If anyone takes human life, he will be punished. I will punish with death any animal that takes a human life.

and especially because of all the innocent people he had killed. The LORD could not forgive Manasseh for that.

The LORD is coming from his heavenly dwelling place to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The murders that were secretly committed on the earth will be revealed, and the ground will no longer hide those who have been killed.

As a result, the punishment for the murder of all innocent people will fall on you, from the murder of innocent Abel to the murder of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the Temple and the altar.

So the people of this time will be punished for the murder of all the prophets killed since the creation of the world,

from the murder of Abel to the murder of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the Holy Place. Yes, I tell you, the people of this time will be punished for them all!

Then the Lamb broke open the fifth seal. I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed because they had proclaimed God's word and had been faithful in their witnessing.

They shouted in a loud voice, "Almighty Lord, holy and true! How long will it be until you judge the people on earth and punish them for killing us?"

They poured out the blood of God's people and of the prophets, and so you have given them blood to drink. They are getting what they deserve!"

But you do see; you take notice of trouble and suffering and are always ready to help. The helpless commit themselves to you; you have always helped the needy.

You will listen, O LORD, to the prayers of the lowly; you will give them courage.

He does not neglect the poor or ignore their suffering; he does not turn away from them, but answers when they call for help."

The helpless call to him, and he answers; he saves them from all their troubles.

He will hear his forsaken people and listen to their prayer.

Then the LORD said, "I have seen how cruelly my people are being treated in Egypt; I have heard them cry out to be rescued from their slave drivers. I know all about their sufferings,

I have indeed heard the cry of my people, and I see how the Egyptians are oppressing them.

Now, will God not judge in favor of his own people who cry to him day and night for help? Will he be slow to help them?

I tell you, he will judge in their favor and do it quickly. But will the Son of Man find faith on earth when he comes?"

So they got rid of their foreign gods and worshiped the LORD; and he became troubled over Israel's distress.