2 CHRONICLES 27

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Jotham Succeeds Uzziah in Judah  27:1 Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok. 2 He did right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah had done; however he did not enter the temple of the LORD. But the people continued acting corruptly. 3 He built the upper gate of the house of the LORD, and he built extensively the wall of Ophel. 4 Moreover, he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and he built fortresses and towers on the wooded hills. 5 He fought also with the king of the Ammonites and prevailed over them so that the Ammonites gave him during that year one hundred talents of silver, ten thousand kors of wheat and ten thousand of barley. The Ammonites also paid him this amount in the second and in the third year. 6 So Jotham became mighty because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God. 7 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, even all his wars and his acts, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. 8 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. 9 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and Ahaz his son became king in his place.

PSALM 11

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The LORD a Refuge and Defense.For the choir director. A Psalm of David.
11:1 In the LORD I take refuge;

How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain;

2 For, behold, the wicked bend the bow,

They make ready their arrow upon the string

To shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.

3 If the foundations are destroyed,

What can the righteous do?”

4 The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD’S throne is in heaven;

His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.

5 The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked,

And the one who loves violence His soul hates.

6 Upon the wicked He will rain snares;

Fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup.

7 For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness;

The upright will behold His face.

PSALM 12

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God, a Helper against the Treacherous.For the choir director; upon an eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm of David.
12:1 Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases to be,

For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.

2 They speak falsehood to one another;

With flattering lips and with a double heart they speak.

3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips,

The tongue that speaks great things;

4 Who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail;

Our lips are our own; who is lord over us?”

5 “Because of the devastation of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy,

Now I will arise,” says the LORD; “I will set him in the safety for which he longs.”

6 The words of the LORD are pure words;

As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.

7 You, O LORD, will keep them;

You will preserve him from this generation forever.

8 The wicked strut about on every side

When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.

PROVERBS 29

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Warnings and Instructions29:1 A man who hardens his neck after much reproof

Will suddenly be broken beyond remedy.

2 When the righteous increase, the people rejoice,

But when a wicked man rules, people groan.

3 A man who loves wisdom makes his father glad,

But he who keeps company with harlots wastes his wealth.

4 The king gives stability to the land by justice,

But a man who takes bribes overthrows it.

5 A man who flatters his neighbor

Is spreading a net for his steps.

6 By transgression an evil man is ensnared,

But the righteous sings and rejoices.

7 The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor,

The wicked does not understand such concern.

8 Scorners set a city aflame,

But wise men turn away anger.

9 When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man,

The foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.

10 Men of bloodshed hate the blameless,

But the upright are concerned for his life.

11 A fool always loses his temper,

But a wise man holds it back.

12 If a ruler pays attention to falsehood,

All his ministers become wicked.

13 The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:

The LORD gives light to the eyes of both.

14 If a king judges the poor with truth,

His throne will be established forever.

15 The rod and reproof give wisdom,

But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.

16 When the wicked increase, transgression increases;

But the righteous will see their fall.

17 Correct your son, and he will give you comfort;

He will also delight your soul.

18 Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained,

But happy is he who keeps the law.

19 A slave will not be instructed by words alone;

For though he understands, there will be no response.

20 Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

21 He who pampers his slave from childhood

Will in the end find him to be a son.

22 An angry man stirs up strife,

And a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.

23 A man’s pride will bring him low,

But a humble spirit will obtain honor.

24 He who is a partner with a thief hates his own life;

He hears the oath but tells nothing.

25 The fear of man brings a snare,

But he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted.

26 Many seek the ruler’s favor,

But justice for man comes from the LORD.

27 An unjust man is abominable to the righteous,

And he who is upright in the way is abominable to the wicked.