When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart toward the people, and they said, “What is this that we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?”

So the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he chased after the sons of Israel as the sons of Israel were going out boldly.

And as for Me, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen.

At the blast of Your nostrils the waters were piled up, The flowing waters stood up like a heap; The depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.

“Tell the sons of Israel to take a contribution for Me; from everyone whose heart moves him you shall take My contribution.

So Aaron shall carry the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment over his heart when he enters the Holy Place, as a memorial before the Lord continually.

And you shall put in the breastpiece of judgment the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be over Aaron’s heart when he goes in before the Lord; and Aaron shall carry the judgment of the sons of Israel over his heart before the Lord continually.

And behold, I Myself have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the hearts of all who are skillful I have put skill, so that they may make everything that I have commanded you:

‘Take from among you a contribution to the Lord; whoever is of a willing heart is to bring it as the Lord’s contribution: gold, silver, and bronze,

And everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit moved him came and brought the Lord’s contribution for the work of the tent of meeting and for all its service, and for the holy garments.

Then all whose hearts moved them, both men and women, came and brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and bracelets, all articles of gold; so did everyone who presented an offering of gold to the Lord.

And all the women whose heart stirred with a skill spun the goats’ hair.

The Israelites, all the men and women, whose heart moved them to bring material for all the work, which the Lord had commanded through Moses to be done, brought a voluntary offering to the Lord.

He also has put in his heart to teach, both he and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.

Then Moses called Bezalel, Oholiab, and every skillful person in whom the Lord had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him, to come to the work to perform it.

“Command Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the law for the burnt offering: the burnt offering itself shall remain on the hearth on the altar all night until the morning, and the fire on the altar is to be kept burning on it.

‘You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may certainly rebuke your neighbor, but you are not to incur sin because of him.

As for those among you who are left, I will also bring despair into their hearts in the lands of their enemies. And the sound of a scattered leaf will chase them, and even when no one is pursuing they will flee as though from the sword, and they will fall.

I also was acting with hostility against them, to bring them into the land of their enemies—or if their uncircumcised heart is humbled so that they then make amends for their wrongdoing,

It shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, so that you will do them and not follow your own heart and your own eyes, which led you to prostitute yourselves,

Where can we go up? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, by saying, “The people are bigger and taller than we; the cities are large and fortified up to heaven. And besides, we saw the sons of the Anakim there.”’

But Sihon king of Heshbon was not willing for us to pass through his land; for the Lord your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, in order to hand him over to you, as he is today.

“Only be careful for yourself and watch over your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.

You came forward and stood at the foot of the mountain, and the mountain was burning with fire to the heart of the heavens: darkness, cloud, and thick gloom.

But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul.

Therefore know today, and take it to your heart, that the Lord, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other.

If only they had such a heart in them, to fear Me and keep all My commandments always, so that it would go well with them and with their sons forever!

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.

“If you say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I; how can I dispossess them?’

And you shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, in order to humble you, putting you to the test, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.

So you are to know in your heart that the Lord your God was disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son.

then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery;

Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’

“Do not say in your heart when the Lord your God has driven them away from you, ‘Because of my righteousness the Lord has brought me in to take possession of this land.’ Rather, it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is dispossessing them before you.

It is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you are going in to take possession of their land, but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord your God is driving them out from before you, and in order to confirm the oath which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,

So circumcise your heart, and do not stiffen your neck any longer.

“And it shall come about, if you listen obediently to my commandments which I am commanding you today, to love the Lord your God and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul,

Beware that your hearts are not easily deceived, and that you do not turn away and serve other gods, and worship them.

“You shall therefore take these words of mine to heart and to soul; and you shall tie them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets on your forehead.

you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer of dreams; for the Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

And you may spend the money on whatever your heart desires: on oxen, sheep, wine, other strong drink, or whatever your heart desires; and there you shall eat in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice, you and your household.

“If there is a poor person among you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother;

Be careful that there is no mean-spirited thought in your heart, such as, ‘The seventh year, the year of release of debts, is near,’ and your eye is malicious toward your poor brother, and you give him nothing; then he may cry out to the Lord against you, and it will be a sin in you.

You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your work, and in all your undertakings.

And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, so that his heart does not turn away; nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself.

so that his heart will not be haughty toward his countrymen, and that he will not turn away from the commandment to the right or the left, so that he and his sons may live long in his kingdom in the midst of Israel.

And if you say in your heart, ‘How will we recognize the word which the Lord has not spoken?’

Then the officers shall speak further to the people and say, ‘Who is the man that is afraid and fainthearted? Let him go and return to his house, so that he does not make his brothers’ hearts melt like his heart!’

You shall give him his wages on his day before the sun sets—for he is poor and sets his heart on it—so that he does not cry out against you to the Lord, and it becomes a sin in you.

“This day the Lord your God commands you to perform these statutes and ordinances. Therefore you shall be careful to perform them with all your heart and with all your soul.

“Since you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and a cheerful heart, in gratitude for the abundance of all things,

Among those nations you will find no peace, and there will be no resting place for the sole of your foot; but there the Lord will give you a trembling heart, failing of eyes, and despair of soul.

In the morning you will say, ‘If only it were evening!’ And at evening you will say, ‘If only it were morning!’ because of the terror of your heart which you fear, and the sight of your eyes which you will see.

