53 lines
2.0 KiB
Markdown
53 lines
2.0 KiB
Markdown
# Chapter 17
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1 A pronouncement concerning Damascus:
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Look, Damascus is no longer a city.
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It has become a ruined heap.
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2 The cities of Aroer are abandoned;
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they will be places for flocks.
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They will lie down without fear.
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3 The fortress disappears from Ephraim,
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and a kingdom from Damascus.
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The remnant of Aram will be
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like the splendor of the Israelites.
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This is the declaration of the Lord of Armies.
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4 On that day
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the splendor of Jacob will fade,
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and his healthy body will become emaciated.
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5 It will be as if a reaper had gathered standing grain—
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his arm harvesting the heads of grain—
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and as if one had gleaned heads of grain
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in Rephaim Valley.
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6 Only gleanings will be left in Israel,
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as if an olive tree had been beaten—
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two or three olives at the very top of the tree,
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four or five on its fruitful branches.
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This is the declaration of the Lord, the God of Israel.
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7 On that day people will look to their Maker and will turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel.
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8 They will not look to the altars they made with their hands or to the Asherahs and shrines they made with their fingers.
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9 On that day their strong cities will be
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like the abandoned woods and mountaintops
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that were abandoned because of the Israelites;
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there will be desolation.
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10 For you have forgotten the God of your salvation,
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and you have failed to remember
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the rock of your strength;
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therefore you will plant beautiful plants
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and set out cuttings from exotic vines.
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11 On the day that you plant,
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you will help them to grow,
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and in the morning
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you will help your seed to sprout,
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but the harvest will vanish
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on the day of disease and incurable pain.
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12 Ah! The roar of many peoples—
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they roar like the roaring of the seas.
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The raging of the nations—
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they rage like the rumble of rushing water.
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13 The nations rage like the rumble of a huge torrent.
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He rebukes them, and they flee far away,
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driven before the wind like chaff on the hills
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and like tumbleweeds before a gale.
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14 In the evening—sudden terror!
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Before morning—it is gone!
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This is the fate of those who plunder us
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and the lot of those who ravage us. |