Each one will say in public, "I have sinned. I have not done right, but God spared me.

He kept me from going to the world of the dead, and I am still alive."

The LORD looks down from heaven at us humans to see if there are any who are wise, any who worship him.

And yet the LORD is waiting to be merciful to you. He is ready to take pity on you because he always does what is right. Happy are those who put their trust in the LORD.

Then the people who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD listened and heard what they said. In his presence, there was written down in a book a record of those who feared the LORD and respected him.

The Lord is not slow to do what he has promised, as some think. Instead, he is patient with you, because he does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants all to turn away from their sins.

People of Jerusalem, run through your streets! Look around! See for yourselves! Search the marketplaces! Can you find one person who does what is right and tries to be faithful to God? If you can, the LORD will forgive Jerusalem.

He is astonished to see that there is no one to help the oppressed. So he will use his own power to rescue them and to win the victory.

I looked for someone who could build a wall, who could stand in the places where the walls have crumbled and defend the land when my anger is about to destroy it, but I could find no one.

There is not an honest person left in the land, no one loyal to God. Everyone is waiting for a chance to commit murder. Everyone hunts down their own people.

Don't condemn me, God. Tell me! What is the charge against me?

He realizes what he is doing and stops sinning, so he will certainly not die, but go on living.

Don't you see what is happening to you?

Can't you see why this has happened?

At last he came to his senses and said, 'All my father's hired workers have more than they can eat, and here I am about to starve!

I am no longer fit to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired workers." '

rushing into the desert. When she is in heat, who can control her? No male that wants her has to trouble himself; she is always available in mating season.

Israel, don't wear your feet out, or let your throat become dry from chasing after other gods. But you say, 'No! I can't turn back. I have loved foreign gods and will go after them.' "

Was it you, Job, who made horses so strong and gave them their flowing manes?

They eagerly paw the ground in the valley; they rush into battle with all their strength.

The weapons which their riders carry rattle and flash in the sun.

At each blast of the trumpet they snort; they can smell a battle before they get near, and they hear the officers shouting commands.