Yet to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to know, nor eyes to see, nor ears to hear.

so that there will not be among you a man or woman, or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the Lord our God, to go to serve the gods of those nations; that there will not be among you a root bearing poisonous fruit and wormwood.

And it shall be when he hears the words of this curse, that he will consider himself fortunate in his heart, saying, ‘I will do well though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart in order to destroy the watered land along with the dry.’

and you return to the Lord your God and obey Him with all your heart and soul in accordance with everything that I am commanding you today, you and your sons,

“Moreover, the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the hearts of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul, so that you may live.

if you obey the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this Book of the Law, if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.

On the contrary, the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may follow it.

But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but allow yourself to be led astray and you worship other gods and serve them,

he said to them, “Take to your heart all the words with which I am warning you today, which you will command your sons to follow carefully, all the words of this Law.

When we heard these reports, our hearts melted and no courage remained in anyone any longer because of you; for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth below.

Israel Is Circumcised

Now it came about when all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard how the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan before the sons of Israel until they had crossed, that their hearts melted, and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the sons of Israel.

And the men of Ai struck and killed about thirty-six of their men, and pursued them from the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them on the mountainside; and the hearts of the people melted and became like water.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, to meet Israel in battle in order that he might utterly destroy them, that they might receive no mercy, but that he might destroy them, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought word back to him as it was in my heart.

Nevertheless my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt with fear; but I followed the Lord my God fully.

Only be very careful to follow the commandment and the Law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God and walk in all His ways, and keep His commandments and cling to Him, and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

“Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of all the good words which the Lord your God spoke concerning you has failed; they all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed.

“Now then, do away with the foreign gods which are in your midst, and incline your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.”

My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel, The volunteers among the people; Bless the Lord!

And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; As was Issachar, so was Barak; Into the valley they rushed at his heels; Among the divisions of Reuben There were great determinations of heart.

Why did you sit among the sheepfolds, To hear the piping for the flocks? Among the divisions of Reuben There were great searchings of heart.

Delilah Extracts His Secret

Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have toyed with me these three times and have not told me where your great strength is.”

So he told her all that was in his heart and said to her, “A razor has never come on my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, then my strength will leave me and I will become weak and be like any other man.”

When Delilah saw that he had told her all that was in his heart, she sent word and called the governors of the Philistines, saying, “Come up once more, for he has told me all that is in his heart.” Then the governors of the Philistines came up to her and brought up the money in their hands.

The priest’s heart was glad, and he took the ephod, the household idols, and the carved image, and went among the people.

So both of them sat down and ate and drank together; and the girl’s father said to the man, “Please be so kind as to spend the night, and let your heart be cheerful.”

When the man got up to go, along with his concubine and servant, his father-in-law, the girl’s father, said to him, “Behold now, the day has drawn to a close; please spend the night. Behold, the day is coming to an end; spend the night here so that your heart may be cheerful. Then tomorrow you may arise early for your journey and go home.”

When Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was cheerful, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came secretly, and uncovered his feet and lay down.

Then Elkanah her husband would say to her, “Hannah, why do you weep, and why do you not eat, and why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”

As for Hannah, she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were quivering, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought that she was drunk.

Hannah’s Song of Thanksgiving

Then Hannah prayed and said, “My heart rejoices in the Lord; My horn is exalted in the Lord, My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation.

But I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who will do according to what is in My heart and My soul; and I will build him an enduring house, and he will walk before My anointed always.

When he came, behold, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road keeping watch, because his heart was anxious about the ark of God. And the man came to give a report in the city, and all the city cried out.

Why then do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He had severely dealt with them, did they not let the people go, and they left?

Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts to the Lord and serve Him alone; and He will save you from the hand of the Philistines.”

Then it happened, when he turned his back to leave Samuel, that God changed his heart; and all those signs came about on that day.

Saul also went to his house in Gibeah; and the valiant men whose hearts God had touched went with him.

Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have committed all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.

Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.

But now your kingdom shall not endure. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”

His armor bearer said to him, “Do everything that is in your heart; turn yourself to it, and here I am with you, as your heart desires.”

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God does not see as man sees, since man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Now Eliab his oldest brother heard him when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger burned against David and he said, “Why is it that you have come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I myself know your insolence and the wickedness of your heart; for you have come down in order to see the battle.”

And David said to Saul, “May no one’s heart fail on account of him; your servant will go and fight this Philistine!”

David took these words to heart and greatly feared Achish king of Gath.

this will not become an obstacle to you, or a troubled heart to my lord, both by having shed blood without cause and by my lord’s having avenged himself. When the Lord deals well with my lord, then remember your slave.”

Then Abigail came to Nabal, and behold, he was having a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal’s heart was cheerful within him, for he was very drunk; so she did not tell him anything at all until the morning light.

But in the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him so that he became like a stone.

When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was afraid and his heart trembled greatly.

Then it happened, as the ark of the Lord was coming into the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked down through the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she was contemptuous of him in her heart.

For the sake of Your word, and according to Your heart, You have done all this greatness, to let Your servant know.

Then Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now keep silent, my sister, he is your brother; do not take this matter to heart.” So Tamar remained and was isolated in her brother Absalom’s house.

