119 lines
3.6 KiB
Markdown
119 lines
3.6 KiB
Markdown
Seek the LORD and Live
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# Chapter 5
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1. Hear this word that I take up over you in lamentation, O house of Israel:
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2. "Fallen, no more to rise,
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is the virgin Israel;
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forsaken on her land,
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with none to raise her up."
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3. For thus
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says the Lord God:
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"The city that went out a thousand
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shall have a hundred left,
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and that which went out a hundred
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shall have ten left
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to the house of Israel."
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4. For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel:
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"Seek me and live;
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5. but do not seek Bethel,
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and do not enter into Gilgal
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or cross over to Beersheba;
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for Gilgal shall surely go into exile,
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and Bethel shall come to nothing."
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6. Seek the LORD and live,
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lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph,
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and it devour, with none to quench it for Bethel,
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7. O you who turn justice to wormwood
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and cast down righteousness to the earth!
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8. He who made the Pleiades and Orion,
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and turns deep darkness into the morning
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and darkens the day into night,
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who calls for the waters of the sea
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and pours them out on the surface of the earth,
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the LORD is his name;
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9. who makes destruction flash forth against the strong,
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so that destruction comes upon the fortress.
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10. They hate him who reproves in the gate,
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and they abhor him who speaks the truth.
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11. Therefore because you trample on the poor
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and you exact taxes of grain from him,
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you have built houses of hewn stone,
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but you shall not dwell in them;
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you have planted pleasant vineyards,
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but you shall not drink their wine.
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12. For I know how many are your transgressions
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and how great are your sins--
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you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe,
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and turn aside the needy in the gate.
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13. Therefore he who is prudent will keep silent in such a time,
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for it is an evil time.
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14. Seek good, and not evil,
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that you may live;
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and so the LORD, the God of hosts, will be with you,
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as you have said.
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15. Hate evil, and love good,
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and establish justice in the gate;
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it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts,
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will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.
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16. Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the Lord:
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"In all the squares there shall be wailing,
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and in all the streets they shall say, 'Alas! Alas!'
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They shall call the farmers to mourning
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and to wailing those who are skilled in lamentation,
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17. and in all vineyards there shall be wailing,
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for I will pass through your midst,"
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says the LORD.
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Let Justice Roll Down
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18. Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD!
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Why would you have the day of the LORD?
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It is darkness, and not light,
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19. as if a man fled from a lion,
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and a bear met him,
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or went into the house and leaned his hand against the wall,
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and a serpent bit him.
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20. Is not the day of the LORD darkness, and not light,
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and gloom with no brightness in it?
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21. "I hate, I despise your feasts,
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and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
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22. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
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I will not accept them;
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and the peace offerings of your fattened animals,
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I will not look upon them.
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23. Take away from me the noise of your songs;
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to the melody of your harps I will not listen.
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24. But let justice roll down like waters,
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and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
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25. "Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
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26. You shall take up Sikkuth your king, and Kiyyun your star-god--your images that you made for yourselves,
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27. and I will send you into exile beyond Damascus," says the LORD, whose name is the God of hosts.
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