At the time of the evening sacrifice, I arose from my discouragement. Still in my torn garment and robe, I fell to my knees with my hands outstretched to the LORD my God,

For where is the hope of the godless when he is eliminated; when God takes away his life?

Were I to cherish iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not listen to me.

Lift up your hands to the Holy Place and bless the LORD.

"Then they will call out to me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.

Although they fast, I won't listen to their cry, and although they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I won't accept them. Instead, I'll put an end to them with the sword, with famine, and with a plague."

"Do you see this, Son of Man?" he asked me. "Is it an insignificant thing for Judah's house to commit the detestable things that they're doing here? They've filled the land with violence and turned away from me, causing me to become angry again. Look how they're sniffing with their noses!

"Then they will cry to the LORD, but he will not listen to them. In fact, he will hide his face from them at that time, because they were so wicked in what they were doing."

Therefore, just as when I cried out and they would not listen, so also they will cry out, and I will not listen,' says the LORD of the Heavenly Armies.

After the homeowner gets up and closes the door, you can stand outside, knock on the door, and say again and again, "Lord, open the door for us!' But he will answer you, "I don't know where you come from.'

Therefore, I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without being angry or argumentative.

Make many prayers

"When you are praying, don't say meaningless things like the unbelievers do, because they think they will be heard by being so wordy.

"How terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You devour widows' houses and say long prayers to cover it up. Therefore, you will receive greater condemnation!

Your hands

Instead, your iniquities have been barriers between you and your God, and your sins have concealed his face from you so that he won't listen.

"Look, you're trusting in deceptive words that cannot benefit.

Please listen to this, you leaders of the house of Jacob, you officials of the house of Israel, you who hate administering justice, who pervert the very meaning of equity,

General references

They cried out for deliverance, but there was no one to deliver; they cried out to the LORD, but he did not answer them.

"I will denounce your righteousness and your works, for your collections of idols will not benefit you.

You've increased the number of fatally wounded in this city and you've filled your streets with the dead."

Such a person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.