121 lines
4.7 KiB
Markdown
121 lines
4.7 KiB
Markdown
# Chapter 4
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1 “O Israel,” says the Lord,
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“if you wanted to return to me, you could.
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You could throw away your detestable idols
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and stray away no more.
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2 Then when you swear by my name, saying,
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‘As surely as the Lord lives,’
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you could do so
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with truth, justice, and righteousness.
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Then you would be a blessing to the nations of the world,
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and all people would come and praise my name.”
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3 This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and Jerusalem:
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“Plow up the hard ground of your hearts!
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Do not waste your good seed among thorns.
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4 O people of Judah and Jerusalem,
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surrender your pride and power.
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Change your hearts before the Lord,
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or my anger will burn like an unquenchable fire
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because of all your sins.
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5 “Shout to Judah, and broadcast to Jerusalem!
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Tell them to sound the alarm throughout the land:
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‘Run for your lives!
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Flee to the fortified cities!’
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6 Raise a signal flag as a warning for Jerusalem:
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‘Flee now! Do not delay!’
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For I am bringing terrible destruction upon you
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from the north.”
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7 A lion stalks from its den,
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a destroyer of nations.
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It has left its lair and is headed your way.
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It’s going to devastate your land!
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Your towns will lie in ruins,
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with no one living in them anymore.
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8 So put on clothes of mourning
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and weep with broken hearts,
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for the fierce anger of the Lord
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is still upon us.
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9 “In that day,” says the Lord,
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“the king and the officials will tremble in fear.
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The priests will be struck with horror,
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and the prophets will be appalled.”
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10 Then I said, “O Sovereign Lord,
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the people have been deceived by what you said,
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for you promised peace for Jerusalem.
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But the sword is held at their throats!”
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11 The time is coming when the Lord will say
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to the people of Jerusalem,
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“My dear people, a burning wind is blowing in from the desert,
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and it’s not a gentle breeze useful for winnowing grain.
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12 It is a roaring blast sent by me!
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Now I will pronounce your destruction!”
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13 Our enemy rushes down on us like storm clouds!
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His chariots are like whirlwinds.
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His horses are swifter than eagles.
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How terrible it will be, for we are doomed!
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14 O Jerusalem, cleanse your heart
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that you may be saved.
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How long will you harbor
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your evil thoughts?
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15 Your destruction has been announced
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from Dan and the hill country of Ephraim.
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16 “Warn the surrounding nations
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and announce this to Jerusalem:
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The enemy is coming from a distant land,
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raising a battle cry against the towns of Judah.
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17 They surround Jerusalem like watchmen around a field,
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for my people have rebelled against me,”
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says the Lord.
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18 “Your own actions have brought this upon you.
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This punishment is bitter, piercing you to the heart!”
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19 My heart, my heart—I writhe in pain!
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My heart pounds within me! I cannot be still.
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For I have heard the blast of enemy trumpets
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and the roar of their battle cries.
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20 Waves of destruction roll over the land,
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until it lies in complete desolation.
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Suddenly my tents are destroyed;
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in a moment my shelters are crushed.
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21 How long must I see the battle flags
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and hear the trumpets of war?
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22 “My people are foolish
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and do not know me,” says the Lord.
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“They are stupid children
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who have no understanding.
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They are clever enough at doing wrong,
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but they have no idea how to do right!”
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23 I looked at the earth, and it was empty and formless.
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I looked at the heavens, and there was no light.
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24 I looked at the mountains and hills,
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and they trembled and shook.
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25 I looked, and all the people were gone.
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All the birds of the sky had flown away.
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26 I looked, and the fertile fields had become a wilderness.
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The towns lay in ruins,
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crushed by the Lord’s fierce anger.
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27 This is what the Lord says:
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“The whole land will be ruined,
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but I will not destroy it completely.
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28 The earth will mourn
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and the heavens will be draped in black
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because of my decree against my people.
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I have made up my mind and will not change it.”
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29 At the noise of charioteers and archers,
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the people flee in terror.
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They hide in the bushes
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and run for the mountains.
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All the towns have been abandoned—
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not a person remains!
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30 What are you doing,
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you who have been plundered?
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Why do you dress up in beautiful clothing
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and put on gold jewelry?
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Why do you brighten your eyes with mascara?
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Your primping will do you no good!
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The allies who were your lovers
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despise you and seek to kill you.
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31 I hear a cry, like that of a woman in labor,
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the groans of a woman giving birth to her first child.
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It is beautiful Jerusalem
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gasping for breath and crying out,
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“Help! I’m being murdered!” |