# verses

text:
Then he will be a ·place of safety for you [sanctuary; holy place; or snare]. ·But [or And] for the two ·families [houses] of Israel [Israel and Judah], he will be like a stone that causes people to stumble, like a rock that makes them fall [; ]. He will be like a trap for the ·people [inhabitants] of Jerusalem, and he will catch them in his ·trap [snare].


text:
Many people will ·fall over this rock [stumble over them]. They will fall and be broken; they will be ·trapped [snared] and caught.”


text:
·Make an agreement [or Preserve this prophecy; Bind up this testimony]. Seal up the teaching ·while my followers are watching [or and entrust it to my followers/disciples; among my followers/disciples].


text:
I will ·wait for [patiently trust] the Lord [for his help], the Lord who is ·ashamed of [hiding his face from] the ·family of Israel [house of Jacob]. I will ·wait for [hope in; trust in] him.


text:
·I am here, and with me are [Look/Behold, I and] the children the Lord has given me. We are signs and ·proofs [symbols; warnings; omens] for the people of Israel from the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts], who ·lives [dwells] on Mount Zion.


text:
Some people say, “Ask the mediums and ·fortune-tellers [necromancers; spiritists], who ·whisper [or chirp] and mutter [using incantations to call up spirits; ], what to do.” ·But I tell you that people should ask their God for help. Why should people who are still alive ask something from the dead? [or “Should not a nation consult their gods, asking the dead on behalf of the living?”; in this interpretation the quotation continues to the end of the verse].


text:
·You should follow the teachings and the agreement with the Lord [(Look) to the law/instruction and to the testimony]. ·The mediums and fortune-tellers do not [Those who do not; or If they do not] speak ·the word of the Lord [according to this word], ·so their words are worth nothing [or they are spiritually blinded; they have no dawn].


text:
·People will wander through the land [They will pass through] ·troubled [or destitute] and hungry. When they become hungry, they will become angry and will look up and curse their king and their God.


text:
They will look around them at their land and see only ·trouble [distress], darkness, and awful gloom. And they will be forced into the darkness.


text:
A New Day Is Coming ·But suddenly [or Nevertheless] there will be no more gloom for ·the land that suffered [or those who suffered/were distressed]. In the ·past [former time] God made the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali [two northern tribes that bore the brunt of the Assyrian invasion] ·hang their heads in shame [humbled; humiliated], but ·in the future [later; afterwards] he ·will bring honor to [will glorify; has honored/glorified; the prophet sees the future as already fulfilled] the ·road along the Mediterranean Sea [Way of the Sea], the land beyond the Jordan River [probably Gilead in Transjordan], Galilee of the ·nations [Gentiles; called this because it was overrun by foreigners]. [Assyria created provinces from these three regions; though devastated in the invasion, they would be the first to see God’s salvation; .]


text:
The people who ·lived [or are living/walking] in darkness, ·have seen [or will see] a great light. On those who ·lived [are living/dwelling] in ·a dark land [or the shadow of death], a light ·has shined [or will shine].


text:
God, you have caused the nation to ·grow [expand; enlarge] and ·made the people happy [increased their joy]. And they have ·shown their happiness to [rejoiced before] you, like the joy during harvest time, like the joy of people ·taking what they have won in war [dividing the spoil/plunder].


text:
Like the time you defeated Midian [], you have ·taken away [broken; shattered] their ·heavy load [yoke of burden] and the heavy ·pole [bar; staff] from their ·backs [or shoulders] and the rod ·the enemy used to punish them [of the oppressor].


text:
Every boot ·that marched in battle [marching with shaking] and every ·uniform [garment] ·stained with [rolled in] blood ·has been thrown into [or will be used as fuel for] the fire.


text:
A child ·has been [or will be; the prophet views the future as though it had already happened] born to us; ·God has given a son [a son has been given] to us. ·He will be responsible for leading the people [The government/rule/dominion will be on his shoulder]. His name will be ·Wonderful Counselor [or Wonderful! Counselor!; or Extraordinary Advisor], ·Powerful [Mighty] God, ·Father Who Lives Forever [Eternal Father], Prince of Peace.


text:
There will be no end to the ·growth [abundance; increase] of his ·rule [dominion; government], nor to the peace he will bring. He will rule as king on David’s throne and over David’s kingdom []. He will ·make it strong [establish and sustain it] by ruling with justice and ·goodness [righteousness] from now on and forever. ·The Lord All-Powerful will do this because of his strong love for his people [The zeal/jealousy of the Lord Almighty/of Heaven’s Armies/of hosts will accomplish this].


text:
God Will Punish Israel The Lord sent a message against ·the people of Jacob [Jacob]; it ·says that God will judge [will fall on] Israel.


text:
Then everyone in Israel, even ·the leaders [Ephraim and those living] in Samaria, will know that God has sent it. Those people are proud and ·brag [arrogant of heart] by saying,


text:
“These bricks have fallen, but we will build again with ·cut [hewn; dressed] stones. These ·small trees [fig trees; or sycamores] have been chopped down, but we will put great cedars there.”


text:
But the Lord has brought the enemies of Rezin against them; he has ·stirred up [raised up; provoked] their enemies against them.


text:
The Arameans [Syrians] came from the east and the Philistines from the west, and they ·ate up [devoured] Israel with ·their armies [or one bite; the whole mouth]. But the Lord was still angry; his hand was still ·raised to punish the people [outstretched].


text:
But the people did not return to the one who had struck them; they did not follow the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts].


text:
The elders and ·important [respected; honored] men were the head, and the prophets who speak lies were the tail.


text:
Those who led the people led them ·in the wrong direction [astray], and those who followed them were ·destroyed [swallowed up; or confused].


text:
So the Lord ·is not happy with [or took no pity on] the young people, nor will he show ·mercy [compassion; pity] to the ·orphans [fatherless] and widows. All the people are ·separated from God [ungodly; defiled] and are very evil; they all speak ·lies [or foolishness; folly]. But the Lord is still angry; his hand is still ·raised to strike down the people [outstretched].


text:
·Evil [Wickedness] is like a small fire. First, it burns ·weeds [briers] and thorns. Next, it burns ·the larger bushes [thickets] in the forest, and they all go up in a column of smoke.


text:
The Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] is angry, so the land will be burned. The people are like fuel for the fire; no one will ·try to save [spare] his brother or sister.


text:
People will ·grab something [or slice (meat); or devour] on the right, but they will still be hungry. They will ·eat something [devour] on the left, but they will not be ·filled [satisfied]. Then they will each turn and eat their own ·children [or arm].


text:
The people of Manasseh will fight against the people of Ephraim, and Ephraim will fight against Manasseh [the two most prominent northern tribes; descendants of the two sons of Joseph, so brother fighting brother]. Then both of them will turn against Judah [the most prominent southern tribe]. But the Lord is still angry; his hand is still ·raised to strike down the people [outstretched].


text:
·How terrible it will be for [Woe to] those who make ·unfair [evil; unjust] ·laws [decrees], and those who ·write [or issue] ·laws that make life hard for people [oppressive regulations/edicts].


text:
They ·are not fair [withold justice] to the poor [, ; ], and they ·rob [deprive] my people of their rights. They ·allow people to steal from widows [make widows their plunder/prey; ] and ·to take from orphans what really belongs to them [plunder/loot the fatherless; ].


text:
·How will you explain the things you have done [What will you do on the day of accounting/visitation]? What will you do when your destruction comes from far away? ·Where [or To whom] will you run for help? Where will you ·hide your riches [or leave your wealth/glory] then?


text:
You will have to ·bow down [kneel; cower] among the captives or fall down among the ·dead bodies [slain ones]. But the Lord is still angry; his hand is still ·raised to strike down the people [outstretched].


text:
God Will Punish Assyria God says, “·How terrible it will be for the king of Assyria [Woe to Assyria]. ·I use him like a rod to show my anger […the rod of my anger]; in ·anger [my wrath/fury] I use Assyria like a club.


text:
I send ·it [or him; the king of Assyria] to fight against a godless nation [Judah; see ]. I ·command [order; dispatch] ·Assyria [it; or him] to fight against the people ·with whom I am angry [of my wrath]. to ·take their wealth from them [plunder the plunder and loot the loot], to trample them down like dirt in the streets.


text:
But Assyria’s king doesn’t ·understand that I am using him [intend to do this]; ·he [his heart] doesn’t ·know he is a tool for me [think/reason this way]. He only wants to destroy other people and to ·defeat [cut off] many nations.


text:
The city Calno is like the city Carchemish. The city Hamath is like the city Arpad. The city Samaria is like the city Damascus [all city-states conquered by Assyria].


text:
·I defeated [My hand has found/seized] those kingdoms that worship idols, and those ·idols [carved images] were ·more [greater] than the idols of Jerusalem and Samaria.


text:
As I ·defeated [have done to] Samaria and her idols, ·I will also defeat [shall I also do to…?] Jerusalem and her idols.’”


text:
When the Lord finishes doing what he planned to Mount Zion and Jerusalem, he will punish the king of Assyria for ·his proud heart and evil deeds [the fruit of his great/exalted heart and glory of his haughty/high eyes].


text:
The king of Assyria says this: “By ·my own power [the strength of my hand] I have done these things; by my wisdom ·and careful planning [because I have understanding] I have ·defeated many [removed the boundaries/borders of] nations. I have ·taken their wealth [plundered their treasures], and, like a ·mighty one [or bull], I have ·taken their people [or defeated their kings; removed the sitting ones; referring to those inhabiting the land or to kings on thrones].


text:
·I have taken [My hand has found] the riches of all these people, like a person reaching into a bird’s nest. I have ·taken [gathered] these nations, like a person ·taking [gathering abandoned] eggs. Not one ·raised a hand [flapped a wing] or opened its mouth to ·stop me [chirp].”


text:
·An ax is not better than [Does an ax exalt itself above…?] the person who swings it. ·A saw is not better than […or a saw over…?] the one who uses it. A ·stick [rod; or scepter] cannot control the person who picks it up. A club cannot pick up ·the person [one who is not wood; or as if it were not made of wood]!


text:
So the Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] will send ·a terrible disease [leanness; emaciation] upon Assyria’s ·soldiers [strong/stout/fat ones]. ·The strength of Assyria will be burned up [Under his glory a fire will be lit] like a fire burning.


text:
The Light of Israel [God], will be like a fire; the Holy One [] will be like a flame. He will be like a fire that ·suddenly [in one day] burns and ·consumes [devours] the weeds and thorns.


text:
The fire burns away the ·great [glorious] trees and rich farmlands, destroying everything. It will be like a sick person who wastes away.


text:
At that time the ·people left in [remnant of] Israel and the survivors of the ·family [house] of Jacob. will not continue to depend on the person who ·defeated [struck] them []. They will learn truly to depend on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel [].


text:
·Those who are left alive in Jacob’s family [A remnant will return, a remnant of Jacob; ] will ·again follow [return to] the powerful God.


text:
Israel, though your people are many, like the grains of sand by the sea [; ; ; ]. only a ·few [remnant] of them will ·be left alive to return to the Lord [return; ]. ·God has announced that he will destroy the land [Destruction has been decreed] ·completely and fairly [overflowing/overwhelming with righteousness/justice].


text:
The Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] will ·certainly [or fully] destroy this land, as he has ·announced [decreed].


text:
This is what the Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] says: “My people living in ·Jerusalem [Zion; ], don’t be afraid of the Assyrians, who beat you with a ·rod [staff; scepter] and raise a ·stick [staff; rod; club] against you, as Egypt did.


text:
After a short time my anger against you will stop, and then I will turn my anger to destroying them.”


text:
Then the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] will beat the Assyrians with a whip as he defeated Midian at the rock of Oreb []. He will raise his ·stick [staff; rod] over the waters as he did in Egypt [].


text:
·Then [In that day] ·the troubles that Assyria puts on you [their burden on your shoulders] will be removed, and the ·load they make you carry [yoke from your neck] will be ·taken away [destroyed because of the fat/oil; because of Israel’s new strength, or because of the Lord’s blessings, or because of an Anointed One].


text:
Assyria Invades Israel ·The army of Assyria [They] will enter near Aiath. Its soldiers will walk through Migron. They will store their ·food [supplies; equipment] in Micmash.


text:
The army will go over the pass. The soldiers will ·sleep [camp; lodge] at Geba. ·The people of Ramah will be afraid [Ramah trembles], ·and the people at Gibeah of Saul will run away [Gibeah of Saul flees; ].


text:
·The people of Madmenah are running away [Madmenah flees]; the people of Gebim ·are hiding [seek cover].


text:
This day the army will stop at Nob []. They will shake their fist at ·Mount Zion [the mount of Daughter Zion], at the hill of Jerusalem.


text:
Watch! The Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] with his ·great [terrifying] power will chop them down like a great tree. Those who are ·great [lofty] will be cut down; those who are ·important [or tallest] will ·fall to the ground [be brought low].


text:
He will cut them down as a forest is cut down with an ax. And ·the great trees of Lebanon [Lebanon] will fall ·by the power of [or before] the Mighty One.


text:
The King of Peace Is Coming A ·new branch [sprout; shoot; the Messiah] will grow from the stump of Jesse [king David’s father; the Messiah will restore David’s royal line]; a branch will ·come [sprout; or bear fruit] from his roots.


