After the death of Jehoiada, the officials of Judah came to pay court to the king, and the king now turned to them for advice. The Judaeans abandoned the Temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, for the worship of sacred poles and idols. Because of their guilt, God’s anger fell on Judah and Jerusalem. He sent them prophets to bring them back to the Lord, but when these gave their message, they would not listen. The spirit of God took possession of Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood up before the people and said, ‘God says this, “Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord to no good purpose? You have deserted the Lord, now he deserts you.”’ They then plotted against him and by order of the king stoned him in the court of the Temple of the Lord. King Joash, forgetful of the kindness that Jehoiada, the father of Zechariah, had shown him, killed Jehoiada’s son who cried out as he died, ‘The Lord sees and he will avenge!’

When a year had gone by, the Aramaean army made war on Joash. They reached Judah and Jerusalem, and executed all the officials among the people, sending back to the king at Damascus all that they had plundered from them. Though the Aramaean army had by no means come in force, the Lord delivered into its power an army of great size for having deserted him, the God of their ancestors.

The Aramaeans treated Joash as he had deserved, and when they retired they left him a very sick man; and his officers, plotting against him to avenge the death of the son of Jehoiada the priest, murdered him in his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the Citadel of David, though not in the tombs of the kings.

I will keep my love for him always.

‘With my chosen one I have made a covenant;
  I have sworn to David my servant:
I will establish your dynasty for ever
  and set up your throne through all ages.

I will keep my love for him always.

‘I will keep my love for him always;
  with him my covenant shall last.
I will establish his dynasty for ever,
  make his throne endure as the heavens.

I will keep my love for him always.

‘If his sons forsake my law
  and refuse to walk as I decree
and if ever they violate my statutes,
  refusing to keep my commands;
then I will punish their offences with the rod,
  then I will scourge them on account of their guilt.

I will keep my love for him always.

‘But I will never take back my love,
  my truth will never fail.’

I will keep my love for him always.

Alleluia, alleluia!
Man does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Alleluia!