Idolatrous Elders Condemned
(Romans 14:13–23; 1 Corinthians 8:1–13)

1  וַיָּב֤וֹא (And there came) אֵלַי֙ (to me) אֲנָשִׁ֔ים (some men) מִזִּקְנֵ֖י (from the elders) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel) וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ (and they sat) לְפָנָֽי׃פ (before me). 2  וַיְהִ֥י (And came) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֵלַ֥י (to me) לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 3  בֶּן־ (Son) אָדָ֗ם (of man), הָאֲנָשִׁ֤ים (the men) הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ (these) הֶעֱל֤וּ (have set up) גִלּֽוּלֵיהֶם֙ (their idols) עַל־ (upon) לִבָּ֔ם (their hearts), וּמִכְשׁ֣וֹל (and a stumbling block) עֲוֺנָ֔ם (for their iniquity) נָתְנ֖וּ (they have put) נֹ֣כַח (before) פְּנֵיהֶ֑ם (their faces); הַאִדָּרֹ֥שׁ (seeking) אִדָּרֵ֖שׁ (can I be sought out) לָהֶֽם׃ס (by them).

4  לָכֵ֣ן (Therefore) דַּבֵּר־ (you must speak) א֠וֹתָם (to them) וְאָמַרְתָּ֨ (and say) אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם (to them) כֹּה־ (thus) אָמַ֣ר׀ (says) אֲדֹנָ֣י (the Lord) יְהוִ֗ה (YHWH); אִ֣ישׁ (A man) אִ֣ישׁ (man) מִבֵּ֣ית (of the house) יִשְׂרָאֵ֡ל (of Israel) אֲשֶׁר֩ (who) יַעֲלֶ֨ה (sets up) אֶת־ (-) גִּלּוּלָ֜יו (his idols) אֶל־ (in) לִבּ֗וֹ (his heart), וּמִכְשׁ֤וֹל (and a stumbling block for) עֲוֺנוֹ֙ (his iniquity) יָשִׂים֙ (puts) נֹ֣כַח (before) פָּנָ֔יו (his face), וּבָ֖א (and comes) אֶל־ (to) הַנָּבִ֑יא (the prophet); אֲנִ֣י (I) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH) נַעֲנֵ֧יתִי (will give answer) ל֦וֹ (to him) בָהּ (in this) בְּרֹ֥ב (according to the abundance) גִּלּוּלָֽיו׃ (of his idolatry); 5  לְמַ֛עַן (so as) תְּפֹ֥שׂ (to capture) אֶת־ (-) בֵּֽית־ (the house) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) בְּלִבָּ֑ם (by their heart), אֲשֶׁ֤ר (in that) נָזֹ֙רוּ֙ (they are estranged) מֵֽעָלַ֔י (from Me) בְּגִלּֽוּלֵיהֶ֖ם (by their idols) כֻּלָּֽם׃ס (all).