text:
The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon him [; ]. The Spirit will give him wisdom and understanding, ·guidance [counsel] and power. The Spirit ·will teach him to know [of knowledge] and ·respect [the fear of] the Lord.


text:
·This king will be glad to [He will gladly/with delight] ·obey [revere; fear] the Lord. He will not judge by ·the way things look [appearances; the vision of his eyes] or decide by ·what he hears [the hearing of his ears].


text:
But he will judge the poor ·honestly [with justice/righteousness]; he will be ·fair [upright; just; fair] in his decisions for the ·poor [oppressed; meek] people of the ·land [or earth]. ·At his command evil people will be punished [He will strike the earth with the rod/scepter of his mouth], and by ·his words the wicked will be put to death [the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked].


text:
·Goodness [Righteousness; Justice] will be like a belt around his waist, and ·fairness [faithfulness; integrity] like a belt around his ·hips [waist; loins].


text:
The wolf will ·live in peace [live; dwell] with the lamb, and the leopard will ·lie down to rest [lie down] with the young goat [peace within the animal kingdom symbolizes the restoration of creation; ]. Calves, lions, and ·young bulls [or fattened calves; fatling] will ·eat [or be] together, and a little child will lead them.


text:
Cows and bears will ·eat [graze] together in peace. Their young will lie down to rest together. Lions will eat ·hay [straw] as oxen do.


text:
A ·baby [nursing infant] will ·be able to play [play] near a cobra’s hole, and a child will ·be able to put [put] his hand into the nest of a ·poisonous snake [adder; viper].


text:
They will not hurt or destroy each other on all my holy mountain, because the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the ·sea is full of water [waters cover the sea].


text:
At that time the ·new king from the family [root; ] of Jesse will stand as a ·banner [standard; signal flag] for all ·peoples [nations]. The ·nations [Gentiles] will ·come together around [rally to; or seek guidance from] him, and ·the place where he lives [his resting place] will be filled with glory.


text:
·At that time [In that day] the Lord will ·again [again a second time; the first time was the Exodus from Egypt] ·reach out and take [reclaim/acquire with his hand the remnant of] his people who ·are left alive [remain] in Assyria, North Egypt, ·South Egypt [Pathros], Cush, Elam, ·Babylonia [Shinar], Hamath, and all the ·islands [or coastlands] of the sea.


text:
God will raise a ·banner as a sign [standard; signal flag] for all nations, and he will gather the ·people of Israel who were forced from their country [exiles/banished ones of Israel]. He will gather the scattered people of Judah from ·all parts [the four corners/edges] of the earth.


text:
At that time ·Israel [Ephraim; the most influential tribe of the northern kingdom of Israel] will not be jealous anymore, and ·Judah will have no more enemies [or Judah’s hostility will end]. ·Israel [Ephraim] will not be jealous of Judah, and Judah will not ·hate [harrass; be hostile towards] Israel.


text:
But Israel and Judah will ·attack [swoop down on the hills/or shoulders of] the Philistines on the west. Together they will ·take the riches from [plunder; loot] the ·people [sons] of the east. They will ·conquer [send their hand against] Edom and Moab, and the ·people [sons; children] of Ammon will be ·under their control [subject/obedient to them].


text:
The Lord will ·dry up [or utterly destroy] the ·Red Sea of Egypt [tongue/gulf of the Egyptian sea]. He will wave his ·arm [or hand] over the ·Euphrates River [River] ·and dry it up with a scorching wind [with a scorching wind/breath]. He will ·divide [strike; break] it into seven small rivers so that people can walk across them with their sandals on.


text:
So ·God’s people who are left alive [the remnant of his people who remain] will have a ·way to leave [highway from] Assyria, just like the time the Israelites came out of Egypt [a new and greater Exodus].


text:
A Song of Praise to God ·At that time [In that day] you will say: “I praise you, Lord! You were angry with me, but ·you are not angry with me now [your anger has turned away]! You have comforted me.


text:
[Look; Behold] God is ·the one who saves me [my salvation]; I will trust him and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord ·gives me [is my] strength and ·makes me sing [my song; or my defense/protection]. He has ·saved me [become salvation/deliverance/victory for me].”


text:
·At that time [In that day] you will say, “Praise the Lord and ·worship him [call on his name]. ·Tell everyone [Make known among the nations/peoples] what he has done and ·how great he is [announce that his name is exalted/lifted up].


text:
Sing praise to the Lord, because he has done ·great [glorious; majestic] things. Let all the world know what he has done.


text:
Shout and sing for joy, you people of ·Jerusalem [Zion; ], because the Holy One of Israel [] ·does great things before your eyes [is great among you].”


text:
God’s Message to Babylon God showed Isaiah son of Amoz this ·message [oracle; burden] about Babylon:


text:
Raise a ·flag [banner; signal flag] on the bare mountain. ·Call out [Shout] to them. ·Raise [Wave] your hand to signal them to enter through the gates ·for important people [of the nobles/princes].


text:
I myself have commanded those people ·whom I have separated as mine [or my holy/sanctified/chosen ones]. I have ·called [summoned] those warriors to carry out my anger. They rejoice ·and are glad to do my will [or in my triumph/exaltation].


text:
Listen to the loud ·noise [tumult] in the mountains, the sound of ·many people [a great crowd/army]. Listen to the ·noise [uproar; commotion] among the kingdoms, the sound of nations gathering together. The Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] is ·calling together [summoning; mustering] his army for battle.


text:
They are coming from a faraway land, from the ·edge of the horizon [or end of the heavens]. ·In anger the Lord is using this army like a weapon [The Lord and his weapons of wrath/indignation] to destroy the whole ·country [land; or earth].


text:
·People will be weak with fear [All hands will go limp/fail], and ·their courage [every human heart] will melt away.


text:
Everyone will be ·afraid [terrified; dismayed]. Pain and ·hurt [anguish] will ·grab [grip; seize] them; they will ·hurt [writhe in pain] like a woman giving birth. They will look at each other ·in fear [aghast; or in shock/amazement], with their faces ·red [aflame] like fire.


text:
God’s Judgment Against Babylon ·Look [Behold], the Lord’s day of judging is coming— a ·terrible [cruel] day, a day of ·God’s anger [wrath and rage of anger]. He will ·destroy [desolate] the ·land [or earth] and the sinners who live in it.


text:
[For] The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The sun will grow dark as it rises, and the moon will not give its light.


text:
The Lord says, “I will punish the world for its evil and wicked people for their sins. I will cause ·proud people [the arrogant] to lose their pride, and I will ·destroy [humble; lay low] the pride of ·those who are cruel to others [the ruthless/tyrants].


text:
People will be ·harder to find [scarcer] than pure gold; there will be fewer people than there is fine gold in Ophir [perhaps a region in southern Arabia].


text:
I will make the ·sky [or heavens] shake, and the earth will be ·moved [shaken] from its place by the ·anger [wrath; fury] of the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] ·at the time [in the day] of his burning anger.


text:
“Then the people from Babylon will run away like hunted ·deer [gazelle] or like sheep who have no shepherd. Everyone will turn back to his own people; each will run back to his own land.


text:
Everyone who is captured will be ·killed [stabbed; thrust through]; everyone who is caught will ·be killed with a [fall by the] sword.


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Their little children will be ·beaten to death [dashed to pieces] in front of them. Their houses will be ·robbed [looted; plundered] and their wives raped.


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“·Look [Behold], I will ·cause the armies of Media to attack Babylon [stir up the Medes against them; fulfilled by Cyrus the Great in 539 bc]. They do not care about silver or delight in gold.


text:
Their soldiers will shoot the young men with ·arrows [bows]; they will show no mercy on ·children [the fruit of the womb], nor will they feel ·sorry [pity; compassion] for ·little ones [children; sons].


text:
Babylon is the most beautiful of all kingdoms, ·and the Babylonians are very proud of it [the glory and pride of the Chaldeans]. But God will destroy it like Sodom and Gomorrah [].


text:
No one will ever live there or settle there ·again [from generation to generation]. No ·Arab [or bedouin; nomad] will put a tent there; no shepherd will ·bring [bed down their] sheep there.


text:
Only desert animals will live there, and their houses will be full of ·wild dogs [or jackals; hyenas; howling creatures; or owls]. Owls will live there, and wild goats will ·leap [skip] about in the houses.


text:
·Wolves [or Hyenas] will howl within the ·strong walls [citadels; towers], and ·wild dogs [jackals] will bark in the ·beautiful [delightful] ·buildings [palaces]. ·The end of Babylon is near [Her time has nearly come]; ·its time is almost over [and her days will not be extended].”


text:
Israel Will Return Home The Lord will ·show mercy to [have compassion on] the ·people of Jacob [Jacob], and he will again choose ·the people of Israel [Israel]. He will settle them in their own land. Then ·non-Israelite people [foreigners; strangers] will join the Israelites and will ·become a part of [unite with; attach to] the ·family [house] of Jacob.


text:
Nations will take the Israelites back to their ·land [place]. Then those men and women from the other nations will become ·slaves [servants] to Israel in the Lord’s land. Israel will capture those who had captured them and will rule over ·those who had ruled them [their oppressors].


text:
The King of Babylon Will Fall The Lord will ·take away the Israelites’ hard work and will comfort them [give you rest/relief from your suffering/pain and turmoil]. ·They [You] will no longer have to work hard as slaves.


text:
On that day ·Israel [you] will sing this ·song about [or taunt against] the king of Babylon: The ·cruel king who ruled us [oppressor] is finished; his ·angry rule [arrogant fury; hostility] is finished!


text:
The Lord has ·taken away the power [broken the club/rod/staff] of the wicked and the ·scepter [staff] of evil rulers


text:
·The king of Babylon […which] struck ·people [or nations] in anger ·again and again [with endless blows]. He ruled nations in anger ·and continued to hurt them [with unrelenting oppression/aggression].


text:
Even the ·pine trees [junipers; evergreens; cypresses] ·are happy [rejoice at you], and the cedar trees of Lebanon rejoice. They say, “The king has ·fallen [been laid low], so no ·one [woodcutter] will ever cut us down again.”


text:
·The place of the dead [or The grave; Sheol] is ·excited [stirred up] to meet you when you come. It wakes the ·spirits of the dead [ghosts], the ·leaders [rams] of the world. It makes kings of all nations ·stand up from their thrones to greet you [rise up from their thrones].


text:
All these leaders will ·make fun of you [respond] and will say, “Now you are weak, as we are. Now you are just like us.”


text:
Your ·pride [or pomp; splendor] has been sent down to ·the place of the dead [or the grave; Sheol]. The music from your harps goes with it. ·Flies [or Maggots] are spread out like your bed beneath you, and worms cover your body like a blanket.


text:
How you have fallen from heaven, ·morning star [or day star; or shining one; still addressing the king of Babylon, though sometimes applied to Satan], ·even though you were as bright as the rising sun [son of the dawn]! In the past all the nations on earth ·bowed down before you [or were laid low by you], but now you have been cut down.


text:
You told yourself, “I will ·go up to heaven [or ascend to the sky]. I will put my throne above God’s stars. I will ·sit [or rule] on the mountain of the ·gods [assembly], on the slopes of ·the sacred mountain [or the north; or Mount Zaphon; known as the mountain of Baal].


text:
I will ·go up [ascend] above the ·tops [or high places] of the clouds. I will be like God Most High.”


text:
But you were brought down to ·the grave [or the place of the dead; Sheol], to the deep places ·where the dead are [of the pit].


text:
Those who see you stare at you. They ·think about [ponder] what has happened to you and say, “Is this the same man who ·caused great fear on [shook the] earth, who ·shook [made to tremble] the kingdoms,


text:
who turned the world into a desert, who ·destroyed [overthrew] its cities, who captured people in war and would not let them go home?”


text:
Every king of the nations ·has been buried with honor [lies in glory], each in his own ·grave [house].


text:
But you are thrown out of your grave, like an ·unwanted [loathed; rejected] branch. ·You are covered by bodies [Clothed with the slain] that ·died in battle [were pierced with a sword], by bodies to be buried in a rocky pit. You are like a ·dead body other soldiers walk on [trampled corpse].


text:
You will not be buried with those bodies, because you ruined your own country and killed your own people. ·The children [or May the offspring/descendants] of evil people will never be mentioned again.


text:
Prepare to ·kill his children [execute/slaughter his sons], ·because their father is guilty [for the sins of their fathers/ancestors]. They will never ·again take control of [rise and possess] the earth; they will never again fill the ·world [surface/face of the earth/world] with their cities.


text:
The Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] says this: “I will ·fight [rise up] against those people; I will ·destroy [cut off from] Babylon ·and its people [its name and remnant/survivors], its ·children [offspring] and their ·descendants [posterity],” says the Lord.


text:
“I will make Babylon fit only for ·owls [or hedgehogs; or porcupines] and for swamps. I will sweep Babylon as with a broom of destruction,” says the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts].


text:
God Will Punish Assyria The Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] has ·made this promise [sworn this oath]: “These things will happen exactly as I planned them; they will happen exactly as I ·set them up [purposed them].


text:
I will ·destroy [crush; break] ·the king of Assyria [Assyria] in my ·country [land]; I will trample him on my mountains. His yoke [oppressive rule] will be taken off my people, And his burden will be removed from their shoulders.