Then Absalom commanded his servants, saying, “See now, when Amnon’s heart is cheerful with wine, and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then put him to death. Do not fear; have I not commanded you myself? Be courageous and be valiant.”

So now, may my lord the king not take the report to heart, claiming, ‘all the king’s sons are dead’; but only Amnon is dead.”

And the heart of King David longed to go out to Absalom; for he was comforted regarding Amnon, since he was dead.

The Woman of Tekoa

Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was drawn toward Absalom.

Absalom dealt this way with all Israel who came to the king for judgment; so Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel.

David Flees Jerusalem

Then a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom.”

And even the one who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will completely despair; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men.

Then Joab said, “I will not waste time here with you.” So he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the midst of the oak.

So he turned the hearts of all the men of Judah as one man, so that they sent word to the king, saying, “Return, you and all your servants.”

And he said to the king, “May my lord not consider me guilty, nor call to mind what your servant did wrong on the day when my lord the king went out from Jerusalem, so that the king would take it to heart.

Foreigners lose heart, And come trembling out of their fortresses.

Now David’s heart troubled him after he had counted the people. So David said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, Lord, please overlook the guilt of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”

so that the Lord may fulfill His promise which He spoke regarding me, saying, ‘If your sons are careful about their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and all their soul, you shall not be deprived of a man to occupy the throne of Israel.’

The king also said to Shimei, “You yourself know all the evil that you acknowledge in your heart, which you did to my father David; therefore the Lord will return your evil on your own head.

Solomon’s Prayer

Then Solomon said, “You have shown great faithfulness to Your servant David my father, according as he walked before You in truth, righteousness, and uprightness of heart toward You; and You have reserved for him this great faithfulness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.

So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, to discern between good and evil. For who is capable of judging this great people of Yours?”

behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you.

Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.

But the Lord said to my father David, ‘Because it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was in your heart.

And he said, “Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping the covenant and showing faithfulness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart,

whatever prayer or plea is offered by any person or by all Your people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart, and spreading his hands toward this house;

then hear in heaven, Your dwelling place, and forgive and act, and give to each in accordance with all his ways, whose heart You know—for You alone know the hearts of all mankind—

if they take it to heart in the land where they have been taken captive, and repent and implore Your favor in the land of those who have taken them captive, saying, ‘We have sinned and done wrong, we have acted wickedly’;

if they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who have taken them captive, and pray to You toward their land which You have given to their fathers, the city which You have chosen, and the house which I have built for Your name;

so that He may guide our hearts toward Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His ordinances, which He commanded our fathers.

Your hearts therefore shall be wholly devoted to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day.”

On the eighth day he dismissed the people, and they blessed the king. Then they went to their tents joyful and with happy hearts for all the goodness that the Lord had shown to David His servant, and to Israel His people.

And the Lord said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your plea which you have offered before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built, by putting My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there always.

As for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and honesty, acting in accordance with everything that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My ordinances,

So she came to Jerusalem with a very large entourage, with camels carrying balsam oil and a very large quantity of gold and precious stones. When she came to Solomon, she spoke to him about everything that was in her heart.

And all the earth was seeking the attention of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.

from the nations of which the Lord had said to the sons of Israel, “You shall not associate with them, nor shall they associate with you; they will certainly turn your heart away to follow their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love.

He had seven hundred wives, who were princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned his heart away.

For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away to follow other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of his father David had been.

Now the Lord was angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice,

And Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom will return to the house of David.

If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will return to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.”

Then he went up to the altar which he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, the month that he had devised in his own heart; and he instituted a feast for the sons of Israel and went up to the altar to burn incense.

and tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you—yet you have not been like My servant David, who kept My commandments and followed Me with all his heart, to do only that which was right in My sight;

He walked in all the sins of his father which he had committed before him; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God, like the heart of his father David.

But the high places were not eliminated; nevertheless Asa’s heart was wholly devoted to the Lord all his days.

Answer me, Lord, answer me, so that this people may know that You, Lord, are God, and that You have turned their heart back.”

Jezebel his wife said to him, “Do you now reign over Israel? Arise, eat bread, and let your heart be joyful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

Then he said to him, “Did my heart not go with you, when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to accept money and to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, sheep, oxen, and male and female slaves?

Now the heart of the king of Aram was enraged over this matter; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not tell me which of us is for the king of Israel?”

Then Jehu drew his bow with his full strength and shot Joram between his arms; and the arrow went through his heart, and he sank in his chariot.

Now when he had gone from there, he encountered Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him; and he greeted him and said to him, “Is your heart right, just as my heart is with your heart?” And Jehonadab answered, “It is.” Jehu said, “If it is, give me your hand.” And he gave him his hand, and he pulled him up to him into the chariot.

Yet the Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in performing what is right in My eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab in accordance with everything that was in My heart, your sons to the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.”

But Jehu was not careful to walk in the Law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart; he did not desist from the sins of Jeroboam, into which he misled Israel.

The Temple to Be Repaired

Then Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money of the sacred offerings which is brought into the house of the Lord, in current money, both the money of each man’s assessment and all the money which anyone’s heart prompts him to bring into the house of the Lord,

You have indeed defeated Edom, and your heart is elated. Enjoy the glory and stay home; for why should you get involved in trouble so that you would fall, you and Judah with you?”

since your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become an object of horror and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I have indeed heard you,’ declares the Lord.”

