113 lines
2.2 KiB
Markdown
113 lines
2.2 KiB
Markdown
The Failure of Israel's Leaders
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# Chapter 5
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1. "Hear this, you priests.
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Pay attention, you leaders of Israel.
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Listen, you members of the royal family.
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Judgment has been handed down against you.
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For you have led the people into a snare
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by worshiping the idols at Mizpah and Tabor.
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2. You have dug a deep pit to trap them at Acacia Grove.
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But I will settle with you for what you have done.
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3. I know what you are like, O Ephraim.
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You cannot hide yourself from me, O Israel.
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You have left me as a prostitute leaves her husband;
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you are utterly defiled.
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4. Your deeds won't let you return to your God.
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You are a prostitute through and through,
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and you do not know the LORD.
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5. "The arrogance of Israel testifies against her;
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Israel and Ephraim will stumble under their load of guilt.
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Judah, too, will fall with them.
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6. When they come with their flocks and herds
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to offer sacrifices to the LORD,
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they will not find him,
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because he has withdrawn from them.
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7. They have betrayed the honor of the LORD,
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bearing children that are not his.
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Now their false religion will devour them
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along with their wealth.
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8. "Sound the alarm in Gibeah!
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Blow the trumpet in Ramah!
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Raise the battle cry in Beth-aven!
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Lead on into battle, O warriors of Benjamin!
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9. One thing is certain, Israel:
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On your day of punishment,
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you will become a heap of rubble.
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10. "The leaders of Judah have become like thieves.
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So I will pour my anger on them like a waterfall.
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11. The people of Israel will be crushed and broken by my judgment
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because they are determined to worship idols.
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12. I will destroy Israel as a moth consumes wool.
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I will make Judah as weak as rotten wood.
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13. "When Israel and Judah saw how sick they were,
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Israel turned to Assyria--
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to the great king there--
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but he could neither help nor cure them.
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14. I will be like a lion to Israel,
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like a strong young lion to Judah.
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I will tear them to pieces!
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I will carry them off,
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and no one will be left to rescue them.
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15. Then I will return to my place
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until they admit their guilt and turn to me.
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For as soon as trouble comes,
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they will earnestly search for me."
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