6  לָכֵ֞ן (Therefore) אֱמֹ֣ר׀ (you will say) אֶל־ (to) בֵּ֣ית (the house) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (of Israel), כֹּ֤ה (thus) אָמַר֙ (says) אֲדֹנָ֣י (the Lord) יְהוִ֔ה (YHWH); שׁ֣וּבוּ (Turn back), וְהָשִׁ֔יבוּ (and turn away) מֵעַ֖ל (from) גִּלּֽוּלֵיכֶ֑ם (your⁺ idols), וּמֵעַ֥ל (and from) כָּל־ (all) תּוֹעֲבֹתֵיכֶ֖ם (your⁺ abominations) הָשִׁ֥יבוּ (turn back) פְנֵיכֶֽם׃ (your⁺ faces). 7  כִּי֩ (For) אִ֨ישׁ (a man) אִ֜ישׁ (man) מִבֵּ֣ית (of the house) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (of Israel), וּמֵהַגֵּר֮ (or from the foreigners) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) יָג֣וּר (dwell) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל֒ (in Israel), וְיִנָּזֵ֣ר (and who separates himself) מֵֽאַחֲרַ֗י (from Me) וְיַ֤עַל (and sets up) גִּלּוּלָיו֙ (his idols) אֶל־ (in) לִבּ֔וֹ (his heart), וּמִכְשׁ֣וֹל (a stumbling block) עֲוֺנ֔וֹ (for his iniquity) יָשִׂ֖ים (puts) נֹ֣כַח (before) פָּנָ֑יו (his face), וּבָ֤א (and who comes) אֶל־ (to) הַנָּבִיא֙ (a prophet) לִדְרָשׁ־ (to inquire) ל֣וֹ (of him) בִ֔י (concerning Me) אֲנִ֣י (I) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) נַֽעֲנֶה־ (will give answer) לּ֖וֹ (to him) בִּֽי׃ (Myself). 8  וְנָתַתִּ֨י (And I will set) פָנַ֜י (My face) בָּאִ֣ישׁ (against the man), הַה֗וּא (that) וַהֲשִֽׂמֹתִ֙יהוּ֙ (and I will set him) לְא֣וֹת (as a sign) וְלִמְשָׁלִ֔ים (and a proverb), וְהִכְרַתִּ֖יו (and I will cut him off) מִתּ֣וֹךְ (from the midst) עַמִּ֑י (of My people); וִֽידַעְתֶּ֖ם (and you⁺ will know) כִּֽי־ (that) אֲנִ֥י (I am) יְהוָֽה׃ס (YHWH).

9  וְהַנָּבִ֤יא (And a prophet) כִֽי־ (if) יְפֻתֶּה֙ (he is led astray) וְדִבֶּ֣ר (and has spoken) דָּבָ֔ר (a word), אֲנִ֤י (I) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) פִּתֵּ֔יתִי (have enticed) אֵ֖ת (-) הַנָּבִ֣יא (the prophet), הַה֑וּא (that) וְנָטִ֤יתִי (and I will stretch out) אֶת־ (-) יָדִי֙ (My hand) עָלָ֔יו (against him) וְהִ֨שְׁמַדְתִּ֔יו (and I will destroy him) מִתּ֖וֹךְ (from the midst) עַמִּ֥י (of My people) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (Israel). 10  וְנָשְׂא֖וּ (And they will bear) עֲוֺנָ֑ם (their guilt); כַּֽעֲוֺן֙ (as the guilt) הַדֹּרֵ֔שׁ (of the one inquiring) כַּעֲוֺ֥ן (the guilt) הַנָּבִ֖יא (of the prophet) יִֽהְיֶֽה׃ (will be). 11  לְ֠מַעַן (So that) לֹֽא־ (not) יִתְע֨וּ (will they lead astray) ע֤וֹד (any longer) בֵּֽית־ (the house) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel) מֵאַֽחֲרַ֔י (from Me) וְלֹֽא־ (and not) יִטַּמְּא֥וּ (they will profane themselves) ע֖וֹד (anymore) בְּכָל־ (with all) פִּשְׁעֵיהֶ֑ם (their transgressions); וְהָ֥יוּ (and they will be) לִ֣י (My) לְעָ֗ם (people), וַֽאֲנִי֙ (and I) אֶהְיֶ֤ה (will be) לָהֶם֙ (their) לֵֽאלֹהִ֔ים (God), נְאֻ֖ם (a declaration) אֲדֹנָ֥י (of the Lord) יְהוִֽה׃פ (YHWH).

