⁹ “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion^(A) and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart^(B) and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him,^(C) he will be found by you; but if you forsake^(D) him, he will reject^(E) you forever.

Shishak Attacks Jerusalem^(A)

12 After Rehoboam’s position as king was established^(B) and he had become strong,^(C) he and all Israel^[a](D) with him abandoned^(E) the law of the Lord.

¹⁸ They abandoned^(A) the temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and worshiped Asherah poles and idols.^(B) Because of their guilt, God’s anger^(C) came on Judah and Jerusalem.

¹³ The Lord said, “It is because they have forsaken my law, which I set before them; they have not obeyed me or followed my law.^(A)

⁸ But they did not listen or pay attention;^(A) instead, they followed the stubbornness of their evil hearts.^(B) So I brought on them all the curses^(C) of the covenant I had commanded them to follow but that they did not keep.^(D)’”