Becausethey do not regardthe worksof the LORDNorthe deedsof His hands,He will tearthem downand not buildthem up.
"He shall builda housefor My name,and I will establishthe throneof his kingdomforever.
"For You, O LORDof hosts,the Godof Israel,have madea revelationto Your servant,saying,I will buildyou a house;thereforeYour servanthas foundcourageto praythisprayerto You.
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.
His waysprosperat alltimes;Your judgmentsare on high,out of his sight;As for allhis adversaries,he snortsat them.
O LORD,howmanyare Your works!In wisdomYou have madethem all;The earthis fullof Your possessions.
WhenI considerYour heavens,the workof Your fingers,The moonand the stars,whichYou have ordained;
And you madea reservoirbetweenthe twowallsFor the watersof the oldpool.But you did not dependon Him who madeit, Nordid you takeinto considerationHim who plannedit longago.
Liftup your eyeson highAnd seewhohas createdthese[stars], The One who leadsforththeir hostby number,He callsthem allby name;Becauseof the greatnessof His mightand the strengthof [His] power,Not one[of them] is missing.
"It is I who madethe earth,and createdmanupon it. I stretchedout the heavenswith My handsAnd I ordainedalltheir host.
For thussaysthe LORD,who createdthe heavens(He is the Godwho formedthe earthand madeit, He establishedit [and] did not createit a wasteplace,[but] formedit to be inhabited),"I am the LORD,and thereis noneelse.
"Dripdown,O heavens,from above,And let the cloudspourdownrighteousness;Let the earthopenup and salvationbearfruit,And righteousnessspringup with it. I, the LORD,have createdit.
Their banquetsare [accompanied] by lyreand harp,by tambourineand flute,and by wine;But they do not payattentionto the deedsof the LORD,Nordo they considerthe workof His hands.
"AgainI will buildyou and you will be rebuilt,O virginof Israel!Againyou will takeup your tambourines,And goforthto the dancesof the merrymakers.
Whoeveris wise,let him understandthesethings;[Whoever] is discerning,let him knowthem. For the waysof the LORDare right,And the righteouswill walkin them, But transgressorswill stumblein them.
"For there is noomenagainst Jacob,Noris there any divinationagainst Israel;At the proper timeit shall be saidto JacobAnd to Israel,whatGodhas done!
But though He had performedso manysignsbeforethem, [yet] they were not believingin Him.
For sincethe creationof the worldHis invisibleattributes, His eternalpowerand divine nature,have been clearly seen,being understoodthrough what has been made,sothat they are without excuse.
And justas they did not see fitto acknowledgeGodany longer, Godgave them overto a depravedmind,to dothosethings which are not proper,
