When I was in trouble, I called to the LORD, and he answered me.

I look to the mountains; where will my help come from?

I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the LORD's house."

LORD, I look up to you, up to heaven, where you rule.

What if the LORD had not been on our side? Answer, O Israel!

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which can never be shaken, never be moved.

When the LORD brought us back to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!

Teach the king to judge with your righteousness, O God; share with him your own justice,

A king does not win because of his powerful army; a soldier does not triumph because of his strength.

The LORD watches over those who obey him, those who trust in his constant love.

You may make your plans, but God directs your actions.

Human wisdom, brilliance, insight---they are of no help if the LORD is against you.

You can get horses ready for battle, but it is the LORD who gives victory.

I realized another thing, that in this world fast runners do not always win the races, and the brave do not always win the battles. The wise do not always earn a living, intelligent people do not always get rich, and capable people do not always rise to high positions. Bad luck happens to everyone.

The one who plants and the one who waters really do not matter. It is God who matters, because he makes the plant grow.

He will build a temple for me. He will be my son, and I will be his father. His dynasty will rule Israel forever.' "

David continued, "Now, son, may the LORD your God be with you, and may he keep his promise to make you successful in building a temple for him.

You must realize that the LORD has chosen you to build his holy Temple. Now do it---and do it with determination."

King David said to his son Solomon, "Be confident and determined. Start the work and don't let anything stop you. The LORD God, whom I serve, will be with you. He will not abandon you, but he will stay with you until you finish the work to be done on his Temple.

Give my son Solomon a wholehearted desire to obey everything that you command and to build the Temple for which I have made these preparations."

For we are partners working together for God, and you are God's field. You are also God's building.

For God has already placed Jesus Christ as the one and only foundation, and no other foundation can be laid.

And the quality of each person's work will be seen when the Day of Christ exposes it. For on that Day fire will reveal everyone's work; the fire will test it and show its real quality.

But if your work is burnt up, then you will lose it; but you yourself will be saved, as if you had escaped through the fire.

and if Christ has not been raised from death, then we have nothing to preach and you have nothing to believe.

I am worried about you! Can it be that all my work for you has been for nothing?

He will not let you fall; your protector is always awake.

The LORD will guard you; he is by your side to protect you.

"I watch over it and water it continually. I guard it night and day so that no one will harm it.

The first one said to the other, "Run and tell that young man with the measuring line that there are going to be so many people and so much livestock in Jerusalem that it will be too big to have walls.

The LORD has promised that he himself will be a wall of fire around the city to protect it and that he will live there in all his glory."

The sentries patrolling the city saw me. I asked them, "Have you found my lover?"

The sentries patrolling the city found me; they struck me and bruised me; the guards at the city wall tore off my cape.

In the vision a banquet is ready; rugs are spread for the guests to sit on. They are eating and drinking. Suddenly the command rings out: "Officers! Prepare your shields!"

If he sees riders coming on horseback, two by two, and riders on donkeys and camels, he is to observe them carefully."

Suddenly, here they come! Riders on horseback, two by two. The sentry gives the news, "Babylon has fallen! All the idols they worshiped lie shattered on the ground."

This is a message about Edom. Someone calls to me from Edom, "Sentry, how soon will the night be over? Tell me how soon it will end."

He says, "All the leaders, who are supposed to warn my people, are blind! They know nothing. They are like watch dogs that don't bark---they only lie around and dream. How they love to sleep!

On your walls, Jerusalem, I have placed sentries; They must never be silent day or night. They must remind the LORD of his promises And never let him forget them.

Give the signal to attack Babylon's walls. Strengthen the guard! Post the sentries! Place troops in ambush!" The LORD has done what he said he would do to the people of Babylonia.

Messenger after messenger runs to tell the king of Babylonia that his city has been broken into from every side.

"Mortal man," he said, "tell your people what happens when I bring war to a land. The people of that country choose one of their number to be a lookout.

If someone hears it but pays no attention and the enemy comes and kills him, then he is to blame for his own death.

If, however, the lookout sees the enemy coming and does not sound the alarm, the enemy will come and kill those sinners, but I will hold the lookout responsible for their death.

If I announce that an evil person is going to die but you do not warn him to change his ways so that he can save his life, then he will die, still a sinner, and I will hold you responsible for his death.