text:
“This is what I plan to do for all the earth. And this is the hand that I have ·raised [stretched out] over all nations.”


text:
When the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] makes a plan, ·no one [who…?] can stop it. When the Lord ·raises his hand to punish people [stretches out his hand], ·no one [who…?] can stop it.


text:
Country of Philistia, don’t ·be happy [rejoice] that the ·king [club; rod] who struck you is now ·dead [broken; either the king of Assyria or Ahaz, king of Judah]. He is like a snake that will give birth to another dangerous snake [For from the snake’s/serpent’s root will come a viper/adder]. ·The new king will be like a quick, dangerous snake to bite you [its offspring/fruit will be a darting/flying poisonous/fiery adder].


text:
Even the ·poorest of my people [or firstborn of the poor] will ·be able to eat safely [find pasture; graze in pasure], and people in need will be able to lie down in safety. But I will kill your ·family [root] with ·hunger [famine], and ·all your people who are left will die [it will slay your survivors/remnant].


text:
·People near the city gates, cry out [Wail, gate, and cry out, city]! Philistines, ·be frightened [melt away], because a cloud of ·dust [or smoke] comes from the north [evidence of an approaching army]. ·Full of men ready to fight [And there is no straggler/loner in its ranks].


text:
What shall we tell the messengers ·from Philistia [of the nation]? Say that the Lord has made ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple] strong and that his ·poor [oppressed; afflicted] people will go there for ·safety [refuge].


text:
God’s Message to Moab This is a ·message [prophecy; oracle; burden] about Moab: In one night ·armies took the wealth from Ar in Moab [or Ar of Moab is destroyed/laid waste], and ·it [or Moab] was ·destroyed [ruined]. In one night ·armies took the wealth from Kir in Moab [or Kir is destroyed/laid waste], and it [or Moab] was ·destroyed [ruined].


text:
The ·people of Dibon [Dibon] go to the ·places of worship [temple; house] to ·cry [lament; weep]. The people of Moab ·cry [wail] for the cities of Nebo and Medeba. Every head is ·shaved [bald] and every beard is cut off [signs of sorrow, mourning, or humiliation].


text:
In the streets they wear ·rough cloth [sackcloth; to show their sadness]. On the roofs [roofs were flat and used as living and storage space in Palestine] and in the public squares, they are ·crying loudly [wailing], ·with tears streaming down [or falling down weeping].


text:
·People in the cities Heshbon and Elealeh [Heshbon and Elealeh] cry out loud. You can hear their voices far away in the city Jahaz. Even the ·soldiers [armed men] ·are frightened [cry out; shout in terror]; ·they are shaking with fear [his soul wavers/trembles].


text:
My heart cries with sorrow for Moab. Its ·people [fugitives] ·run away to Zoar for safety [flee to Zoar]; they run to Eglath Shelishiyah. People are going up the ·mountain road to [ascent of] Luhith, ·crying [weeping] as they go. People are going on the road to Horonaim, ·crying over [lamenting] their destruction.


text:
But the water of Nimrim ·has dried up [are devastated/desolate]. The grass has dried up, and all the plants ·are dead [have failed/disappeared]; nothing green is left.


text:
So the people gather up what they have ·saved [stored up] and carry it across the ·Ravine [Brook; Stream] of the Poplars.


text:
Crying ·is heard everywhere in [or echoes throughout the borders of] Moab. Their ·crying [wailing; howling] is heard as far away as the city Eglaim; it is heard as far away as Beer Elim.


text:
The water of the city Dibon is full of blood, and I, the Lord, will bring even more troubles to Dibon. ·I will send lions to kill [A lion for] ·those left in [the fugitives of] Moab And ·those who remain in [the remnant/survivors of] the land.


text:
Send lambs [as tribute payment] to the ·king [ruler] of the land Send it from Sela [an Edomite city, later the Nabatean capital called Petra] through the desert to the mountain of ·Jerusalem [the daughter of Zion; Zion was the location of the Temple; ].


text:
The women of Moab ·try to cross the river [at the fords of] Arnon like little birds ·that have fallen [or pushed away; or scattered] from their nest.


text:
They say: “·Help us [or Make a decision]. ·Tell us what to do [or Grant us justice]. Protect us from our enemies as ·shade [shade like night] protects us from the noon sun. ·Hide us, because we are running for safety [Shelter the fugitives/outcasts]! Don’t ·give us to our enemies [betray/uncover the refugee].


text:
Let ·those of us who were forced out [the fugitives/outcasts] of Moab live ·in your land [among you]. Hide ·us [them] from ·our enemies [the destroyer].” The ·enemy [oppressor] will ·be defeated [come to an end]. The ·robbing of Moab [destruction] will stop; those who ·hurt others [trample] will disappear from the land.


text:
Then a ·new loyal king will come [throne will be established in faithfulness/lovingkindness]; ·this faithful king will be from the family of David [he will sit on it in faithfulness in the tent of David; ; ]. He will judge ·fairly [with justice] and ·do what is right [hasten righteousness].


text:
We have heard that the people of Moab are proud and very conceited. They are very proud and angry, but their bragging ·means nothing [is empty].


text:
So ·the people of Moab will cry [Moab wails for Moab]; they will all ·be sad [wail]. They will ·moan and groan [or mourn, utterly stricken] for the raisin cakes [perhaps associated with pagan ritual (); also known as an aphrodisiac ()] they had in Kir Hareseth.


text:
But the fields of Heshbon ·cannot grow grapes [wither; dry up; languish]; and the vines of Sibmah dry up; ·foreign rulers [lords of the nations] have ·destroyed [struck down] the ·grapevines [choice plants]. The grapevines once spread as far as the city of Jazer and into the desert; they had spread as far as the sea [probably the Dead Sea].


text:
I ·cry [weep] with the people of Jazer for the grapevines of Sibmah. I will ·cry with the [or drench you with tears, you] people of Heshbon and Elealeh. ·There will be no shouts of joy, because there will be no harvest or ripe fruit [or Your enemies shout for joy over your fruit and harvest].


text:
There will be no joy and happiness in the orchards and no songs or shouts of joy in the vineyards. No one ·makes [treads/stomps out] wine in the winepresses, because I have put an end to shouts of joy.


text:
My ·heart cries [inner parts moan/sigh] for Moab like a ·harp playing a funeral song [harp]; ·I am very sad [my inner being] for Kir Hareseth.


text:
The people of Moab will ·go to their places of worship [appear and grow weary at their high places] and will try to pray. But when they go to their temple to pray, they will not be able.


text:
Now the Lord says, “In three years ·all those people and what they take pride in [the glory of Moab] will be ·hated [despised]. (This is three years as a hired helper would count time [meaning carefully calculated, so as to be properly paid; ].) There will be a few people left, but they will be ·weak [feeble].”


text:
God’s Message to Aram This is a ·message [prophecy; oracle; burden] about Damascus: “[Look; Behold] The city of Damascus will ·be destroyed [cease to be]; only ruins will remain.


text:
The cities of Aroer will be ·abandoned [deserted; desolate]. ·Flocks will wander freely in those empty towns [They will be for flocks]; they will lie down and no one will ·bother [disturb; frighten] them.


text:
The ·strong, walled [fortified] cities of ·Israel [Ephraim; the most influential tribe of the northern kingdom of Israel] will be destroyed. The ·government in Damascus will end [kingdom from Damascus; the capital of Syria]. ·Those left alive [The remnant] of Aram [Syria] will be like the glory of Israel,” says the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts].


text:
“·At that time [In that day] ·Israel’s wealth [Jacob’s glory] will ·all be gone [or fade; wane]. ·Israel will be like a body wasting away from sickness [The fatness of his flesh will grow lean].


text:
That time will be like the grain harvest in the Valley of Rephaim. The workers cut the wheat. Then they cut the heads of grain from the plants and collect the grain.


text:
That time will also be like ·the olive harvest [when an olive tree is beaten], when ·a few olives [gleanings] are left []. Two or three olives are left in the top branches. Four or five olives are left on full branches,” says the Lord, the God of Israel.


text:
·At that time [In that day] people will look to their Maker; their eyes will ·see [or look toward] the Holy One of Israel [].


text:
They will not trust the altars ·they have made [the work of their hands], nor will they trust what their ·hands [fingers] have made, not even the ·Asherah idols [Asherahs; sacred trees or poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah] and ·altars [incense altars].


text:
·At that time [In that day] all their strong cities will be empty. They will be like the ·cities the Hivites and [or wooded heights] the Amorites left when the ·Israelites [sons/children of Israel] came to take the land. Everything will be ruined.


text:
You have forgotten the God who ·saves [rescues] you; you have not remembered ·that God is your place of safety [the Rock, your stronghold/strength]. You plant ·the finest [beautiful; pleasant] plants and grapevines from ·faraway [exotic; foreign] places.


text:
You plant your grapevines one day and try to make them grow, and ·the next day [in the morning] you make them blossom. But ·at harvest time everything will be dead [the harvest will be a heap/disaster]; ·a sickness will kill all the plants [in the day of disease and incurable pain].


text:
·Listen [or Woe] to the many people! ·Their crying is like the noise from the sea [They rage/roar like the raging/roaring sea]. ·Listen [or Woe] to the nations! Their ·crying [roar] is like the ·crashing [roaring] of great ·waves [waters].


text:
The people roar like the ·waves [roaring of many waters], but when ·God [he] ·speaks harshly to [shouts at; rebukes] them, they will ·run [flee far] away. They will be like chaff on the hills being blown by the wind, or like ·tumbleweeds [a rolling thing] blown away by a storm.


text:
·At night [In the time of evening] ·the people will be very frightened [look/behold, terror!]. Before morning, ·no one will be left [the enemy will be gone; he is no more]. This is the ·fate [portion] of those who ·steal from [plunder] us, and ·what happens to [the lot of] those who ·rob [loot] us.


text:
God’s Message to Cush ·How terrible it will be for [Woe to; or Listen,] the land beyond the rivers of ·Cush [or Ethiopia; the upper Nile region]. ·It is filled with the sound of wings […the land of buzzing wings; or …the land of flapping sails].


text:
That land sends ·messengers [envoys; ambassadors] across the sea; they go on the water in boats made of ·reeds [papyrus; light and speedy]. Go, ·quick [swiftly] messengers, to a people who are tall and smooth-skinned, who are feared ·everywhere [far and wide]. They are a powerful nation ·that defeats other nations [or who speak a strange language]. Their land is divided by rivers.


text:
All you ·people [inhabitants] of the world, look! Everyone who lives in the world, look! You will see a ·banner [standard; signal flag] raised on a mountain. You will hear a trumpet sound.


text:
The Lord said to me, “I will quietly watch from ·where I live [my dwelling place], like ·heat in the sunshine [glowing heat upon the light], like ·the dew [a cloud of dew] in the heat of harvest time.”


text:
The time will come, after the flowers have bloomed and before the harvest, when ·new grapes will be budding and growing [the flower becomes a ripening grape]. ·The enemy [or The Lord; He] will cut the plants with pruning knives; he will cut down the ·vines [branches; tendrils] and take them away.


text:
They will be left for the ·birds [or birds of prey] of the mountains and for the wild animals. Birds will feed on them all summer, and wild animals will eat them that winter.”


text:
·At that time [In that day] ·a gift [tribute] will be brought to the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] from the people who are tall and smooth-skinned, who are feared ·everywhere [far and wide]. They are a powerful nation ·that defeats other nations [or who speak a strange language]. Their land is divided by rivers. These gifts will be brought to the place ·of [of the name of] the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts], to Mount Zion.


text:
God’s Message to Egypt This is a ·message [prophecy; oracle; burden] about Egypt: Look, the Lord is coming on a ·fast [swift] cloud to enter Egypt. The idols of Egypt will tremble before him, and Egypt’s ·courage [heart] will melt away.


text:
The Lord says, “I will ·cause the Egyptians to fight against themselves [provoke Egypt against Egypt]. People will fight with their ·relatives [brothers]; neighbors will fight neighbors; cities will fight cities; kingdoms will fight kingdoms.


text:
The Egyptians will ·be afraid [lose heart], and I will ·ruin their plans [confuse their counsel]. They will ·ask advice from [consult] their idols and spirits of the dead, from their mediums and ·fortune-tellers [magicians; necromancers].”


text:
The Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] says, “I will hand Egypt ·over to [into the hand of] a hard master, and a ·powerful [fierce] king will rule over them.”


text:
The ·sea [or river; waters] will become dry, and the ·water will disappear from the Nile River [river will be parched and dry].


text:
The canals will stink; the streams of Egypt will decrease and dry up. All the ·water plants [reeds and bulrushes] will rot;


text:
all the plants along the banks of the Nile will die. Even the ·planted [cultivated] fields by the Nile will dry up, blow away, and disappear [catastrophic, since the Nile was essential to Egypt’s existence].


text:
The fishermen, all those who ·catch fish from [cast hooks into] the Nile, will groan and ·cry [lament]; those who ·fish in the Nile [spread nets on the water] will ·be sad [grieve; lose heart].


text:
All the people who make cloth from flax will ·be sad [despair; or be ashamed], and those who weave linen will ·lose hope [turn pale].


text:
Those who ·weave cloth [or are its foundations] will be broken. All those who work for ·money [wages] will be ·sad [grieved in their soul].


