"Then suppose this man has a son who robs and kills, who does any of these things

There is nothing but sadness and sorrow for parents whose children do foolish things.

A righteous person's parents have good reason to be happy. You can take pride in a wise child.

Instead, I warned the young people among them: Do not keep the laws your ancestors made; do not follow their customs or defile yourselves with their idols.

In the first month of the year after Hezekiah became king, he reopened the gates of the Temple and had them repaired.

and spoke to them there. He said, "You Levites are to consecrate yourselves and purify the Temple of the LORD, the God of your ancestors. Remove from the Temple everything that defiles it.

They closed the doors of the Temple, let the lamps go out, and failed to burn incense or offer burnt offerings in the Temple of the God of Israel.

Our fathers were killed in battle, and our wives and children have been taken away as prisoners.

My sons, do not lose any time. You are the ones that the LORD has chosen to burn incense to him and to lead the people in worshiping him."

"Go and consult the LORD for me and for the people who still remain in Israel and Judah. Find out about the teachings of this book. The LORD is angry with us because our ancestors have not obeyed the word of the LORD and have not done what this book says must be done."

Instead, they have been stubborn and have worshiped the idols of Baal as their ancestors taught them to do.

We will do everything that we said we would. We will offer sacrifices to our goddess, the Queen of Heaven, and we will pour out wine offerings to her, just as we and our ancestors, our king and our leaders, used to do in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. Then we had plenty of food, we were prosperous, and had no troubles.

Go on, then, and finish up what your ancestors started!

For you know what was paid to set you free from the worthless manner of life handed down by your ancestors. It was not something that can be destroyed, such as silver or gold;

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

I have considered my conduct, and I promise to follow your instructions.

Without delay I hurry to obey your commands.

The maker of idols hasn't the wit or the sense to say, "Some of the wood I burned up. I baked some bread on the coals, and I roasted meat and ate it. And the rest of the wood I made into an idol. Here I am bowing down to a block of wood!"

I listened carefully, but you did not speak the truth. Not one of you has been sorry for your wickedness; not one of you has asked, 'What have I done wrong?' Each of you keep on going your own way, like a horse rushing into battle.

It never enters their heads that I will remember all this evil; but their sins surround them, and I cannot avoid seeing them."

Don't you see what is happening to you?

Can't you see why this has happened?

Today is the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, the day that the foundation of the Temple has been completed. See what is going to happen from now on.

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." '