CHAPTER 5
Go up and down
the streets
of Jerusalem.
Look
now
and take note;
search
her squares.
If
you can find
a single person,
anyone who acts
justly,
anyone who seeks
the truth,
then I will forgive the city.
O LORD,
do not
Your eyes look
for truth?
You struck them,
but they felt no
pain.
You finished them off,
but they refused
to accept
discipline.
They have made their faces
harder
than stone
and refused
to repent.
Then I
said,
“They
are only
the poor;
they have played the fool,
for
they do not
know
the way
of the LORD,
the justice
of their God.
I will go
to
the powerful
and speak
to them.
Surely
they
know
the way
of the LORD,
the justice
of their God.
But
they too,
with one accord,
had broken
the yoke
and torn off
the chains.
Therefore
a lion
from the forest
will strike them down,
a wolf
from the desert
will ravage them.
A leopard
will lie in wait
near
their cities,
and everyone
who ventures out
will be torn to pieces.
For
their rebellious acts
are many,
and their unfaithful deeds
are numerous.
“Why
should I forgive you?
Your children
have forsaken Me
and sworn
by gods that are not
gods.
I satisfied
their needs,
yet they committed adultery
and assembled
at the houses
of prostitutes.
Should I not
punish
them for
these things?”
declares
the LORD.
“Should I not
avenge
Myself
on such a nation
as this?
Go up
through her vineyards
and ravage them,
but do not
finish them off.
Strip off
her branches,
for
they
do not
belong to the LORD.
For
the house
of Israel
and the house
of Judah
have been utterly unfaithful
to Me,”
declares
the LORD.
They have lied
about the LORD
and said,
“He
will not do anything;
harm
will not
come
to us;
we will not
see
sword
or famine.
The prophets
are
but wind,
for the LORD’s word
is not in them.
So let their own words
be done
to
them.”
Therefore
this is what
the Lord
GOD
of Hosts
says:
“Because
you have spoken
this
word,
I will make
My words
a fire
in your mouth
and this
people
the wood
it will consume.
Behold,
I am bringing
a distant
nation
against you,
O house
of Israel,”
declares
the LORD.
“It
is an established
nation,
an ancient
nation,
a nation
whose language
you do not
know
and whose speech
you do not
understand.
They will devour
your harvest
and food;
they will consume
your sons
and daughters;
they will eat up
your flocks
and herds;
they will feed on
your vines
and fig trees.
With the sword
they will destroy
the fortified
cities
in which
you
trust.
And
when
the people ask,
‘For
what
offense has the LORD
our God
done
all
these things to us?’
You are to tell
them,
‘Just as
you have forsaken
Me
and served
foreign
gods
in your land,
so
will you serve
foreigners
in a land
that is not your own.’
Hear
this,
O foolish
and senseless
people,
who have eyes
but do not
see,
who have ears
but do not
hear.
Do you not
fear Me?
declares
the LORD.
Do you not
tremble
before Me,
the One who
set
the sand
as the boundary
of the sea,
an enduring
barrier
it cannot
cross?
The waves
surge,
but they cannot
prevail.
They roar
but cannot
cross it.
They have not
said
in their hearts,
‘Let us fear
the LORD
our God,
who gives
the rains,
both autumn
and spring,
in season,
who keeps
for us
the appointed
weeks
of harvest.’
For
My people
are among
wicked men.
They watch
like fowlers
lying in wait;
they set
a trap;
they catch
men.
Like cages
full of
birds,
so
their houses
are full of
deceit.
Therefore
they have become powerful
and rich.
They have grown fat
and sleek,
and
have excelled
in evil
matters.
They have not
taken up the cause
of the fatherless,
so they might prosper,
nor have they
defended
the rights
of the needy.
Should I not
punish
them for
these things?
declares
the LORD.
Should I not
avenge
Myself
on such a nation
as this?
The prophets
prophesy
falsely,
and the priests
rule
by
their own authority.
My people
love
it so,
but what
will you do
in the end?”