text:
The officers of the city of Zoan [probably Tanis, the Egyptian city nearest Israel] are fools; the wise ·men who advise the king of Egypt [counselors/advisors of Pharaoh] give ·wrong [senseless; stupid] advice. How can you say to him, ‘I am ·wise [a son of the wise]’? How can you say, ‘I am ·from the old family of the kings [a son of ancient kings; “son of” may mean “an expert in the ways of”]’?


text:
Egypt, where are your wise men? Let them show you what the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] has planned for Egypt.


text:
The officers of Zoan [] have ·been fooled [become fools]; the ·leaders [princes] of Memphis [prominent city in northern Egypt] ·have believed false things [are deceived/deluded]. So the ·leaders of Egypt [cornerstones of her tribes] lead that nation ·the wrong way [astray].


text:
The Lord has ·made the leaders confused [mixed into them a spirit of distortion]. They have led Egypt to ·wander in the wrong ways [or err in all it does], like drunk people stumbling in their own vomit.


text:
There is nothing Egypt can do; ·no one there can help [head or tail, palm branch or reed; no one, high or low, could help Egypt].


text:
In that day the Egyptians will be like women [physically weak and vulnerable]. They will ·be afraid of [tremble with fear at] the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts], because he will raise his hand to strike them down.


text:
The land of Judah will ·bring fear [be a terror] to Egypt. Anyone there who hears the name Judah will be afraid, because the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] has planned terrible things for them.


text:
·At that time [In that day] five cities in Egypt will speak the language of Canaan [Hebrew or Aramaic, evidence of Israel’s dominance over Egypt], and they will ·promise to be loyal [swear allegiance] to the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts]. One of these cities will be named the City of Destruction.


text:
·At that time [In that day] there will be an altar for the Lord in the middle of Egypt and a ·monument [or sacred pillar] to the Lord at the border of Egypt.


text:
This will be a sign and a witness to the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] in the land of Egypt. When the people cry to the Lord for help, he will send a savior and defender, who will rescue them.


text:
So the Lord will ·show himself [make himself known] to the Egyptians, and ·then [in that day] they will ·know he is [acknowledge; know] the Lord. They will ·worship [serve] God ·and offer many sacrifices [with sacrifices and offerings]. They will make ·promises [vows] to the Lord and will keep them.


text:
The Lord will ·punish [strike] the Egyptians, but then he will heal them. They will ·come back [return] to the Lord, and he will listen to their ·prayers [pleas] and heal them.


text:
·At that time [In that day] there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians will go to Egypt, and the Egyptians will go to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship God together.


text:
·At that time [In that day] ·Israel, Assyria, and Egypt will join together [Israel will be the third, with Egypt and Assyria; a great power like them], which will be a blessing for the earth.


text:
The Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] will bless them, saying, “Egypt, you are my people. Assyria, ·I made you [the work of my hands]. Israel, ·I own you [my inheritance]. You are all blessed!”


text:
Assyria Will Defeat Egypt and Cush [In the year that; about 712 bc] Sargon king of Assyria sent ·a military commander [or his commander-in-chief] to Ashdod [a Philistine city] to attack that city. So the commander attacked and captured it.


text:
·Then [At that time] the Lord spoke through Isaiah son of Amoz, saying, “Take the ·rough cloth [burlap; sackcloth; a sign of mourning] off your body, and take your sandals off your feet.” So Isaiah obeyed and walked around ·naked [stripped] and barefoot.


text:
Then the Lord said, “[Just as] Isaiah my servant has walked around naked and barefoot for three years as a ·sign [sign and omen/portent] against Egypt and Cush [].


text:
[So; Thus] The king of Assyria will carry away prisoners from Egypt and ·captives [exiles] from Cush. Old people and young people will be led away ·naked [stripped] and barefoot, with their buttocks bare. So the Egyptians will be shamed.


text:
People who ·looked to Cush for help [trusted/put hope in Cush] will be ·afraid [dismayed; disillusioned], and those who ·were amazed by [boasted/took pride in] Egypt’s glory will be shamed.


text:
People who live ·near the sea [in this coastland] will say, ‘Look at what happened to those ·we trusted in for help [in whom we hoped]. We ·ran [fled] to them so they would ·save [rescue] us from the king of Assyria. So how will we be able to escape?’”


text:
God’s Message to Babylon This is a ·message [prophecy; oracle; burden] about the Desert by the Sea [probably Babylon (), though an unusual description of it]: ·Disaster [or An invader; It] is coming from the desert like ·wind [whirlwinds] blowing in the ·south [or Negev]. It is coming from a terrible country.


text:
I have seen a ·terrible [terrifying; dire; distressing] vision. ·I see traitors turning against you [The betrayer betrays] ·and people taking your wealth [the destroyer destroys; or the looter loots]. Elam, ·attack the people [go up; Elam sounds like the Hebrew for “go up”]! Media, ·surround the city and attack it [besiege]! I will bring an end to ·the pain the city causes [all the groaning].


text:
·I saw those terrible things, and now [For this reason; At this] ·I am in pain [my loins/stomach are filled with pain]; my pains ·are [seize me] like the pains of giving birth. What I hear ·makes me very afraid [distresses/staggers me]; what I see ·causes me to shake with fear [bewilders/horrifies me].


text:
·I am worried [My heart reels/falters/wanders], and I am shaking with fear. ·My pleasant evening [The twilight/evening I longed for] has become a night of ·fear [trembling].


text:
They ·set [prepared] the table; they ·spread the rugs [or post a watchman]; they eat and drink. Leaders, ·stand up [arise]. ·Prepare the shields for battle [Anoint/oil the shield; preparation for battle]!


text:
The Lord said to me, “Go, place a ·lookout [guard; watchman] for the city and have him report what he sees.


text:
·If [or When] he sees chariots and teams of horses, riders on donkeys, or riders on camels, he should ·pay very close attention [be alert, very alert].”


text:
Then the lookout called out, “My master, each day I stand in the watchtower watching; every night I ·have been on guard [stand at my post].


text:
Look, I see a man coming in a chariot with a team of horses.” The man gives back the answer, “Babylon has fallen. It has fallen [; ; ]! All the ·statues [idols; carved images] of her gods lie ·broken [shattered] on the ground.”


text:
My ·people are crushed like grain on the threshing floor [trampled one, and son of the threshing floor]. My people, I tell you what I have heard from the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts], from the God of Israel.


text:
God’s Message to Edom This is a ·message [prophecy; oracle; burden] about Dumah [another name for Edom, meaning “silence” or “stillness”]: Someone calls to me from ·Edom [Seir], “Watchman, how much of the night is left? Watchman, how much longer will it be night?”


text:
The watchman answers, “Morning is coming, but then night will come again. If you ·have something to ask [wish to ask], then come back and ask.”


text:
God’s Message to Arabia This is a ·message [prophecy; oracle; burden] about Arabia: You ·traders [caravans] from Dedan who spent the night ·near some trees in [in the thickets of] Arabia.


text:
Bring water to thirsty travelers; you people of Tema, give food to ·those who were escaping [the fugitives].


text:
They ·were running [flee] from swords, from ·swords ready to kill [the drawn sword], from ·bows ready to shoot [the bent bow], from ·a hard [the distress/terrors/hardship of] battle.


text:
This is what the Lord said to me: “Within a year all the ·glory [splendor] of the country of Kedar will be gone. (This is a year as a hired helper counts time [carefully calculated; ].)


text:
·At that time [In that day] only a few of the archers, the ·soldiers [warriors; mighty men] of [the sons of] Kedar, will be left alive.” The Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken.


text:
God’s Message to Jerusalem This is a ·message [prophecy; oracle; burden] about the Valley of Vision [perhaps the Hinnom Valley near Jerusalem; the prophecy concerns Jerusalem]: ·What is wrong with you people [or What is the reason; What to you, then]? Why are you on your roofs [roofs were flat and used for living and storage space]?


text:
This city was ·a very busy city [full of noise], ·full of noise and wild parties [town of tumult and revelry]. Now your people have been ·killed [slain], but not with swords, nor did they die in battle.


text:
All your leaders ·ran away [fled] together, but they have been captured without using a bow. All you who were captured tried to run ·away before the enemy came [or far away; or while the enemy was far away].


text:
So I say, “Don’t look at me. Let me ·cry loudly [weep bitterly]. Don’t hurry to ·comfort [console] me about the destruction of ·Jerusalem [or my vulnerable people; the daughter of my people].”


text:
The Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] has ·chosen a special day [a day] of ·riots [tumult] and confusion. ·People will trample each other […and trampling] in the Valley of Vision. The city walls will be knocked down, and the people will cry out to the mountain.


text:
·The soldiers from Elam [Elam] will ·gather their arrows [pick up its quiver] and their chariots and men on horses. Kir will ·prepare [uncover] their shields.


text:
Your ·nicest [choicest; fairest] valleys will be filled with chariots. Horsemen ·will be ordered to guard [take their positions at] the gates of the city.


text:
·The walls protecting Judah will fall [He removed defenses/covering from Judah; “He” could be the Lord or the invading army]. ·At that time [In that day] the people of Jerusalem ·depended on [looked to] the weapons kept at the ·Palace [house] of the Forest [probably the royal armory; ; ].


text:
You saw that the walls of Jerusalem had many ·cracks that needed repairing [breaches; breaks]. You stored up water in the lower pool [preparation for a siege].


text:
You ·counted [surveyed] the houses of Jerusalem, and you tore down houses to ·repair the walls with their stones [strengthen/fortify the wall].


text:
You made a ·pool [reservoir] between the two walls to save water from the old pool, but you did not ·trust [look to] the ·God who made these things [one who made it; the “it” could be the pool, the wall or the whole city of Jerusalem]; you did not ·respect [consider; have regard for] the One who ·planned [or fashioned; formed] ·them [it] long ago.


text:
·At that time [In that day] the Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] ·told the people to cry and be sad [called for weeping and mourning], ·to shave their heads [for baldness] and ·wear rough cloth [for wearing burlap/sackcloth; signs of sorrow and repentance].


text:
But look, ·the people are happy and are having wild parties [joy and revelry]. They slaughter cattle and kill sheep; they eat ·the food [meat; flesh] and drink the wine. They say, “Let us eat and drink, because tomorrow we will die.”


text:
The Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] said to me: “You people will die before this ·guilt is forgiven [sin is atoned for].” The Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] said this.


text:
God’s Message to Shebna This is what the Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] says: “Go to this ·servant [steward; administrator] Shebna [, , ; ; ; ], ·the manager of the palace [who is over the house].


text:
Say to him, ‘What ·are you doing here [or right do you have to be here]? Who said you could ·cut out [carve; hew] a tomb for yourself here? Why are you ·preparing [carving; hewing] your tomb in a high place? Why are you ·carving out [cutting; inscribing] a ·tomb [dwelling place] from the rock?


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Look, ·mighty one [or mere man; man]! The Lord ·will throw you away [hurling will hurl you]. ·He will take firm hold of [Seizing he will seize] you


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and roll you tightly into a ball and throw you into another country. There you will die, and there your ·fine [glorious; splendid] chariots will remain. You ·are a disgrace [bring shame] to your master’s house.


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I will force you out of your ·important job [office], and you will be thrown down from your ·important place [position].’


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I will take your robe and put it on him and ·give him [tie around him; or strengthen him with] your ·belt [sash]. I will hand over to him ·the important job you have [your authority], and he will be like a father to the ·people [inhabitants] of Jerusalem and the ·family [house] of Judah.


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I will put the key to the house of David [a sign of authority, indicating access to the king; ] around his neck. If he opens a door, no one will be able to close it; if he closes a door, no one will be able to open it.


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I will make him like a peg that is hammered into a strong board [a symbol of strength]. He will be like an ·honored chair in [or throne of honor for] his father’s house.


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All the ·honored and important things of his family [glory of the house of his father] will ·depend on him [or be given to him; hang on him; continuing the “peg” imagery in , meaning either honor or responsibility]; ·all the adults and little children will depend on him [its offspring and offshoots]. ·They will be like bowls and jars hanging on him […all the small utensils, from the bowls to the jars].


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“·At that time [In that day],” says the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts], “the peg hammered into the strong board will weaken. It will ·break [or be cut off] and fall, and everything hanging on it will be destroyed [Eliakim’s authority would also eventually be taken away].” The Lord says this.


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God’s Message to Lebanon This is a ·message [prophecy; oracle; burden] about Tyre [port city in Phoenicia, north of Israel; present-day Lebanon]: You ·trading ships [ships of Tarshish; western port city, probably in Spain; ], ·cry [wail]! The houses and harbor of Tyre are ·destroyed [devastated; laid waste]. This news came to the ships from the land of ·Cyprus [the Kittim; the people of Cyprus, an island west of Israel].


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·Be silent [or Mourn in silence], you who live on the ·island of Tyre [or coastland]; you merchants of Sidon [port city of Phoenica], be silent. ·Sailors have made you rich [or …whose messengers have crossed the sea].


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They traveled ·the sea [the great waters; or many seas] to bring ·grain from Egypt [the grain of Shihor; the east branch of the Nile in Egypt]; the harvest of the Nile was Tyre’s ·profit [revenue]; she was the marketplace of the nations.


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Sidon, be ashamed. ·Strong city [Fortress] of the sea, be ashamed, because the sea says: “I have not ·felt the pain of giving birth [gone into labor or given birth]; I have not reared young men or women.”