Four Dire Judgments

12  וַיְהִ֥י (And came) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֵלַ֥י (to me) לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 13  בֶּן־ (Son) אָדָ֗ם (of man), אֶ֚רֶץ (a land) כִּ֤י (when) תֶחֱטָא־ (it sins) לִי֙ (against Me) לִמְעָל־ (to act unfaithfully) מַ֔עַל (an unfaithfulness), וְנָטִ֤יתִי (and I stretch out) יָדִי֙ (My hand) עָלֶ֔יהָ (against it) וְשָׁבַ֥רְתִּי (and cut off) לָ֖הּ (for it) מַטֵּה־ (the staff) לָ֑חֶם (of bread) וְהִשְׁלַחְתִּי־ (and I send) בָ֣הּ (on it) רָעָ֔ב (famine) וְהִכְרַתִּ֥י (and I cut off) מִמֶּ֖נָּה (from it) אָדָ֥ם (man) וּבְהֵמָֽה׃ (and beast). 14  וְ֠הָיוּ (And even if were) שְׁלֹ֨שֶׁת (three) הָאֲנָשִׁ֤ים (men) הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ (even if these) בְּתוֹכָ֔הּ (in its midst) נֹ֖חַ (Noah), דָּנִאֵל (Daniel), וְאִיּ֑וֹב (and Job), הֵ֤מָּה (they) בְצִדְקָתָם֙ (by their righteousness), יְנַצְּל֣וּ (would deliver) נַפְשָׁ֔ם (only their own soul) נְאֻ֖ם (a declaration) אֲדֹנָ֥י (of the Lord) יְהוִֽה׃ (YHWH).

15  לֽוּ־ (Or if) חַיָּ֥ה (a beast) רָעָ֛ה (wild) אַעֲבִ֥יר (I cause to pass) בָּאָ֖רֶץ (through the land), וְשִׁכְּלָ֑תָּה (and it leaves it bereft) וְהָיְתָ֤ה (and it becomes) שְׁמָמָה֙ (a desolation), מִבְּלִ֣י (with no one) עוֹבֵ֔ר (passing through) מִפְּנֵ֖י (before the face) הַחַיָּֽה׃ (of the beast); 16  שְׁלֹ֨שֶׁת (even if the three) הָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים (men) הָאֵלֶּה֮ (these) בְּתוֹכָהּ֒ (were in its midst) חַי־ (as live), אָ֗נִי (I) נְאֻם֙ (a declaration) אֲדֹנָ֣י (of the Lord) יְהוִ֔ה (YHWH), אִם־ (neither) בָּנִ֥ים (the sons) וְאִם־ (or) בָּנ֖וֹת (daughters); יַצִּ֑ילוּ (they could deliver) הֵ֤מָּה (they) לְבַדָּם֙ (alone) יִנָּצֵ֔לוּ (would be delivered), וְהָאָ֖רֶץ (and the land) תִּהְיֶ֥ה (would become) שְׁמָמָֽה׃ (a desolation).

17  א֛וֹ (Or if) חֶ֥רֶב (the sword) אָבִ֖יא (I should bring) עַל־ (against) הָאָ֣רֶץ (land), הַהִ֑יא (that) וְאָמַרְתִּ֗י (and say), חֶ֚רֶב (Sword), תַּעֲבֹ֣ר (pass) בָּאָ֔רֶץ (through the land); וְהִכְרַתִּ֥י (and I cut off) מִמֶּ֖נָּה (from it) אָדָ֥ם (man) וּבְהֵמָֽה׃ (and beast). 18  וּשְׁלֹ֨שֶׁת (And if the three) הָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים (men) הָאֵלֶּה֮ (even if these) בְּתוֹכָהּ֒ (were in the midst of it) חַי־ (as live), אָ֗נִי (I) נְאֻם֙ (a declaration) אֲדֹנָ֣י (of the Lord) יְהוִ֔ה (YHWH), לֹ֥א (not) יַצִּ֖ילוּ (could they deliver) בָּנִ֣ים (the sons) וּבָנ֑וֹת (and daughters), כִּ֛י (but) הֵ֥ם (they) לְבַדָּ֖ם (themselves alone) יִנָּצֵֽלוּ׃ (would be delivered).

