78 lines
2.9 KiB
Markdown
78 lines
2.9 KiB
Markdown
# Chapter 3
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1 The Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
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will take away from Jerusalem and Judah
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everything they depend on:
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every bit of bread
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and every drop of water,
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2 all their heroes and soldiers,
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judges and prophets,
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fortune-tellers and elders,
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3 army officers and high officials,
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advisers, skilled sorcerers, and astrologers.
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4 I will make boys their leaders,
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and toddlers their rulers.
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5 People will oppress each other—
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man against man,
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neighbor against neighbor.
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Young people will insult their elders,
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and vulgar people will sneer at the honorable.
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6 In those days a man will say to his brother,
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“Since you have a coat, you be our leader!
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Take charge of this heap of ruins!”
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7 But he will reply,
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“No! I can’t help.
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I don’t have any extra food or clothes.
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Don’t put me in charge!”
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8 For Jerusalem will stumble,
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and Judah will fall,
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because they speak out against the Lord and refuse to obey him.
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They provoke him to his face.
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9 The very look on their faces gives them away.
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They display their sin like the people of Sodom
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and don’t even try to hide it.
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They are doomed!
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They have brought destruction upon themselves.
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10 Tell the godly that all will be well for them.
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They will enjoy the rich reward they have earned!
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11 But the wicked are doomed,
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for they will get exactly what they deserve.
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12 Childish leaders oppress my people,
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and women rule over them.
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O my people, your leaders mislead you;
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they send you down the wrong road.
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13 The Lord takes his place in court
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and presents his case against his people.
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14 The Lord comes forward to pronounce judgment
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on the elders and rulers of his people:
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“You have ruined Israel, my vineyard.
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Your houses are filled with things stolen from the poor.
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15 How dare you crush my people,
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grinding the faces of the poor into the dust?”
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demands the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
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16 The Lord says, “Beautiful Zion is haughty:
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craning her elegant neck,
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flirting with her eyes,
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walking with dainty steps,
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tinkling her ankle bracelets.
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17 So the Lord will send scabs on her head;
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the Lord will make beautiful Zion bald.”
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18 On that day of judgment
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the Lord will strip away everything that makes her beautiful:
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ornaments, headbands, crescent necklaces,
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19 earrings, bracelets, and veils;
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20 scarves, ankle bracelets, sashes,
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perfumes, and charms;
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21 rings, jewels,
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22 party clothes, gowns, capes, and purses;
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23 mirrors, fine linen garments,
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head ornaments, and shawls.
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24 Instead of smelling of sweet perfume, she will stink.
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She will wear a rope for a sash,
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and her elegant hair will fall out.
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She will wear rough burlap instead of rich robes.
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Shame will replace her beauty.
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25 The men of the city will be killed with the sword,
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and her warriors will die in battle.
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26 The gates of Zion will weep and mourn.
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The city will be like a ravaged woman,
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huddled on the ground. |