| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New International Version |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1"Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city. |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2Although they say, 'As surely as the LORD lives,' still they are swearing falsely." |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3LORD, do not your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain; you crushed them, but they refused correction. They made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent. |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4I thought, "These are only the poor; they are foolish, for they do not know the way of the LORD, the requirements of their God. |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5So I will go to the leaders and speak to them; surely they know the way of the LORD, the requirements of their God." But with one accord they too had broken off the yoke and torn off the bonds. |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6Therefore a lion from the forest will attack them, a wolf from the desert will ravage them, a leopard will lie in wait near their towns to tear to pieces any who venture out, for their rebellion is great and their backslidings many. |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7"Why should I forgive you? Your children have forsaken me and sworn by gods that are not gods. I supplied all their needs, yet they committed adultery and thronged to the houses of prostitutes. |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8They are well-fed, lusty stallions, each neighing for another man's wife. |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9Should I not punish them for this?" declares the LORD. "Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this? |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10"Go through her vineyards and ravage them, but do not destroy them completely. Strip off her branches, for these people do not belong to the LORD. |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11The people of Israel and the people of Judah have been utterly unfaithful to me," declares the LORD. |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12They have lied about the LORD; they said, "He will do nothing! No harm will come to us; we will never see sword or famine. |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13The prophets are but wind and the word is not in them; so let what they say be done to them." |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14Therefore this is what the LORD God Almighty says: "Because the people have spoken these words, I will make my words in your mouth a fire and these people the wood it consumes. |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15People of Israel," declares the LORD, "I am bringing a distant nation against you-- an ancient and enduring nation, a people whose language you do not know, whose speech you do not understand. |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16Their quivers are like an open grave; all of them are mighty warriors. |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17They will devour your harvests and food, devour your sons and daughters; they will devour your flocks and herds, devour your vines and fig trees. With the sword they will destroy the fortified cities in which you trust. |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18"Yet even in those days," declares the LORD, "I will not destroy you completely. |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19And when the people ask, 'Why has the LORD our God done all this to us?' you will tell them, 'As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your own land, so now you will serve foreigners in a land not your own.' |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20"Announce this to the descendants of Jacob and proclaim it in Judah: |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear: |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22Should you not fear me?" declares the LORD. "Should you not tremble in my presence? I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross. The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it. |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts; they have turned aside and gone away. |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24They do not say to themselves, 'Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives autumn and spring rains in season, who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.' |
| 25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25Your wrongdoings have kept these away; your sins have deprived you of good. |
| 26[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 26"Among my people are the wicked who lie in wait like men who snare birds and like those who set traps to catch people. |
| 27[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 27Like cages full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; they have become rich and powerful |
| 28[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 28and have grown fat and sleek. Their evil deeds have no limit; they do not seek justice. They do not promote the case of the fatherless; they do not defend the just cause of the poor. |
| 29[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 29Should I not punish them for this?" declares the LORD. "Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this? |
| 30[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 30"A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: |
| 31[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 31The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end? |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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