For He left of the army of Jehoahaz only fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers; for the king of Syria had destroyed them and made them like the dust at threshing.

The altars that were on the roof, the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the Lord, the king broke down and pulverized there, and threw their dust into the Brook Kidron.

Now, O Lord God, let Your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.

They broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence, and the incense altars which were above them he cut down; and the wooden images, the carved images, and the molded images he broke in pieces, and made dust of them and scattered it on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.

The People Confess Their Sins

Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, in sackcloth, and with dust on their heads.

And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and sprinkled dust on his head toward heaven.

How much more those who dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Who are crushed before a moth?

For affliction does not come from the dust, Nor does trouble spring from the ground;

My flesh is caked with worms and dust, My skin is cracked and breaks out afresh.

Why then do You not pardon my transgression, And take away my iniquity? For now I will lie down in the dust, And You will seek me diligently, But I will no longer be.”

Remember, I pray, that You have made me like clay. And will You turn me into dust again?

“I have sewn sackcloth over my skin, And laid my head in the dust.

Will they go down to the gates of Sheol? Shall we have rest together in the dust?”

His bones are full of his youthful vigor, But it will lie down with him in the dust.

They lie down alike in the dust, And worms cover them.

Then you will lay your gold in the dust, And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks.

Though he heaps up silver like dust, And piles up clothing like clay—

Its stones are the source of sapphires, And it contains gold dust.

He has cast me into the mire, And I have become like dust and ashes.

All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust.

When the dust hardens in clumps, And the clods cling together?

For she leaves her eggs on the ground, And warms them in the dust;

Hide them in the dust together, Bind their faces in hidden darkness.

Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.”

Let the enemy pursue me and overtake me; Yes, let him trample my life to the earth, And lay my honor in the dust. Selah