Can a throneof destructionbe alliedwith You, One which devisesmischiefby decree?
Jeroboaminstituteda feastin the eighthmonthon the fifteenthdayof the month,like the feastwhichis in Judah,and he wentup to the altar;thushe didin Bethel,sacrificingto the calveswhichhe had made.And he stationedin Bethelthe priestsof the highplaceswhichhe had made.
But to the wickedGodsays,"Whatright have you to tellof My statutesAnd to takeMy covenantin your mouth?
Whydo you boastin evil,O mightyman?The lovingkindnessof God[endures] alldaylong.
No,in heartyou workunrighteousness;On earthyou weighout the violenceof your hands.
GodtakesHis standin His own congregation;He judgesin the midstof the rulers.
He who turnsawayhis earfrom listeningto the law,Evenhis prayeris an abomination.
Furthermore,I have seenunderthe sun[that] in the placeof justicethereis wickednessand in the placeof righteousnessthereis wickedness.
Ifyou seeoppressionof the poorand denialof justiceand righteousnessin the province,do not be shockedat the sight;for one officialwatchesoveranother official,and there are higherofficialsoverthem.
Woeto those who enactevilstatutesAnd to those who constantly recordunjustdecisions,
Do you putoffthe dayof calamity,And would you bringnearthe seatof violence?
"The statutesof OmriAnd allthe worksof the houseof Ahabare observed;And in their devicesyou walk.ThereforeI will giveyou up for destructionAnd your inhabitantsfor derision,And you will bearthe reproachof My people."
Nowthe chief priestsand the Phariseeshad givenordersthat ifanyoneknewwhereHe was, he was to reportit, sothat they might seizeHim.
Thenthey ledJesusfrom Caiaphasinto the Praetorium,and it was early;and they themselvesdid not enterinto the Praetoriumsothat they would not be defiled,but might eatthe Passover.
His parentssaidthisbecausethey were afraidof the Jews;for the Jewshad alreadyagreedthat ifanyoneconfessedHim to be Christ,he was to be put out of the synagogue.
Saulsaid,"Listennow,sonof Ahitub."And he answered,"HereI am, my lord."
