They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.”

The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.

And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, statutes and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided.”

The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, and to obey the words of the covenant written in this book.

Our kings, our leaders, our priests and our ancestors did not follow your law; they did not pay attention to your commands or the statutes you warned them to keep.

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children,

But they put God to the test and rebelled against the Most High; they did not keep his statutes.

“If his sons forsake my law and do not follow my statutes,

Your statutes, Lord, stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days.

He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud; they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them.

Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart—

I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.

Remove from me their scorn and contempt, for I keep your statutes.

Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.

I hold fast to your statutes, Lord; do not let me be put to shame.

Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.

I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame,

I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes.

May those who fear you turn to me, those who understand your statutes.

In your unfailing love preserve my life, that I may obey the statutes of your mouth.

The wicked are waiting to destroy me, but I will ponder your statutes.

I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.

Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.

All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross; therefore I love your statutes.