And the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep His commandments, His provisions, and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to carry out the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into the covenant.

Before him there was no king like him who turned to the Lord with all his heart, all his soul, and all his might, in conformity to all the Law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him.

David went out to meet them, and said to them, “If you come peacefully to help me, my heart shall be united with you; but if to betray me to my enemies, since there is no wrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers look on it and decide.”

From Zebulun, there were fifty thousand who went out in the army, who could draw up in battle formation with all kinds of weapons of war and helped David with an undivided heart.

All of these, being men of war who helped in battle formation, came to Hebron with a perfect heart to make David king over all Israel; and all the rest of Israel also were of one mind to make David king.

When the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David dancing and celebrating; and she despised him in her heart.

Boast in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be joyful.

Then Nathan said to David, “Do whatever is in your heart, for God is with you.”

Lord, for Your servant’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have accomplished all this greatness, to make known all these great things.

Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; then arise, and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy vessels of God into the house that is to be built for the name of the Lord.”

“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.

Since I know, my God, that You put the heart to the test and delight in uprightness, I, in the integrity of my heart, have willingly offered all these things; so now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here, make their offerings willingly to You.

Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the intentions of the hearts of Your people, and direct their hearts to You;

and give my son Solomon a perfect heart to keep Your commandments, Your testimonies, and Your statutes, and to do them all, and to build the temple for which I have made provision.”

Then God said to Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you did not ask for riches, wealth, or honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor did you even ask for long life, but you asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge so that you may rule My people over whom I have made you king,

Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.

But the Lord said to my father David, ‘Because it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was in your heart.

He said, “Lord, God of Israel, there is no god like You in heaven or on earth, keeping Your covenant and Your faithfulness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart;

then hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, and forgive, and render to each according to all his ways, whose heart You know—for You alone know the hearts of the sons of mankind—

if they take it to heart in the land where they are taken captive, and repent and plead to You in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong and have acted wickedly’;

if they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been taken captive, and pray toward their land which You have given to their fathers and the city which You have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Your name,

Then on the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people to their tents, rejoicing and happy in heart because of the goodness that the Lord had shown to David, to Solomon, and to His people Israel.

For now I have chosen and consecrated this house so that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there always.

Visit of the Queen of Sheba

Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test Solomon with riddles. She had a very large entourage, with camels carrying balsam oil and a large amount of gold and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about everything that was on her heart.

And all the kings of the earth were seeking the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart.

Those from all the tribes of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the Lord God of Israel followed them to Jerusalem, to sacrifice to the Lord God of their fathers.

But he did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the Lord.

They entered into the covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and soul;

All Judah rejoiced concerning the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and had sought Him earnestly, and He let them find Him. So the Lord gave them rest on every side.

But the high places were not removed from Israel; nevertheless Asa’s heart was blameless all his days.

For the eyes of the Lord roam throughout the earth, so that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will have wars.”

But there is some good in you, for you have removed the Asheroth from the land and you have set your heart to seek God.”

The high places, however, were not removed; the people had not yet directed their hearts to the God of their fathers.

He also searched for Ahaziah, and they caught him while he was hiding in Samaria; they brought him to Jehu, put him to death, and buried him. For they said, “He is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lord with all his heart.” So there was no one of the house of Ahaziah to retain the power of the kingdom.

You said, ‘Behold, you have defeated Edom.’ And your heart has lifted you up in boasting. Now stay home; why should you provoke trouble so that you, would fall, you and Judah with you?”

Pride Is Uzziah’s Undoing

But when he became strong, his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly, and he was untrue to the Lord his God, for he entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.

Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, so that His burning anger may turn away from us.

The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the Lord.

everyone who prepares his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though not according to the purification rules of the sanctuary.”

Every work which he began in the service of the house of God in the Law and in the commandment, seeking his God, he did with all his heart and prospered.

But Hezekiah did nothing in return for the benefit he received, because his heart was proud; therefore wrath came upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem.

However, Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come on them in the days of Hezekiah.

Even in the matter of the messengers of the rulers of Babylon, who were sent to him to inquire about the wonder that had happened in the land; God left him alone only to test him, so that He might know everything that was in his heart.

“Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and its inhabitants, and because you humbled yourself before Me, tore your clothes, and wept before Me, I have indeed heard you,” declares the Lord.

Josiah’s Good Reign

Then the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the Lord to walk after the Lord, and to keep His commandments, His testimonies, and His statutes with all his heart and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that are written in this book.

He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear allegiance by God. But he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the Lord God of Israel.

And they held the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy, because the Lord had made them happy, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them to encourage them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

The King’s Kindness

Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to glorify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem,

So the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, though you are not ill? This is nothing but sadness of heart.” Then I was very much afraid.

Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials, and the other people to be enrolled by genealogies. Then I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up first, in which I found the following record:

You found his heart faithful before You, And made a covenant with him To give him the land of the Canaanite, Of the Hittite and the Amorite, Of the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite— To give it to his descendants. And You have fulfilled Your promise, Because You are righteous.

Queen Vashti’s Refusal

On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was cheerful with wine, he ordered Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus,

Haman’s Pride

Then Haman went out that day joyful and pleased of heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and that he did not stand up or tremble before him, Haman was filled with anger against Mordecai.

When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send word to them and consecrate them, getting up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Job did so continually.