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·You ships should return [Travel; or Send word; Cross over] to Tarshish []. ·Be sad [Wail], you people ·living near the sea [of the coast].


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·Look at [Is this…?] your ·once happy [boisterous] city, ·founded so long ago [whose beginning was from days of antiquity]. ·People from that city have traveled […whose feet have taken her] far away to live.


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Who planned Tyre’s destruction? Tyre ·made others rich [bestower of crowns; or wearer of crowns]. Its merchants ·were treated like [were; or are] princes, and its traders were ·greatly respected [the honored/renowned of the earth].


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It was the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] who planned this. He decided to ·make these proud people unimportant [bring down the pride of all her glory/splendor]; he decided to ·disgrace [humble] ·those who were greatly respected [the honored/renowned of the earth].


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Go through [or Cultivate; Till] your land, ·people [daughter] of Tarshish [], like ·the Nile goes through Egypt [or they do along the Nile]. There is no ·harbor [or marketplace; or restraint; or strength] for you now!


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The Lord has stretched his hand over the sea and made its kingdoms tremble. He commands that Canaan’s ·strong, walled cities [fortresses; strongholds] be destroyed.


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He said, “·Sidon [Virgin daughter Sidon], you will not ·rejoice [celebrate] any longer, because you are ·destroyed [crushed; oppressed]. ·Even if you cross the sea [Arise, cross over] to ·Cyprus [Kittim], [but] you will not find a place to rest.”


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Look at the land of the ·Babylonians [Chaldeans]; ·it is not a country now [this people is no more]. Assyria has made it a place for ·wild [desert] animals. Assyria built ·towers to attack it [siege towers]; the soldiers ·took all the treasures from its cities [stripped bare/tore down its fortresses/palaces], and they turned it into ruins.


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·So be sad [Wail], you ·trading ships [ships of Tarshish; ; ], because your ·strong city [fortress; stronghold] is destroyed.


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·At that time [In that day] Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years, which is the length of a king’s life. ·After [At the end of] seventy years, Tyre will be like the prostitute in this song:


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“Oh ·woman [prostitute; harlot], you are forgotten. Take your harp and walk through the city. Play your harp well. Sing ·your song often [many songs]. Then people will remember you.”


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·After [At the end of] seventy years the Lord will ·deal with [visit] Tyre, and it will again ·have trade [earn wages]. It will be like a prostitute for all the ·nations [kingdoms] of the earth.


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The profits will be ·saved [set apart; holy] for the Lord. Tyre will not ·keep [store up or hoard] the money she earns but will give them to the people who ·serve [worship; dwell before] the Lord, so they will have plenty of food and ·nice clothes [beautiful coverings].


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The Lord Will Punish the World ·Look [Behold]! The Lord will destroy the earth and ·leave it empty [lay it waste]; he will ·ruin [mar; distort] the surface of the land and scatter its ·people [inhabitants].


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·At that time the same thing will happen to everyone [It will be]: ·to common people and priests [like people, like priest], ·to slaves and masters [like servant/slave, like master/lord], ·to women slaves and their women masters [like maidservant, like mistress/queen], ·to sellers and buyers [like seller, like buyer], ·to those who lend and those who borrow [like lender, like borrower], ·to bankers and those who owe the bank [like creditor, like debtor].


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The earth will be ·completely empty [devastated; laid waste]. The wealth ·will all be taken [plundered], because the Lord has ·commanded it [spoken this word].


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The earth will ·dry up [or mourn] and ·die [wither]; the world will ·grow weak [languish] and ·die [wither]; the ·great leaders [or heavens; heights; highest ones] ·in this land [or of the earth] will ·become weak [languish].


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The people of the earth have ·ruined [defiled] it, because they ·do not follow [have violated/transgressed] ·God’s teachings [the laws/instruction; Torah] or obey ·God’s laws [statutes; regulations] or keep ·their agreement with God that was to last forever [the eternal covenant/treaty].


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So a curse [] will ·destroy [consume; devour] the earth. The people of the world ·are guilty [must pay for their guilt], so ·they [the earth’s inhabitants] will be burned up; only a few will be left.


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The new wine ·will be bad [dries up; or mourns], and the grapevines will ·die [wither; or languish]. ·People who were happy [Revelers; Merrymakers] will ·be sad [groan; sigh].


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The ·happy music [joy; mirth] of the tambourines will end. The happy sounds of ·wild parties [revelry] will stop. The joyful music from the harps will ·end [cease].


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People will no longer sing while they drink their wine. The ·beer [strong drink; alcoholic beverage made from grain] will taste bitter to those who drink it.


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The ruined city ·will be empty [is desolate/broken], ·and people will hide behind closed doors [every house is shuttered to prevent entering].


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People in the streets will ·ask [cry out; howl] for wine, but joy will have turned to ·sadness [gloom; darkness]; all the ·happiness [gladness; rejoicing] ·will have left [is banished/exiled].


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This is what will happen all over the earth and to all the nations. The earth will be like an olive tree ·after the harvest [when it is beaten; ] or like the ·few grapes left on a vine [gleanings] after harvest.


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The people raise their voices and shout for joy. From the ·west [sea] they ·praise the greatness [shout/cry out for the majesty] of the Lord.


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[Therefore] People in the ·east [or morning light; dawn], ·praise [extol; give glory to] the Lord. People in the ·islands [or coastlands] of the sea, ·praise [extol; give glory to] the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.


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We hear songs from ·every part [the ends/edge] of the earth ·praising God, [or “Glory to…”] the Righteous One. But I said, “I am ·dying [wasting away]! I am ·dying [wasting away]! ·How terrible it will be for [Woe to] me! ·Traitors turn against people [Betrayers betray; ]; ·with their dishonesty, they turn against people [Betrayers betray with betrayal].”


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Anyone who tries to ·escape [flee] from the sound of terror will fall into a ·hole [pit]. Anyone who climbs out of the ·hole [pit] will be caught in a ·trap [snare]. The ·clouds in the sky will pour out rain [the floodgates/windows of the heights are opened], and the foundations of the earth will shake.


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The earth will be ·broken up [shattered]; the earth will split open; the earth will shake violently.


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The earth will ·stumble [stagger; reel] around like someone who is drunk; it will shake like a ·hut in a storm [hut]. Its ·sin [transgression; rebellion] is ·like a heavy weight on its back [heavy upon it]; it will fall and never rise again.


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·At that time [In that day] the Lord will punish the ·powers [armies; hosts] in the ·sky [or heavens; heights] above and the ·rulers [kings] on earth below.


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They will be gathered together like prisoners ·thrown into a dungeon [in a pit/cistern]; they will be shut up in prison. After ·much time [many days] they will be punished.


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The moon will be ·embarrassed [confounded; dismayed; disgraced; or covered up], and the sun will be ·ashamed [or darkened; these great lights will pale in comparison to the Lord’s glory], because the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] will rule as king on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. ·Jerusalem’s leaders will see his greatness […and gloriously before its elders].


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A Song of Praise to God Lord, you are my God. I ·honor [exalt] you and praise ·you [your name], because you have done ·amazing [wonderful] things. ·You have done what you planned long ago [Your plans were made long ago]; ·you have always done what you said you would do [they are faithful and trustworthy];


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You have made the city a ·pile of rocks [heap] ·and have destroyed her walls [the fortified city into a ruin]. The ·city our enemies built with strong walls [or foreigners’ fortress] is gone; it will never be built again.


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People from powerful nations will ·honor [glorify] you; ·cruel people from strong cities [cities of cruel/ruthless people] will fear you.


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You ·protect [are a refuge/stronghold to] the poor; you protect the ·helpless [needy] when they are in ·danger [distress]. You are like a shelter from storms, like shade that protects them from the heat. The ·cruel people attack [breath of the cruel/ruthless] like a rainstorm beating against the wall,


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like the ·heat [or drought] in the desert. But you, God, ·stop their violent attack [subdue/silence the uproar of foreigners]. As the shadow from a cloud cools a hot day, you silence the songs of ·those who have no mercy [the ruthless].


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God’s Banquet for His Servants The Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] will prepare a feast on this mountain [Mount Zion; ] for all people. It will be a feast with all the best food and wine, the ·finest [tenderest; full of marrow] meat and ·wine [well-aged/filtered wines].


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On this mountain God will ·destroy [swallow] the ·veil [shroud; covering] that covers all nations, the ·veil [sheet] that stretches over all peoples [death];


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he will ·destroy [swallow up] death forever []. The Lord God will wipe away every tear from every face [; ]. He will take away the ·shame [disgrace] of his people from the earth. The Lord has spoken.


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·At that time [In that day] people will say, “·Our God is doing this [Look/Behold, this is our God]! We have waited for him, and he has come to save us. This is the Lord. We waited for him, ·so we will [let us] rejoice and ·be happy [be glad; celebrate] ·when he saves us [in his salvation].”


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The ·Lord will protect Jerusalem [hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain], ·but he will crush our enemy Moab [Moab will be trampled under him] like straw that is trampled down in the manure.


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They [He; Moab] will spread their arms in it like a person who is swimming. But God will bring down their pride, ·and all the clever things they have made will mean nothing [together with the trickery of their hands].


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He will ·destroy [bring down] ·Moab’s [your] high, fortified walls, ·leveling them to the ground [laying them low]. He will throw them down to the ground, even to the dust.


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A Song of Praise to God ·At that time [In that day] this song will be sung in Judah: We have a strong city. ·God protects us with [His salvation/deliverance is] its strong walls and defenses.


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Open the gates, and the ·good people [righteous nation] will enter, those who ·follow God [remain faithful].


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You, Lord, ·give [preserve/keep in] ·true peace [complete peace; peace, peace] ·to those who depend on you [whose mind is stayed on you; whose purpose is firm], because they trust you.


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So, trust the Lord always, because ·he [in Yah, the Lord/Yahweh; Yah is a shorter version of Yahweh] is our ·Rock forever [eternal rock].


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He will ·destroy [humble; bring down] ·the people of that proud city [those who dwell on a high place], He will bring that ·high [lofty; arrogant] city down to the ground and throw it down into the dust.


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·Then those who were hurt by the city will walk on its ruins [The foot tramples it down, the feet of the oppressed]; ·those who were made poor by the city will trample it under their feet [the footsteps of the poor (will trample it)].


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The ·path [way] of life is level for ·those who are right with God [the righteous]; ·Lord [or Upright One], you make the way of life ·smooth [straight; level] for those people.


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But, Lord, we are waiting ·for your [or in the] ·way of justice [or path/way of your judgments]. Our souls ·want to remember [or desire; or wish to see glorified] ·you [your renown; your remembrance] and your name.


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My soul ·wants to be with [longs/yearns for] you at night, and my spirit ·wants to be with [seeks; longs for] you ·at the dawn of every day [in the morning]. When your ·way of justice [judgment] comes to the ·land [earth], ·people [the inhabitants] of the world will learn ·the right way of living [righteousness; justice].


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Evil people will not learn ·to do good [righteousness; justice] even if you show them ·kindness [mercy; grace]. They will continue ·doing evil [acting unjustly], even if they live in a ·good world [land of uprightness]; they never see the Lord’s ·greatness [majesty].


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Lord, ·you are ready to punish those people [your hand is lifted up; ready to strike], but they do not see that. ·Show them your strong love for your people [They will see your zeal for your people; or They will see your zealous judgment against mankind]. ·Then those who are evil […and they] will be ashamed. ·Burn [Consume] them in the fire ·you have prepared for [of] your ·enemies [adversaries].


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Lord, all our ·success is [accomplishments/works are] because of what you have done, ·so give us peace [or and you give us peace/security].


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Lord, our God, other masters besides you have ruled us, but we ·honor [praise; remember] only ·you [your name].


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·Those masters are now dead [They are dead, never to live]; their ·ghosts [spirits] will not rise from death. You punished and destroyed them and erased any memory of them.


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Lord, you ·multiplied the number of your people [enlarged/made great the nation]; you ·multiplied them [enlarged/made great the nation] and brought ·honor [glory] to yourself. You ·widened [enlarged; extended] the borders of the land.


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Lord, people ·remember [seek; come to] you when they are in trouble; they ·say quiet prayers to you [or utter incantations] when you punish them.


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Lord, ·when we are with you [or because of you], we are like a woman giving birth to a baby; she cries and has pain from the birth.


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·In the same way [We were pregnant/conceived], we ·had pain [writhed; strained]. We gave birth, but only to wind. We ·don’t bring [or can’t bring; haven’t brought] salvation to the ·land [earth] ·or given birth to new people for the world [nor have the inhabitants of the earth fallen].


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Your dead will live again; their bodies will rise from death. You who ·lie in the ground [dwell in the dust], wake up and ·be happy [shout joyfully]! ·The dew covering you [Your dew] is ·like the dew of a new day [a dew of lights]; the ·ground [earth] will give birth to the dead.


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Judgment: Reward or Punishment My people, go into your ·rooms [chambers; inner rooms] and shut your doors behind you. Hide in your rooms for a short time until God’s anger ·is finished [has passed by].


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[For look/behold] The Lord ·will leave [is coming out of] his place to punish the ·people [inhabitants] of the world for their sins. The earth will ·show [reveal; disclose] ·the blood of the people who have been killed [its blood]; it will not cover ·the dead [its slain] any longer.


