Contemporary English Version Israel Is DoomedThe Lord said:1When your leaders+ spoke, everyone in Israel trembled and showed great respect. But you sinned by worshiping Baal, and you were destroyed. 2Now you continue to sin by designing and making idols of silver in the shape of calves. You are told to sacrifice to these idols+ — yes, even to kiss them. 3And so, all of you will vanish like the mist or the dew of early morning, or husks of grain in the wind or smoke from a chimney. 4I, the Lord, have been your God since the time you were in Egypt. I am the only God you know, the only one who can save. in a thirsty desert.+ 6I fed you till you were satisfied, then you became proud and forgot about me. 7Now I will attack like a lion, ambush you like a leopard, 8and rip you apart like a bear robbed of her cubs. I will gnaw on your bones, as though I were a lion or some other wild animal. 9Israel, you are done for. Don't expect help from me.+ 10 You wanted a king and rulers. Where is your king now? What cities have rulers? 11 In my anger, I gave you a king; in my fury, I took him away. Israel's Terrible FateThe Lord said:12Israel, your terrible sins are written down and stored away. 13You are like a senseless child who refuses to be born at the proper time. 14 Should I, the Lord, rescue you from death and the grave? No! I call death and the grave to strike you like a plague. I refuse to show mercy. 15No matter if you prosper more than the other tribes,+ I, the Lord, will wipe you out, just as a scorching desert wind dries up streams of water. I will take away your precious treasures. 16Samaria+ will be punished for turning against me. It will be destroyed in war— children will be beaten against rocks, and pregnant women will be ripped open. Footnotes: Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®) © 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved. Bible text from the Contemporary English Version 2nd Edition (CEV®) is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by American Bible Society, 101 North Independence Mall East, Floor 8, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2155 (www.americanbible.org). Learn more at www.cev.bible. Discover .BIBLE resources for your ministry at www.get.bible/cev Bible Hub |