19  א֛וֹ (Or if) דֶּ֥בֶר (a pestilence) אֲשַׁלַּ֖ח (I should send) אֶל־ (into) הָאָ֣רֶץ (the land), הַהִ֑יא (that) וְשָׁפַכְתִּ֨י (and pour out) חֲמָתִ֤י (My fury) עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ (on it) בְּדָ֔ם (in blood), לְהַכְרִ֥ית (and cut off) מִמֶּ֖נָּה (from it) אָדָ֥ם (man) וּבְהֵמָֽה׃ (and beast); 20  וְנֹ֨חַ (even if Noah), דָּנִאֵל (Daniel), וְאִיּוֹב֮ (and Job), בְּתוֹכָהּ֒ (were in the midst of it) חַי־ (as live), אָ֗נִי (I) נְאֻם֙ (a declaration) אֲדֹנָ֣י (of the Lord) יְהוִ֔ה (YHWH), אִם־ (neither) בֵּ֥ן (the son) אִם־ (or) בַּ֖ת (daughter); יַצִּ֑ילוּ (they could deliver) הֵ֥מָּה (they) בְצִדְקָתָ֖ם (by their righteousness). יַצִּ֥ילוּ (Would deliver) נַפְשָֽׁם׃פ (only their own soul).

21  כִּי֩ (For) כֹ֨ה (thus) אָמַ֜ר (says) אֲדֹנָ֣י (the Lord) יְהֹוִ֗ה (YHWH); אַ֣ף (How much more) כִּֽי־ (when) אַרְבַּ֣עַת (these four) שְׁפָטַ֣י׀ (of My judgments) הָרָעִ֡ים (severe) חֶ֠רֶב (the sword), וְרָעָ֞ב (and famine), וְחַיָּ֤ה (and the beast), רָעָה֙ (wild) וָדֶ֔בֶר (and the pestilence), שִׁלַּ֖חְתִּי (I send) אֶל־ (against) יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (Jerusalem), לְהַכְרִ֥ית (to cut off) מִמֶּ֖נָּה (from it) אָדָ֥ם (man) וּבְהֵמָֽה׃ (and beast)?

22  וְהִנֵּ֨ה (And behold), נֽוֹתְרָה־ (there will be left) בָּ֜הּ (in it) פְּלֵטָ֗ה (a remnant) הַֽמּוּצָאִים֮ (those being brought out), בָּנִ֣ים (sons) וּבָנוֹת֒ (and daughters). הִנָּם֙ (Behold, they) יוֹצְאִ֣ים (will be coming out) אֲלֵיכֶ֔ם (to you⁺) וּרְאִיתֶ֥ם (and you⁺ will see) אֶת־ (-) דַּרְכָּ֖ם (their ways) וְאֶת־ (and) עֲלִֽילוֹתָ֑ם (their deeds); וְנִחַמְתֶּ֗ם (and you⁺ will be comforted) עַל־ (concerning) הָֽרָעָה֙ (the disaster) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (that) הֵבֵ֙אתִי֙ (I have brought) עַל־ (upon) יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (Jerusalem), אֵ֛ת (-) כָּל־ (all) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) הֵבֵ֖אתִי (I have brought) עָלֶֽיהָ׃ (upon it). 23  וְנִחֲמ֣וּ (And they will comfort) אֶתְכֶ֔ם (you⁺) כִּֽי־ (when) תִרְא֥וּ (you⁺ see) אֶת־ (-) דַּרְכָּ֖ם (their ways) וְאֶת־ (and) עֲלִֽילוֹתָ֑ם (their deeds), וִֽידַעְתֶּ֗ם (and you⁺ will know) כִּי֩ (that) לֹ֨א (not) חִנָּ֤ם (without cause) עָשִׂ֙יתִי֙ (have I done) אֵ֣ת (-) כָּל־ (all) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) עָשִׂ֣יתִי (I have done) בָ֔הּ (in it) נְאֻ֖ם (a declaration) אֲדֹנָ֥י (of the Lord) יְהֹוִֽה׃פ (YHWH).