.