Wise in heart and mighty in strength, Who has defied Him without harm?

Yet You have concealed these things in Your heart; I know that this is within You:

“If you would direct your heart rightly And spread out your hands to Him,

Why does your heart take you away? And why do your eyes wink,

For You have kept their hearts away from understanding; Therefore You will not exalt them.

My days are past, my plans are torn apart, The wishes of my heart.

Whom I, on my part, shall behold for myself, And whom my eyes will see, and not another. My heart faints within me!

Please receive instruction from His mouth, And put His words in your heart.

It is God who has made my heart faint, And the Almighty who has terrified me,

I have kept hold of my righteousness and will not let it go. My heart does not rebuke any of my days.

The blessing of the one who was about to perish came upon me, And I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.

If my step has turned from the way, Or my heart followed my eyes, Or if any spot has stuck to my hands,

“If my heart has been enticed by a woman, Or I have lurked at my neighbor’s doorway,

And my heart was secretly enticed, And my hand threw a kiss from my mouth,

My words are from the integrity of my heart, And my lips speak knowledge sincerely.

But the godless in heart nurture anger; They do not call for help when He binds them.

Elihu Says God Has Authority Over the Storm

“At this also my heart trembles, And leaps from its place.

Therefore people fear Him; He does not regard any who are wise of heart.”

His heart is as firm as a stone, And as firm as a lower millstone.

Tremble, and do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah

You have put joy in my heart, More than when their grain and new wine are abundant.

Please let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; For the righteous God puts hearts and minds to the test.

My shield is with God, Who saves the upright in heart.

Thanksgiving for God’s Justice.

For the music director; on Muth-labben. A Psalm of David.

I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders.

Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will make Your ear attentive

For, behold, the wicked bend the bow, They have set their arrow on the string To shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.

They speak lies to one another; They speak with flattering lips and a double heart.

How long am I to feel anxious in my soul, With grief in my heart all the day? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?

But I have trusted in Your faithfulness; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.

Foolishness and Wickedness of People.

For the music director. A Psalm of David.

The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed detestable acts; There is no one who does good.

One who walks with integrity, practices righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart.

Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely.

You have put my heart to the test; You have visited me by night; You have sifted me and You find nothing; My intent is that my mouth will not offend.

They have closed their unfeeling hearts, With their mouths they speak proudly.

Foreigners lose heart, And come trembling out of their fortresses.

The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

May He grant you your heart’s desire And fulfill your whole plan!

You have given him his heart’s desire, And You have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah

I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It is melted within me.

The afflicted will eat and be satisfied; Those who seek Him will praise the Lord. May your heart live forever!

One who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to deceit And has not sworn deceitfully.

The troubles of my heart are enlarged; Bring me out of my distresses.

Examine me, Lord, and put me to the test; Refine my mind and my heart.

If an army encamps against me, My heart will not fear; If war arises against me, In spite of this I am confident.

When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “I shall seek Your face, Lord.”

Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.

Do not drag me away with the wicked And with those who practice injustice, Who speak peace with their neighbors, While evil is in their hearts.

The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart triumphs, And with my song I shall thank Him.

Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who wait for the Lord.

Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.

The plan of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation.

He who fashions the hearts of them all, He who understands all their works.

For our heart rejoices in Him, Because we trust in His holy name.

Do not let them say in their heart, “Aha, our desire!” Do not let them say, “We have swallowed him up!”

Wickedness of Humanity and Goodness of God.

For the music director. A Psalm of David the servant of the Lord.

Wrongdoing speaks to the ungodly within his heart; There is no fear of God before his eyes.

Prolong Your mercy to those who know You, And Your righteousness to the upright of heart.

Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.

Their sword will enter their own heart, And their bows will be broken.

The Law of his God is in his heart; His steps do not slip.

I feel faint and badly crushed; I groan because of the agitation of my heart.

My heart throbs, my strength fails me; And the light of my eyes, even that has gone from me.

My heart was hot within me, While I was musing the fire burned; Then I spoke with my tongue:

I delight to do Your will, my God; Your Law is within my heart.”

I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your mercy and Your truth from the great congregation.

For evils beyond number have surrounded me; My guilty deeds have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see; They are more numerous than the hairs of my head, And my heart has failed me.

And when he comes to see me, he speaks empty words; His heart gathers wickedness to itself; When he goes outside, he tells it.

Our heart has not turned back, And our steps have not deviated from Your way,

Would God not find this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.

A Song Celebrating the King’s Marriage.

For the music director; according to the Shoshannim. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. A Song of Love.

My heart is moved with a good theme; I address my verses to the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

Your arrows are sharp; The peoples fall under You; Your arrows are in the heart of the King’s enemies.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth shakes And the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;

My mouth will speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart will be understanding.

Create in me a clean heart, God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, God, You will not despise.

Foolishness and Wickedness of People.

For the music director; according to Mahalath. A Maskil of David.

The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice; There is no one who does good.

My heart is in anguish within me, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

His speech was smoother than butter, But his heart was war; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.

My heart is steadfast, God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises!

No, in heart you practice injustice; On earth you clear a way for the violence of your hands.

From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your hearts before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah

Do not trust in oppression, And do not vainly rely on robbery; If wealth increases, do not set your heart on it.