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·At that time [In that day] the Lord will punish Leviathan [a sea creature in ancient Near Eastern texts that represents chaos; ; , ; ; ], the ·gliding [or swift-moving; or fleeing] ·snake [serpent]. He will punish Leviathan, the ·coiled [writhing; twisting] ·snake [serpent], with his great and hard and powerful sword. He will kill the ·monster [dragon] in the sea.


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·At that time [In that day] sing about the ·pleasant [beautiful; or fruitful] vineyard [God’s people; ].


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“I, the Lord, will ·care for [watch over] that vineyard; I will water it ·at the right time [regularly; continually]. No one will hurt it, because I will guard it day and night.


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I am not ·angry [wrathful]. If ·anyone builds a wall of thornbushes in war [or only there were briers and thorns against me!], I will march ·to it [against it in battle] and burn it.


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But if anyone comes to me for ·safety [refuge; protection] and wants to make peace with me, ·he should come and [let him] make peace with me.”


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In the days to come, ·the people of Jacob [Jacob] will ·be like a plant with good roots [take root]; Israel will ·grow like a plant beginning to bloom [blossom and bud]. ·Then the world will be filled with their children […and fill all the world with fruit].


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The Lord Will Send Israel Away ·The Lord has not hurt [Has the Lord struck down…?] his people as he ·hurt their enemies [struck down those who struck them]; ·his people have not [have they…?] been killed like those who tried to kill them.


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He will ·settle his argument with Israel [or oppose her; contend with her] by sending her far away. ·Like a hot desert wind [With his fierce breath in the day of the east wind; the east wind came from the desert], he will drive her away.


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This is how ·Israel’s [Jacob’s] guilt will be forgiven; this is how its sins will be taken away: ·Israel [He] will crush the rocks of the altar [pagan altars] to dust, and no ·Asherah idols [Asherahs; sacred trees or poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah] or ·altars [incense altars] will be left standing.


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·At that time [In that day] the ·strong, walled [fortified] city will be ·empty [desolate] an abandoned settlement, empty like a ·desert [wilderness; ; , ]. Calves will eat grass there. They will lie down there and ·eat leaves from [strip bare] the branches.


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The limbs will become dry and break off, so women will use them for firewood. The people ·refuse to understand [lack understanding/discernment], so ·their Creator [the one who made them] will not comfort them; ·their Maker [the one who formed them] will not ·be kind [show favor] to them.


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·At that time [In that day] the Lord will begin gathering ·his people [you, sons/children of Israel] one by one from the ·Euphrates River [flowing River] to the brook of Egypt. He will ·separate them from others as grain is separated from chaff [thresh/beat them out].


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·At that time [In that day] a great trumpet will be blown. Then those who are ·lost [or perishing] in Assyria and those who ·have run away [were exiled/driven out] to Egypt will come and worship the Lord on that holy mountain in Jerusalem.


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Warnings to Israel ·How terrible it will be for [Woe to] Samaria [the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel], the pride of ·Israel’s [Ephraim’s] drunken people! That beautiful ·crown [wreath; garland] of flowers is ·just a dying plant [fading] set on ·a hill above [the head of] a rich valley ·where drunkards live [of those overcome with wine].


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Look, the Lord has someone who is strong and powerful. Like a storm of hail and ·strong [destructive] wind, like a sudden flood of water pouring over the country, he will throw Samaria down to the ground [with his hand].


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That beautiful ·crown [wreath; garland] of flowers is ·just a dying plant [fading] set on ·a hill above [the head of] a rich valley. That city will be like the first ripe fig of summer. Anyone who sees it quickly ·picks it [takes it in hand] and ·eats [swallows] it.


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·At that time [In that day] the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] ·will be like [will be] a beautiful crown, ·like a wonderful [a beautiful] ·crown of flowers [wreath; garland; diadem] for ·his people who are left alive [the remnant of his people].


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Then he will give ·wisdom [a spirit of justice/judgment] to ·the judges who must decide cases [those who sit in judgment] and strength to those who battle at the city gate.


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But now those leaders ·are drunk [reel] with wine; they ·stumble [stagger] from drinking too much ·beer [strong drink; alcoholic beverage made from grain]. The priests and prophets ·are drunk [stagger] with ·beer [strong drink] and are ·filled with [swallowed by; or confused because of] wine. They stumble from too much ·beer [strong drink]. ·The prophets [They] ·are drunk [stagger] when they see their visions; ·the judges [they] stumble ·when they make their decisions [in judgment].


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·The Lord is trying to teach the people a lesson [Who is he teaching knowledge?]; ·he is trying to make them understand his teachings [To whom is he explaining the message?]. ·But the people are like babies too old for breast milk [Those weaned from milk?], ·like those who no longer nurse at their mother’s breast [Those taken from the breast?].


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So ·they make fun of the Lord’s prophet and say [or the Lord must repeat himself again and again; For it is]: “·A command here, a command there [Precept upon precept, precept upon precept]. ·A rule here, a rule there [Line upon line, line upon line; Hebrew: tsav latsav tsav latsav / kav lakav kav lakav; it may be the people mocking the words of the prophets as nonsense; or it may refer to God repeating himself because the people will not listen]. A little lesson here, a little lesson there [A little there, a little there].”


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So the Lord will use ·strange words [mocking/stammering lips] and foreign ·languages [tongues] to speak to these people.


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God said to them, “Here is a place of rest; let the ·tired people [weary] come and rest. This is the place of peace.” But the people would not listen.


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So the words of the Lord will be, “·A command here, a command there [Precept upon precept, precept upon precept]. ·A rule here, a rule there [Line upon line, line upon line]. ·A little lesson here, a little lesson there [A little there, a little there; see ; God now uses the same words to mimic the foreign language of the Assyrian invaders].” They will fall back and be ·defeated [broken]; they will be ·trapped and captured [snared and taken].


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So listen to the Lord’s message, you who ·brag [mock; scoff; ; , , ; ], you ·leaders [who rule this people] in Jerusalem.


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You say, “We have made an ·agreement [treaty; covenant] with death; we have a ·contract [agreement; pact] with ·death [or the grave; Sheol]. When ·terrible punishment [an overwhelming scourge/flood] passes by, it won’t ·hurt [touch; reach] us. Our lies ·will keep us safe [are our refuge], and ·our tricks [falsehood] ·will hide us [is our refuge/shelter].”


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Because of these things, this is what the Lord God says: “I will ·put [lay; establish] a stone in the ground in ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple], a tested stone. ·Everything will be built on this important and precious rock […a precious cornerstone for a firm foundation]. Anyone who trusts in it will never ·be disappointed [or panic; waver; be shaken; ; ].


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I will use justice as a measuring line and ·goodness [righteousness] as the ·standard [plumb line]. The lies you ·hide behind [take refuge in] will be ·destroyed [swept away] as if by hail. ·They [Your hiding place/shelter] will be washed away as if in a flood.


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Your ·agreement [covenant; treaty] with death will be ·erased [annulled]; your contract with ·death [or the grave; Sheol] will not ·help you [stand; last]. When ·terrible punishment [overwhelming scourge/flood] comes, you will be ·crushed [beaten down] by it.


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Whenever ·punishment [it] comes, it will take you away. It will come morning after morning; it will ·defeat you [sweep through] by day and by night. Those who understand this punishment will be terrified.”


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·You will be like the person who tried to sleep on a bed that was too short [For the bed is too short to stretch out on] and ·with a blanket that [the blanket] was too narrow to wrap around himself.


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The Lord will ·fight [rise up] as he did at Mount Perazim []. He will be ·angry [rouse himself] as he was in the Valley of Gibeon []. He will do his work, his ·strange [peculiar] work. He will finish his job, his ·strange [unusual] job.


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Now, ·you must not make fun of these things [do not mock; or stop your mocking], or the ·ropes [or chains; bonds] around you will become ·tighter [or heavier]. The Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] has ·told me [decreed to me] how the whole ·earth [land] will be destroyed.


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The Lord Punishes Fairly Listen closely to ·what I tell you [my voice]; ·listen carefully to [pay attention to; heed] what I say.


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·A farmer does not [Does the plower…?] plow his field all the time; ·he does not [does he…?] go on working the soil.


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·He makes [Does he not make…?] the ground flat and smooth. Then he plants the dill and scatters the cumin. ·He plants [Does he not plant…?] the wheat in rows, the barley in its special place, and other wheat as a border around the field.


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A farmer doesn’t use ·heavy boards to crush [a sledge to thresh] dill; he doesn’t use a wagon wheel to crush cumin. He uses a small stick to break open the dill, and with a ·stick [rod; flail] he opens the cumin.


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The grain is ground to make bread. People do not ruin it by ·crushing [threshing] it forever. The farmer separates the wheat from the chaff with his cart, but he does not let his horses ·grind [crush] it.


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This lesson [that the Lord’s punishment fits the sin] also comes from the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts], who gives wonderful ·advice [counsel; ], who ·is very wise [or gives excellent/great wisdom].


text:
Warnings to Jerusalem ·How terrible it will be for [Woe to] you, Ariel [another name for Jerusalem, perhaps meaning either “lion” or “altar hearth”; ], the city where David ·camped [lived; settled; or besieged; David first conquered, then lived in the city; ]. Your festivals have continued year after year.


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I will ·attack [threaten; bring distress to] ·Jerusalem [Ariel; ], and that city will be filled with ·sadness [mourning] and ·crying [lamentation]. It will be like an ·altar [or altar hearth; the Hebrew word sounds like Ariel, perhaps indicating that Jerusalem will burn like an altar] to me.


text:
I will ·put armies all around you [encamp against/besiege you; same word as in ]; I will surround you with towers and with ·devices to attack [siege works against] you.


text:
You will be pulled down and will speak from the ground; I will hear your voice rising from the ·ground [or underworld]. It will sound like the voice of a ghost; your words will come like a whisper from the ·dirt [dust].


text:
Your ·many [multitude of] enemies will become like fine dust; the many ·cruel people [ruthless hordes] will be like chaff that is blown away. ·Everything will happen very quickly [Suddenly, in an instant…; this phrase may go with what comes before or after].


text:
The Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] will come with thunder, earthquakes, and great noises, with ·storms [whirlwind], ·strong winds [tempest], and a fire that ·destroys [devours].


text:
Then all the nations that fight against ·Jerusalem [Ariel; ] will be like a dream; all the nations that ·attack [besiege; bring distress to] her will be like a vision in the night.


text:
They will be like a hungry man who dreams he is eating, but when he awakens, he is still hungry. They will be like a thirsty man who dreams he is drinking, but when he awakens, he is still weak and thirsty. It will be the same way with ·all the [the multitude of] nations who fight against Mount Zion.


text:
·Be surprised and amazed [Shock yourselves and be shocked]. Blind yourselves ·so that you cannot see [and be blind]. Become drunk, but not from wine. Trip and fall, but not from ·beer [strong drink; alcoholic beverage made from grain].


text:
The Lord has ·made you go into [poured out on you] a deep sleep. He has closed your eyes. (The prophets are your eyes.) He has covered your heads. (The seers [another name for prophets] are your heads.)


text:
This vision is like the words of a ·book [scroll] that is closed and sealed. You may give the book to someone who can read and tell that person to read it. But he will say, “I can’t read the book, because it is sealed.”


text:
Or you may give the book to someone who cannot read and tell him to read it. But he will say, “I don’t know how to read.”


text:
The Lord says: “These people ·worship me [come near to me] with their mouths, and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their ·worship [awe; fear] is based on nothing but human ·rules [commandments that have been taught].


text:
So [look; behold] I will continue to ·amaze [astound] these people by doing more and more ·miracles [wonders]. ·Their wise men will lose their wisdom [The wisdom of the wise will perish]; ·their wise men will not be able to understand [the discernment of the discerning will disappear; ].”


text:
Warnings About Other Nations ·How terrible it will be for [Woe to] those who ·try to hide [deeply hide; or hide too deep to see] ·things [plans; counsel] from the Lord and who do their work in darkness. They ·think no one will see them or know what they do [say, “Who sees us? Who knows us?”].


text:
You ·are confused [turn things upside down!]. You think the clay is equal to the potter. ·You think that an object can [or Should the thing formed…?] tell the one who made it, “You didn’t make me [; ].” This is like a pot telling ·its maker [the potter], “You don’t ·know anything [understand].”


text:
A Better Time Is Coming In a very short time, Lebanon will become ·rich farmland [a fertile/fruitful field], and the ·rich farmland [fertile/fruitful field] will seem like a forest.


text:
·At that time [In that day] the deaf will hear the words in a ·book [scroll]. ·Instead of having [From; Out of] darkness and gloom, the blind will see.


text:
The Lord will make the ·poor people [humble; lowly; meek] ·happy [rejoice]; ·they [the poor/needy] will ·rejoice [delight; exult] in the Holy One of Israel [].


