I will not take sides in this debate; I am not going to flatter anyone.

I don't know how to flatter, and God would quickly punish me if I did.

All of them lie to one another; they deceive each other with flattery.

Silence those flattering tongues, O LORD! Close those boastful mouths that say,

A gossip can never keep a secret. Stay away from people who talk too much.

If you flatter your friends, you set a trap for yourself.

You know very well that we did not come to you with flattering talk, nor did we use words to cover up greed---God is our witness!

Do not bow down to any idol or worship it, because I am the LORD your God and I tolerate no rivals. I bring punishment on those who hate me and on their descendants down to the third and fourth generation.

You will find no peace anywhere, no place to call your own; the LORD will overwhelm you with anxiety, hopelessness, and despair.

However, for the sake of your father David I will not do this in your lifetime, but during the reign of your son.

For help that never came, we looked until we could look no longer. We kept waiting for help from a nation that had none to give.