They devise injustices, saying, “We are ready with a well-conceived plot”; For the inward thought and the heart of a person are deep.

The righteous person will be glad in the Lord and take refuge in Him; And all the upright in heart will boast.

If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear;

Disgrace has broken my heart, and I am so sick. And I waited for sympathy, but there was none; And for comforters, but I found none.

The humble have seen it and are glad; You who seek God, let your heart revive.

BOOK 3

The End of the Wicked Contrasted with That of the Righteous.

A Psalm of Asaph.

God certainly is good to Israel, To those who are pure in heart!

Their eye bulges from fatness; The imaginations of their heart overflow.

Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure And washed my hands in innocence;

When my heart was embittered And I was pierced within,

My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

They said in their heart, “Let’s completely subdue them.” They have burned all the meeting places of God in the land.

I will remember my song in the night; I will meditate with my heart, And my spirit ponders:

And not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not prepare its heart And whose spirit was not faithful to God.

And in their heart they put God to the test By asking for food that suited their taste.

For their heart was not steadfast toward Him, Nor were they faithful with His covenant.

So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them with his skillful hands.

So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart, To walk by their own plans.

My soul longed and even yearned for the courtyards of the Lord; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.

Blessed is the person whose strength is in You, In whose heart are the roads to Zion!

Teach me Your way, Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.

I will give thanks to You, Lord my God, with all my heart, And I will glorify Your name forever.

Remember, Lord, the taunt against Your servants; How I carry in my heart the taunts of all the many peoples,

So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.

For judgment will again be righteous, And all the upright in heart will follow it.

Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, As on the day of Massah in the wilderness,

For forty years I was disgusted with that generation, And said they are a people who err in their heart, And they do not know My ways.

Light is sown like seed for the righteous, And gladness for the upright in heart.

I will carefully attend to the blameless way. When will You come to me? I will walk within my house in the integrity of my heart.

A perverse heart shall leave me; I will know no evil.

Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy; I will not endure one who has a haughty look and an arrogant heart.

For my days have ended in smoke, And my bones have been scorched like a hearth.

My heart has been struck like grass and has withered, Indeed, I forget to eat my bread.

And wine, which makes a human heart cheerful, So that he makes his face gleam with oil, And food, which sustains a human heart.

Boast in His holy name; May the heart of those who seek the Lord be joyful.

He turned their heart to hate His people, To deal cunningly with His servants.

Therefore He humbled their heart with labor; They stumbled and there was no one to help.

God Praised and Pleas to Give Victory.

A Song, a Psalm of David.

My heart is steadfast, God; I will sing, I will sing praises also with my soul.

Because he did not remember to show mercy, But persecuted the afflicted and needy person, And the despondent in heart, to put them to death.

For I am afflicted and needy, And my heart is wounded within me.

The Lord Praised for His Goodness.

Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart, In the company of the upright and in the assembly.

He will not fear bad news; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

His heart is firm, he will not fear, But will look with satisfaction on his enemies.

Blessed are those who comply with His testimonies, And seek Him with all their heart.

I will give thanks to You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments.

With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments.

I have treasured Your word in my heart, So that I may not sin against You.

I shall run the way of Your commandments, For You will enlarge my heart.

Give me understanding, so that I may comply with Your Law And keep it with all my heart.

Incline my heart to Your testimonies, And not to dishonest gain.

I sought Your favor with all my heart; Be gracious to me according to Your word.

The arrogant have forged a lie against me; With all my heart I will comply with Your precepts.

Their heart is insensitive, like fat, But I delight in Your Law.

May my heart be blameless in Your statutes, So that I will not be ashamed.

I have inherited Your testimonies forever, For they are the joy of my heart.

I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes Forever, even to the end.

Qoph

I cried out with all my heart; answer me, Lord! I will comply with Your statutes.

Shin

Rulers persecute me without cause, But my heart stands in awe of Your words.

Do good, Lord, to those who are good And to those who are upright in their hearts.

Childlike Trust in the Lord.

A Song of Ascents, of David.

Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes arrogant; Nor do I involve myself in great matters, Or in things too difficult for me.

Thanksgiving for the Lord’s Favor.

A Psalm of David.

I will give You thanks with all my heart; I will sing Your praises before the gods.

Search me, God, and know my heart; Put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts;

Who devise evil things in their hearts; They continually stir up wars.

Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice deeds of wickedness With people who do wrong; And may I not taste their delicacies.

Therefore my spirit feels weak within me; My heart is appalled within me.

Make your ear attentive to wisdom; Incline your heart to understanding.

For wisdom will enter your heart, And knowledge will be delightful to your soul;

The Rewards of Wisdom

My son, do not forget my teaching, But have your heart comply with my commandments;

Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.

He taught me and said to me, “Let your heart take hold of my words; Keep my commandments and live;

They are not to escape from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart.

Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.

And you say, “How I hated instruction! And my heart disdainfully rejected rebuke!

Who, with perversion in his heart, continually devises evil, Who spreads strife.

A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil,

Bind them continually on your heart; Tie them around your neck.

Do not desire her beauty in your heart, Nor let her capture you with her eyelids.

Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart.

And behold, a woman comes to meet him, Dressed as a prostitute and cunning of heart.

Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, Do not stray into her paths.

The wise of heart will receive commands, But a babbling fool will come to ruin.

The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver, The heart of the wicked is worth little.