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Then the ·people without mercy [ruthless; tyrants] will come to an end; ·those who do not respect God [the scoffer/mocker/arrogant] will disappear. Those who ·enjoy [are intent on; have an eye for] doing evil will be ·gone [cut off/down]:


text:
those who ·lie about others in court [bear false testimony; make a person a sinner with a word], those who trap ·people in court [the arbiter at the city gate], those who ·lie and [with false charges/testimony] take justice from innocent people in court.


text:
This is what the Lord who ·set free [redeemed; rescued] Abraham says to the ·family [house] of Jacob: “Now ·the people of Jacob [Jacob] will not be ashamed or ·disgraced [their faces turn pale] any longer.


text:
When they see all their children, the children I made with my hands, they will ·say my name is holy [honor/sanctify my name]. They will ·agree [recognize; acknowledge] that the Holy One of Jacob [] is holy, and they will ·respect [stand in awe of; fear] the God of Israel.


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People who ·do wrong [wander/err in spirit] will now understand. Those who complain will accept ·being taught [insight; instruction].”


text:
Warnings to the Stubborn Nation The Lord said, “·How terrible it will be for [Woe to] these ·stubborn [rebellious] children. They ·make plans [take counsel], but ·they don’t ask me to help them [not of/from me]. They make ·agreements with other nations [alliances], ·without asking [not of/from] my Spirit. They are adding ·more and more sins to themselves [sin upon sin].


text:
They go down to Egypt for help without asking me about it first. They ·hope they will be saved by [seek protection in the strength of] ·the king of Egypt [Pharaoh]; they ·want Egypt to protect them [seek refuge in the shade of Egypt].


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But ·hiding in Egypt [the protection of Pharaoh] will bring you only shame; Egypt’s ·protection [shade] will only disappoint you.


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Your officers have gone to Zoan [in northern Egypt; ], and your messengers have gone to Hanes [in southern Egypt],


text:
but they will be put to shame, because Egypt is useless to them. It will give no help and will be of no ·use [benefit; advantage]; it will cause them only shame and ·embarrassment [disgrace].”


text:
God’s Message to Judah This is a ·message [prophecy; oracle; burden] about the ·animals [beasts] in ·southern Judah [the South; the Negev]: ·Southern Judah is a dangerous place [Though a land of trouble and distress] full of lions and lionesses, ·poisonous snakes [adders] and ·darting [or flying, fiery] ·snakes [serpents]. ·The messengers travel through there with their wealth [They carry their riches] on the backs of donkeys and their treasure on the ·backs [humps] of camels. They carry them to a nation that cannot help them,


text:
to Egypt whose help is ·useless [worthless and futile]. So I call that country Rahab [mythical sea monster symbolic of chaos; ; ] the ·Do-Nothing [Harmless; Silenced].


text:
Now write this on a ·sign [tablet] for the people, ·write this [inscribe it] on a scroll, so that for the days to come this will be a witness forever.


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These people are ·like children who lie and refuse to obey [a rebellious nation, lying children]; children who refuse to listen to the Lord’s ·teachings [law; instruction; Torah].


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They tell the seers [another name for prophets], “Don’t see any more visions!” They say to the prophets, “Don’t tell us ·the truth [what is right]! Say ·things that will make us feel good [pleasant/smooth things]; ·see only good things for us [prophesy illusions].


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Stop blocking our path. Get out of our way. ·Stop telling us about [or Rid us of] the Holy One of Israel [].”


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So this is what the Holy One of Israel says: “You people have ·refused to accept [rejected; despise] this message and have depended on ·cruelty [oppression] and ·lies [deceit] to help you.


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You are guilty of these things. So you will be like a high wall ·with cracks in it [cracked and bulging] that falls suddenly and ·breaks into small pieces [or in a flash/instant].


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You will be like a clay jar that breaks, smashed into many pieces. Those pieces will be too small to take coals from the fire or to get water from a ·well [cistern].”


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This is what the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel [], says: “If you ·come back to me [repent] and ·trust [rest in] me, you will be saved. If you will be calm and trust me, you will be strong.” But you ·don’t want to do that [refused; would not].


text:
You say, “No, we need horses to ·run away on [flee].” So you will ·run away on horses [flee]. You say, “We will ride away on fast horses.” So those who chase you will be fast.


text:
One enemy will make threats, and a thousand of your men will ·run away [flee; ]. Five enemies will make threats, and all of you will run from them. You will be left alone like a flagpole on a hilltop, like a ·banner [standard; signal flag] on a hill.


text:
The Lord ·wants [is waiting] to ·show his mercy [be gracious] to you. He ·wants to rise and [or is exalted and wants to] ·comfort [show compassion to] you. The Lord is a ·fair [just] God, and everyone who waits for ·his help [him] will be ·happy [blessed].


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The Lord Will Help His People You people who live on Mount Zion in Jerusalem will not ·cry [weep] anymore. The Lord will hear your crying, and he will ·comfort [be gracious to] you. When he hears you, he will ·help [answer] you.


text:
The Lord has given you ·sorrow and hurt like the bread and water you ate every day [the bread of adversity and the water of affliction]. ·He is your teacher; he will not continue to hide [or But your teachers will no longer be hidden] from you, but you will see your ·teacher [or teachers] with your own eyes.


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If you go the wrong way—to the right or to the left—you will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the right way. ·You should go this way [Walk in it].”


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Then you will ·ruin [destroy; desecrate] your statues covered with silver and gold. You will throw them away like ·filthy rags [unclean things; a menstrual cloth; ] and say, “Go away!”


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·At that time [In that day] the Lord will send rain for the seeds you ·plant [sow] in the ground, and the ground will grow food for you. The harvest will be ·rich [fat] and ·great [plentiful], and ·you will have plenty of food in the fields for your animals [your cattle will graze in large pastures].


text:
Your oxen and donkeys that work the soil will have ·all the food they need [the best grain; seasoned feed]. ·You will have to use shovels and pitchforks to spread all their food […winnowed with fork and shovel].


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Every mountain and hill will have streams flowing with water. ·These things will happen after many people are killed and […in the day of great slaughter when] the towers are pulled down.


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·At that time [In that day] the light from the moon will be bright like the sun, and the light from the sun will be seven times brighter than now, like the light of seven days. These things will happen when the Lord ·bandages his broken [binds up the broken limbs of his] people and heals the ·hurts he gave them [wounds he inflicted].


text:
Look! The ·Lord [the name of the Lord; the name represents the person] comes from far away. His anger is like a fire with thick clouds of smoke. His ·mouth is [lips are] filled with anger, and his tongue is like a ·burning [consuming; devouring] fire.


text:
His breath is like a rushing river, which rises to the ·throat [neck]. He will ·judge [sift; shake] the nations as if he is sifting them through the strainer of destruction. He will place in their mouths a bit that will lead them ·the wrong way [astray].


text:
You will ·sing happy songs [have a song] as on the nights you begin a festival. You will be happy like people ·listening to [or playing; going with] flutes as they come to the mountain of the Lord, to the Rock of Israel.


text:
The Lord will cause all people to hear his ·great [majestic; glorious] voice and to see his powerful arm come down with anger, like a ·great fire that burns everything [consuming/devouring fire], like a great storm with much rain and hail.


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Assyria will be ·afraid [terrorized; or shattered] when it hears the voice of the Lord, because he will strike Assyria with a rod.


text:
·When the Lord punishes Assyria with a rod [Every stroke he lays on them with his punishing club/rod], he will beat them to the music of tambourines and harps; he will fight against them with his mighty weapons.


text:
·Topheth [or The burning place; perhaps located in the Valley of Hinnom (Gehenna); ] has been made ready for a long time; it is ready for the king. It was made deep and wide with much wood and fire. And the Lord’s breath will come like a stream of ·burning sulfur [brimstone] and set it on fire.


text:
Warnings About Relying on Egypt ·How terrible it will be for [Woe to] those people who go down to Egypt for help. ·They think horses will save them […who rely on horses]. ·They think […who trust in] their many chariots and strong horsemen will save them []. But they don’t trust God, the Holy One of Israel [], or ask the Lord for help.


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But he is wise and can bring them disaster. He does not ·change his warnings [take back his words]. He will rise up and fight against the ·evil people [house of evildoers] and against those who try to help ·evil people [sinners; workers of iniquity].


text:
The Egyptians are only people and are not God. Their horses are ·only animals [flesh] and are not spirit. The Lord will stretch out his arm, and the one who helps will stumble, and the people who wanted help will fall. All of them will ·be destroyed [perish] together.


text:
The Lord says this to me: “When a lion or a ·lion’s cub [young lion], stands over ·the dead animal it has killed [its prey] and roars. A band of shepherds may be assembled against it, but the lion will not be afraid of their yelling or upset by their noise. So the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its hill.


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The Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] will ·defend [protect] Jerusalem like birds flying over their nests. He will ·defend [protect] and save it; he will ‘pass over’ and save Jerusalem.”


text:
·The time is coming when [For in that day] each of you will ·stop worshiping [throw/cast away] idols of gold and silver, which ·you sinned by making [your sinful hands have made].


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“Assyria will ·be defeated [fall] by a sword, but not ·the sword of a person [of man]; Assyria will be ·destroyed [devoured], but not by a person’s sword. Assyria will run away from the ·sword of God [sword], but its young men will be caught and made slaves.


text:
·They will panic, and [From terror] their ·protection [or strong ones; rock] will be destroyed. Their ·commanders [officers; princes] will be terrified when they see ·God’s battle flag [the standard/flag],” says the Lord, whose fire is in ·Jerusalem [Zion; ] and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.


text:
A Good Kingdom Is Coming A king will rule in ·a way that brings justice [righteousness; justice], and ·leaders [rulers; princes] will ·make fair decisions [rule in justice].


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Then each ruler will be like a shelter from the wind, like a ·safe place [refuge] in a storm, like streams of water in a dry land, like a cool shadow from a large rock in a ·hot [thirsty; weary] land.


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Then the eyes of those who see will ·see the truth [not be closed], and the ears of those who hear will listen.


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·People who are now worried [or Those who are reckless; The heart of the hasty] will be able to understand. ·Those who cannot speak clearly now [The stuttering/stammering tongue] will then be able to speak clearly and quickly.


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Fools will not be called ·great [noble; honorable], and people will not respect the ·wicked [scoundrel; deceiver].


text:
A fool says foolish things, and in his ·mind [heart] he ·plans evil [or commits sin]. A fool ·does things that are wicked [practices ungodliness], and he ·says wrong things [spreads error] about the Lord. A fool does not feed the hungry or let thirsty people drink water.


text:
The ·wicked person [scoundrel] uses evil ·like a tool [or schemes; methods]. He plans ·ways [wicked schemes] to take everything from the poor. He destroys the poor with lies, even when the ·poor person [needy] ·is in the right [speak justice].


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But a ·good leader plans to do good [honorable/noble man plans honorable/noble things], and those ·good [honorable; noble] things make him ·a good leader [or stand firm].


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Hard Times Are Coming You women who are ·calm [complacent] now, ·stand [rise] up and listen to ·me [my voice]. You ·women [daughters] who feel ·safe [secure; self-confident] now, hear what I say.


text:
You women feel ·safe [secure; self-confident] now, but ·after one year [in a year and some days] you will ·be afraid [shudder; tremble]. There will be no grape harvest and no summer fruit to gather.


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Women, you are ·calm [complacent] now, but you should shake with fear. Women, you feel ·safe [secure; self-confident] now, but you should tremble. ·Take [Strip] off your nice clothes and put ·rough cloth [burlap; sackcloth] around your waist [a sign of sorrow or despair].


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Beat your breasts [a sign of mourning or grief], ·because the fields that were pleasant are now empty [for the pleasant fields]. ·Cry, because the vines that once had fruit now have no more grapes […for the fruitful vine].


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·Cry for […for] the land of my people, in which only thorns and weeds now grow []. ·Cry for […for] the city that once was happy and for all the houses that once were filled with joy.


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The ·palace [or fortress] will be ·empty [abandoned; deserted]; the ·noisy [bustling; populous] city will be abandoned. ·Strong cities and towers [or The citadel and the watchtower] will be empty. Wild donkeys will love to live there, and sheep will go there to eat.


text:
Things Will Get Better This will continue until ·God pours his Spirit [the Spirit is poured] from ·above [heaven; on high] upon us. Then the desert will be like ·rich farmland [a fertile/fruitful field] and the ·rich farmland [fertile/fruitful field] like a forest [; , ].


text:
Justice will ·be found [dwell] even in the desert, and fairness will be found in the ·rich farmland [fertile/fruitful field].


text:
That fairness will bring peace, and it will bring ·calm [quietness] and ·safety [trust; confidence] forever.


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My people will live in peaceful places and in ·safe [secure] homes and in ·calm [quiet] places of rest.


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But you will be ·happy [blessed] as you plant seeds near every stream and as you let [the feet of] your cattle and donkeys wander freely.


text:
Warnings to Assyria and Promises to God’s People ·How terrible it will be for [Woe to] you who destroy others but have not been destroyed yet. ·How terrible it will be for [Woe to] you, traitor, whom no one has ·turned against yet [betrayed]. When you stop destroying, others will destroy you. When you stop ·turning against others [betraying], they will ·turn against [betray] you.


text:
Lord, be ·kind [gracious; merciful] to us. We have waited for your help. ·Give us strength [Be our arm] every morning. ·Save us […our salvation] ·when we are in [in times of] trouble.


text:
·Your powerful voice makes [or At the sound of tumult] ·people [the peoples/nations] run away; your ·greatness [majesty; or rising up] causes the nations to run away.


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Like ·locusts [or the caterpillar], your enemies will ·take away [gather; harvest] ·the things you stole in war [your plunder]. Like locusts ·rushing about [swarming], they will take your wealth.


