" 'Don't you know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands? Have any of the national gods of the lands been able to deliver their land from my power?

So now, don't let Hezekiah deceive you, and don't let him mislead you like this. Don't believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my power or the power of my fathers. How much less will your gods deliver you from my power!'"

He also wrote letters to mock the LORD God of Israel, saying against Him: Just like the national gods of the lands that did not deliver their people from my power, so Hezekiah's God will not deliver His people from my power.

Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God."

For he has stretched out his hand against God and has arrogantly opposed the Almighty.

He rushes headlong at Him with his thick, studded shields.

Why has the wicked despised God? He says to himself, "You will not demand an account."

But You Yourself have seen trouble and grief, observing it in order to take the matter into Your hands. The helpless entrusts himself to You; You are a helper of the fatherless.

They mock, and they speak maliciously; they arrogantly threaten oppression.

Therefore His people turn to them and drink in their overflowing waters.

God, if only You would kill the wicked-- you bloodthirsty men, stay away from me--

who invoke You deceitfully. Your enemies swear [by You] falsely.

But I have chosen Jerusalem so that My name will be there, and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel."

[For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph. A song.] God is known in Judah; His name is great in Israel.

His tent is in Salem, His dwelling place in Zion.

He chose instead the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which He loved.

[A psalm of the sons of Korah. A song.] His foundation is on the holy mountains.

Glorious things are said about you, city of God. Selah

For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His home:

"This is My resting place forever; I will make My home here because I have desired it.

What answer will be given to the messengers from that nation? The LORD has founded Zion, and His afflicted people find refuge in her.

Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels in festive gathering,

There you will worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see, hear, eat, or smell.

'Cursed is the person who makes a carved idol or cast image, which is detestable to the LORD, the work of a craftsman, and sets [it] up in secret.' And all the people will reply, ' Amen!'

They have thrown their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but made by human hands-- wood and stone. So they have destroyed them.

The idols of the nations are of silver and gold, made by human hands.

They have ears, but cannot hear; indeed, there is no breath in their mouths.

Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made.

and have thrown their gods into the fire; for they were not gods but made by human hands-- wood and stone. So they have destroyed them.

He burns half of it in a fire, and he roasts meat on that half. He eats the roast and is satisfied. He warms himself and says, "Ah! I am warm, I see the blaze."

Such people do not comprehend and cannot understand, for He has shut their eyes so they cannot see, and their minds so they cannot understand.

He feeds on ashes. [His] deceived mind has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself, or say, "Isn't there a lie in my right hand?"

"I will pronounce My judgments against them for all the evil they did when they abandoned Me to burn incense to other gods and to worship the works of their own hands.

for the customs of the peoples are worthless. Someone cuts down a tree from the forest; [it is] worked by the hands of a craftsman with a chisel.

Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz from the hands of a goldsmith, the work of a craftsman. Their clothing is blue and purple, all the work of skilled artisans.

From their youth, the Israelites and Judeans have done nothing but what is evil in My sight! They have done nothing but provoke Me to anger by the work of their hands"-- [this is] the LORD's declaration--

Your calf-idol is rejected, Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence?

For this thing is from Israel-- a craftsman made it, and it is not God. The calf of Samaria will be smashed to bits!