The perverse in heart are an abomination to the Lord, But the blameless in their walk are His delight.

One who troubles his own house will inherit wind, And the foolish will be servant to the wise-hearted.

Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy.

A prudent person conceals knowledge, But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.

Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

The heart knows its own bitterness, And a stranger does not share its joy.

Even in laughter the heart may be in pain, And the end of joy may be grief.

One with a wayward heart will have his fill of his own ways, But a good person will be satisfied with his.

A tranquil heart is life to the body, But jealousy is rottenness to the bones.

Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, But among fools it is made known.

The lips of the wise spread knowledge, But the hearts of fools are not so.

Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord, How much more the hearts of mankind!

A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.

All the days of the needy are bad, But a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

Bright eyes gladden the heart; Good news refreshes the bones.

Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked

The plans of the heart belong to a person, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; Be assured, he will not go unpunished.

The wise in heart will be called understanding, And sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

The heart of the wise instructs his mouth And adds persuasiveness to his lips.

The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests hearts.

A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.

Before destruction the heart of a person is haughty, But humility goes before honor.

The foolishness of a person ruins his way, And his heart rages against the Lord.

Many plans are in a person’s heart, But the advice of the Lord will stand.

A plan in the heart of a person is like deep water, But a person of understanding draws it out.

Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin”?

On Life and Conduct

The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He pleases.

Every person’s way is right in his own eyes, But the Lord examines the hearts.

Haughty eyes and a proud heart, The lamp of the wicked, is sin.

One who loves purity of heart And whose speech is gracious, the king is his friend.

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.

For as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, “Eat and drink!” But his heart is not with you.

Apply your heart to discipline, And your ears to words of knowledge.

My son, if your heart is wise, My own heart also will be glad,

Do not let your heart envy sinners, But live in the fear of the Lord always.

Listen, my son, and be wise, And direct your heart in the way.

Give me your heart, my son, And let your eyes delight in my ways.

If you say, “See, we did not know this,” Does He who weighs the hearts not consider it? And does He who watches over your soul not know it? And will He not repay a person according to his work?

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,

As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable.

Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on soda, Is one who sings songs to a troubled heart.

Like an earthenware vessel overlaid with silver impurities Are burning lips and a wicked heart.

One who hates disguises it with his lips, But he harbors deceit in his heart.

When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, Because there are seven abominations in his heart.

Oil and perfume make the heart glad, And a person’s advice is sweet to his friend.

Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, So that I may reply to one who taunts me.

As in water a face reflects the face, So the heart of a person reflects the person.

How blessed is the person who fears always, But one who hardens his heart will fall into disaster.

One who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But one who walks wisely will flee to safety.

The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain.

All that my eyes desired, I did not refuse them. I did not restrain my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor; and this was my reward for all my labor.

God Set Eternity in the Heart of Mankind

He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, without the possibility that mankind will find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.

For he will not often call to mind the years of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.

It is better to go to a house of mourning Than to go to a house of feasting, Because that is the end of every person, And the living takes it to heart.

Sorrow is better than laughter, For when a face is sad a heart may be happy.

For oppression makes a wise person look foolish, And a bribe corrupts the heart.

Do not be eager in your spirit to be angry, For anger resides in the heart of fools.

And I discovered as more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, whose hands are chains. One who is pleasing to God will escape from her, but the sinner will be captured by her.

One who keeps a royal command experiences no trouble, for a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure.

Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of mankind among them are fully given to do evil.

People Are in the Hand of God

For I have taken all this to my heart, even to examine it all, that righteous people, wise people, and their deeds are in the hand of God. People do not know whether it will be love or hatred; anything awaits them.

This is an evil in everything that is done under the sun, that there is one fate for everyone. Furthermore, the hearts of the sons of mankind are full of evil, and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives. Afterward they go to the dead.

Go then, eat your bread in happiness, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works.

A wise person’s heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish person’s heart directs him toward the left.

Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things.

So remove sorrow from your heart and keep pain away from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting.

Go out, you daughters of Zion, And look at King Solomon with the crown With which his mother has crowned him On the day of his wedding, And on the day of the joy of his heart.”

You have enchanted my heart, my sister, my bride; You have enchanted my heart with a single glance of your eyes, With a single strand of your necklace.

The Bride

“I was asleep but my heart was awake. A voice! My beloved was knocking: ‘Open to me, my sister, my darling, My dove, my perfect one! For my head is drenched with dew, My locks with the dew drops of the night.’

I opened to my beloved, But my beloved had turned away and had gone! My heart went out to him as he spoke. I searched for him but I did not find him; I called him but he did not answer me.

Put me like a seal over your heart, Like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, Jealousy is as severe as Sheol; Its flames are flames of fire, The flame of the Lord.

Where will you be stricken again, As you continue in your rebellion? The entire head is sick And the entire heart is faint.

Make the hearts of this people insensitive, Their ears dull, And their eyes blind, So that they will not see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, Understand with their hearts, And return and be healed.”

When it was reported to the house of David, saying, “The Arameans have taken a stand by Ephraim,” his heart and the hearts of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake from the wind.

And all the people know it, That is, Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, Asserting in pride and in arrogance of heart:

Yet it does not so intend, Nor does it plan so in its heart, But rather it is its purpose to destroy And to eliminate many nations.

So it will be that when the Lord has completed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, He will say, “I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the arrogant pride of his eyes.”

Therefore all hands will fall limp, And every human heart will melt.

But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north.

My heart cries out for Moab; His fugitives are as far as Zoar and Eglath-shelishiyah, For they go up the ascent of Luhith weeping; Indeed, on the road to Horonaim they raise a cry of distress over their collapse.

Therefore my inner being sounds like a harp for Moab. And my heart for Kir-hareseth.

Message to Egypt

The pronouncement concerning Egypt: Behold, the Lord is riding on a swift cloud and is about to come to Egypt; The idols of Egypt will tremble at His presence, And the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them.

The new wine mourns, The vine decays, All the joyful-hearted sigh.

Then the Lord said, “Because this people approaches Me with their words And honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me, And their reverence for Me consists of the commandment of men that is taught;

Whose collapse is like the smashing of a potter’s jar, So ruthlessly shattered That a shard will not be found among its pieces To take fire from a hearth Or to scoop water from a cistern.”

You will have songs as in the night when you keep the festival, And gladness of heart as when one marches to the sound of the flute, To go to the mountain of the Lord, to the Rock of Israel.

For a fool speaks nonsense, And his heart inclines toward wickedness: To practice ungodliness and to speak error against the Lord, To keep the hungry person unsatisfied And to withhold drink from the thirsty.

Your heart will meditate on terror: “Where is one who counts? Where is one who weighs? Where is one who counts the towers?”

Say to those with anxious heart, “Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; The retribution of God will come, But He will save you.”

They do not know, nor do they understand, for He has smeared over their eyes so that they cannot see, and their hearts so that they cannot comprehend.

He feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has misled him. And he cannot save himself, nor say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”

“Now, then, hear this, you luxuriant one, Who lives securely, Who says in her heart, ‘I am, and there is no one besides me. I will not sit as a widow, Nor know the loss of children.’

You felt secure in your wickedness and said, ‘No one sees me,’ Your wisdom and your knowledge, they have led you astray; For you have said in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one besides me.’

Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who has fathered these for me, Since I have been bereaved of my children And cannot conceive, and I am an exile, and a wanderer? And who has raised these? Behold, I was left alone; Where are these from?’”

Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, A people in whose heart is My Law; Do not fear the taunting of people, Nor be terrified of their abuses.

Evil Leaders Rebuked

The righteous person perishes, and no one takes it to heart; And devout people are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous person is taken away from evil,

For this is what the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, says: “I dwell in a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite.

Because of the wrongful act of his unjust gain I was angry and struck him; I hid My face and was angry, And he went on turning away, in the way of his heart.

Offending and denying the Lord, And turning away from our God, Speaking oppression and revolt, Conceiving and uttering lying words from the heart.

Then you will see and be radiant, And your heart will thrill and rejoice; Because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you, The wealth of the nations will come to you.

For the day of vengeance was in My heart, And My year of redemption has come.

You Are Our Father

Look down from heaven and see from Your holy and glorious lofty habitation; Where are Your zeal and Your mighty deeds? The stirrings of Your heart and Your compassion are restrained toward me.

Why, Lord, do You cause us to stray from Your ways And harden our heart from fearing You? Return for the sake of Your servants, the tribes of Your heritage.

Behold, My servants will shout joyfully with a glad heart, But you will cry out from a painful heart, And you will wail from a broken spirit.

Then you will see this, and your heart will be glad, And your bones will flourish like the new grass; And the hand of the Lord will be made known to His servants, But He will be indignant toward His enemies.

Yet in spite of all this her treacherous sister Judah did not return to Me with all her heart, but rather in deception,” declares the Lord.

“Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you knowledge and understanding.

At that time they will call Jerusalem ‘The Throne of the Lord,’ and all the nations will assemble at it, at Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord; and they will no longer follow the stubbornness of their evil heart.

Circumcise yourselves to the Lord And remove the foreskins of your hearts, Men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, Or else My wrath will spread like fire And burn with no one to quench it, Because of the evil of your deeds.”

“And it shall come about on that day,” declares the Lord, “that the heart of the king and the hearts of the leaders will fail; and the priests will tremble, and the prophets will be astonished.”

Wash your heart from evil, Jerusalem, So that you may be saved. How long will your wicked thoughts Lodge within you?

Your ways and your deeds Have brought these things upon you. This is your evil. How bitter! How it has touched your heart!”

Grief over Judah’s Devastation

My soul, my soul! I am in anguish! Oh, my heart! My heart is pounding in me; I cannot keep silent, Because, my soul, you have heard The sound of the trumpet, The alarm of war.

But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; They have turned aside and departed.

They do not say in their heart, “Let us now fear the Lord our God, Who gives rain in its season, Both the autumn rain and the spring rain, Who keeps for us The appointed weeks of the harvest.”

Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked by their own advice and in the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and they went backward and not forward.

My sorrow is beyond healing, My heart is faint within me!

but have followed the stubbornness of their heart and the Baals, as their fathers taught them,”

Egypt, Judah, Edom, the sons of Ammon, Moab, and all those inhabiting the desert who trim the hair on their temples; for all the nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised of heart.”

Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in the stubbornness of their evil heart, each one of them; therefore I brought on them all the words of this covenant which I commanded them to do, but they did not.’”