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The Lord is ·very great [exalted], and he ·lives in a high place [dwells on high]. He fills ·Jerusalem [Zion; ] with ·fairness [justice; judgment] and ·justice [righteousness].


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He will ·always be your safety [be the foundation/stability of your time]. He is ·full [a rich store/abundance] of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. ·Respect for [The fear of] the Lord is the greatest treasure [].


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See, ·brave people [heroes; valiant ones] are crying out in the streets; ·those who tried to bring [envoys/ambassadors of] peace are weeping ·loudly [bitterly].


text:
·There is no one on the roads [Highways lie desolate/deserted], no ·one walking [travelers] in the ·paths [roads; way]. People have broken the ·agreements [treaties; covenants] they made. They ·refuse to believe the proof from [despise its] witnesses. No one ·respects [cares about; regards] other people.


text:
The land ·is sick and dying [dries up and withers; or mourns and languishes]; Lebanon is ashamed and ·dying [shrivels; withers]. Sharon [a fertile plain along the Mediterranean coast] is like the desert, and ·the trees of Bashan and Carmel are dying [Bashan and Carmel shake off; their leaves; these places were known for their lush trees and vegetation; ; ].


text:
The Lord says, “Now, I will ·stand [rise] up and ·show my greatness [be exalted]. Now, I will ·become important to the people [be lifted up].


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You people ·do useless things [produce nothing; conceive chaff/straw] ·that are like hay and straw [you give birth to straw/stubble]. ·A destructive wind [or Your breath] will ·burn [consume; devour] you like fire.


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·People [or The nations] will be burned ·until their bones become like lime [to ashes/lime]; they will burn quickly like ·dry [cut] thornbushes.”


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You people in faraway lands, hear what I have done. You people who are near me, ·learn about [or acknowledge] my ·power [might].


text:
The sinners in ·Jerusalem [Zion; ] are afraid; those who are ·separated from God [godless] shake with fear. They say, “·Can any of us [Who can] live through this fire that ·destroys [consumes; devours]? Who can live near this ·fire that burns on and on [unquenchable/everlasting burning]?”


text:
A person who ·does what is right [walks righteously; ] and speaks ·what is right [truthfully; uprightly], who ·refuses to take [rejects; despises] ·money unfairly [profit from oppression/extortion], who ·refuses to take money to hurt others [shakes off his hands from grabbing a bribe], who ·does not listen [closes his ears] to plans of murder, who ·refuses to think about [closes his eyes to looking on] evil—


text:
this is the kind of person who will ·be safe [dwell on high/the heights]. He will ·be protected as he would be [find refuge] in a ·high, walled city [rock stronghold/fortress]. He will always have ·bread [food], and he will not run out of water.


text:
Your eyes will see the king in his ·beauty [splendor]. You will see the land that stretches far away.


text:
·You [Your heart] will ·think about the terror of the past [meditate on terror]: “Where is that ·officer [scribe; taxation officer; counter]? Where is the ·one who collected the taxes [weigher]? Where is the ·officer in charge of our defense towers [one who counts the towers; for taxation purposes]?”


text:
No longer will you see those ·proud [defiant; or fierce; or barbaric] people, whose ·strange [obscure] ·language [speech; lip] you don’t know [the Assyrians]. whose stammering ·speech [tongue] you cannot understand.


text:
God Will Protect Jerusalem Look at ·Jerusalem [Zion], the city of our festivals. ·Look at [Your eyes will see] Jerusalem, that ·beautiful place of rest [quiet dwelling]. It is like a tent that will never be moved; ·the pegs that hold her in place [its stakes] will never be pulled up, and her ropes will never be broken.


text:
There the Lord will be our Mighty One. That land is a place with streams and wide rivers, ·but there will be no enemy boats on those rivers [no galley with oars will go]; no ·powerful [majestic] ship will sail on them.


text:
This is because the Lord is our judge. The Lord ·makes our laws [is our lawgiver]. The Lord is our king. He will ·save [rescue; deliver] us.


text:
The ·ropes on your boats [ropes; cords] hang loose [perhaps referring to the enemy ships or metaphorically to Judah]. The mast is not held firm. The sails are not spread open. Then ·your great wealth [an abundance of plunder] will be divided. ·There will be so much wealth that even the crippled people will carry off a share [Even the lame will take the prey].


text:
No one living in ·Jerusalem [Zion; ] will say, “I am sick.” The people who live there will have their sins forgiven.


text:
God Will Punish His Enemies All you nations, come near and listen. Pay attention, you peoples! The earth and ·everything in it [all it contains] should listen, the world and all ·the people in it [its offspring].


text:
The Lord is angry with all the nations; he is ·angry [furious] with their armies. He will ·destroy them [devote them to destruction; ] and ·kill them all [turn them over for slaughter].


text:
Their bodies will be thrown outside. The ·stink [stench] will rise from the ·bodies [corpses], and the blood will flow down the mountains.


text:
·The sun, moon, and stars [All the hosts/armies of heaven] will dissolve [; ; ; ], and the ·sky [heavens] will be rolled up like a scroll. ·The stars [All their hosts] will fall like dead leaves from a vine or dried-up figs from a fig tree.


text:
The Lord’s sword in the ·sky [heavens] ·is covered with [has drunk its fill of] blood. It will ·cut through [descend upon] Edom and ·destroy those people as an offering to the Lord [on the people who are devoted to destruction for judgment; ; ].


text:
The Lord’s sword will be covered with blood; it will be covered with fat, with the blood from lambs and goats, with the fat from the kidneys of ·sheep [rams]. This is because the Lord ·decided there will be [has] a sacrifice in Bozrah [the capital of Edom] and ·much killing [a great slaughter] in the land of Edom.


text:
The wild oxen will ·be killed [fall with them], and the ·cattle [or young bulls] and the strong ·bulls [ones; perhaps referring to Edom’s leaders]. The land will ·be filled with [drink its fill of] their blood, and the dirt will be covered with their fat.


text:
The Lord has chosen a time for punishment. He has chosen a year ·when people must pay [of retribution/recompense] for the ·wrongs they did to [or the cause of] ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple].


text:
Edom’s rivers will be like ·hot tar [pitch]. Its ·dirt [dust] will be like ·burning sulfur [brimstone]. Its land will be like burning ·tar [pitch].


text:
The fires will ·burn [not be quenched] night and day; the smoke will rise from Edom forever. ·Year after year [From generation to generation] that land will be ·empty [desolate]; no one will ever ·travel [pass] through that land again.


text:
·Birds [Desert owls; or Pelicans] and ·small animals [screech owl; or porcupine] will own that land, and owls and ravens will live there. ·God [He] will ·make it an empty wasteland [stretch over it a measuring line of confusion/chaos]; ·it will have nothing left in it [and the plumb line of desolation; like a careful craftsman, God has planned Edom’s judgment].


text:
The ·important people [nobles] will have ·no one left to rule them [or nothing to call a kingdom]; the ·leaders [officials; princes] will ·all be gone [or be nothing].


text:
Thorns will ·take over [overrun] the ·strong towers [strongholds; citadels], and wild bushes will grow in the ·walled cities [fortresses]. It will be a home for ·wild dogs [jackals] and a place for ·owls [or ostriches] to live.


text:
Desert animals will live with the hyenas, and wild goats will call to their friends. Night animals will live there and find a place of rest.


text:
Owls will nest there and lay eggs. When they hatch open, the owls will gather their young under their ·wings [shadow]. Hawks will gather with ·their own kind [or its mate].


text:
·Look at [Search] the Lord’s scroll and read what is written there: None of these will be missing; none will be without its mate. ·God [For his mouth] has given the command, so his Spirit will gather them together.


text:
God has ·divided the land among [or cast the lot for] them, and he has ·given [measured to] them each their portion. So they will ·own [possess] that land forever and will live there ·year after year [from generation to generation].


text:
God Will Comfort His People The ·desert [wilderness] and dry land will ·become happy [rejoice]; the ·desert [arid plain; or Arabah] will be glad and will ·produce flowers [blossom; bloom]. Like a ·flower [lily; crocus],


text:
it will have many blooms. It will ·show its happiness [joyfully rejoice], as if it were ·shouting [or singing] with joy. It will be ·beautiful like the forest [given the glory] of Lebanon, ·as beautiful as Mount Carmel and the Plain of Sharon [the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; ]. ·Everyone [They] will see the glory of the Lord [his manifest presence] and the splendor of our God.


text:
Say to people who are ·frightened [anxious; hasty of heart], “Be strong. Don’t be afraid. Look, your God will come, ·and he will punish your enemies […with vengeance]. ·He will make them pay for the wrongs they did […with the retribution of God], but he will save you.”


text:
·Crippled people [Then the lame] will ·jump [leap] like deer, and ·those who can’t talk now [the tongue of the mute] will shout with joy. Water will ·flow [burst forth] in the ·desert [wilderness], and streams will flow in the ·dry land [arid plain; or Arabah].


text:
The ·burning desert [scorched ground; parched earth] will have pools of water, and the ·dry [parched; thirsty] ground will have springs. Where ·wild dogs [jackals] once ·lived [lived and laid down], grass and ·water plants [reeds and rushes/papyrus] will grow.


text:
A road will be there; this highway will be called “The ·Road to Being Holy [Way/Highway of Holiness].” ·Evil people [The unclean; ritually] will not be allowed to walk on that road; only good people [those who walk in the Way of Holiness] will walk on it. No fools [the morally corrupt who disregard God] will go on it.


text:
No lions will be there, nor will ·dangerous animals [ravenous/violent beasts] be on that road. They will not be found there. That road will be for the ·people God saves [redeemed];


text:
the people the Lord has ·freed [ransomed] will return there. They will enter ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple] with ·joy [or singing; shouting], and ·their happiness will last forever [eternal joy will be upon their head; as a crown]. Their gladness and joy will ·fill them completely [overtake/come upon them], and sorrow and ·sadness [sighing] will ·go far [flee] away.


text:
The Assyrians Invade Judah During Hezekiah’s fourteenth year as king [701 bc], Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the ·strong, walled [fortified] cities of Judah and captured them.


text:
The king of Assyria sent out ·his field commander [or chief advisor; or the Rabshakeh] with a large army from Lachish to King Hezekiah in Jerusalem []. When the commander came near the ·waterway [aqueduct; conduit] from the upper pool on the road ·where people do their laundry [or to the Launderer’s/Fuller’s Field], he stopped.


text:
Eliakim son of Hilkiah [], ·the palace manager [who was over the house], Shebna [], the ·royal secretary [scribe], and Joah son of Asaph, the ·recorder [royal historian] went out to meet him.


text:
The ·field commander [chief advisor; or Rabshakeh] said to them, “Tell Hezekiah this: “‘The great king, the king of Assyria, says: ·What can you trust in now [On what do you base your confidence; Where does this confidence come from]?


text:
You might say, “We are depending on the Lord our God,” but ·Hezekiah destroyed [did not Hezekiah destroy…?] the Lord’s altars and ·the places of worship [high places; ; ; ]. Hezekiah told Judah and Jerusalem, “You must worship only at this one altar [at the temple in Jerusalem; the Assyrian official wrongly assumes that the other altars and high places were dedicated to the Lord and that restricting worship to Jerusalem would offend him; ].”


text:
“‘Now make an ·agreement [pledge; deal] with my ·master [lord], the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses if you can find enough men to ride them [a taunt that Judah’s army is too small even if Assyria were to supply it].


text:
·I have not [Do you think I have…?] come to attack and destroy this country without ·an order from the Lord [the Lord]. The Lord himself told me to come ·to [against] this country and destroy it [echoing Isaiah’s prophecy that this is judgment from the Lord].’”


text:
Then Eliakim [], Shebna [], and Joah said to the ·field commander [chief advisor; or Rabshakeh], “Please speak to ·us [your servants] in the Aramaic language [the language of trade and diplomacy]. We understand it. Don’t speak to us in ·Hebrew [Judean], because the people on the city wall can hear you.”


text:
But the commander said, “My master did not send me to tell these ·things [words] only to you and your ·king [master; lord]. He sent me to speak also to those people sitting on the wall who will have to eat their own ·dung [excrement] and drink their own urine like you [because of shortages caused by the upcoming siege].”


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Then the commander stood and shouted loudly in ·the Hebrew language [Judean], “·Listen to what [Hear the word of] the great king, the king of Assyria, says.


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The king says you should not let Hezekiah ·fool [deceive; delude] you, because he can’t ·save [rescue; deliver] you.


text:
Don’t let Hezekiah talk you into trusting the Lord by saying, ‘The Lord will surely ·save [rescue; deliver] us. This city won’t be handed over to the king of Assyria.’


text:
“Don’t listen to Hezekiah. The king of Assyria says, ‘Make peace with me, and come out of the city to me. Then everyone will be free to eat the fruit from his own grapevine and fig tree and to drink water from his own ·well [cistern; symbols of freedom and prosperity].


text:
·After that […until] I will come and take you to a land like your own—a land with grain and new wine, bread and vineyards.’


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“Don’t let Hezekiah ·fool [mislead] you, saying, ‘The Lord will save us.’ Has a god of any other nation saved his people from the ·power [hand] of the king of Assyria?


text:
Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad [cities conquered by Assyria; ]? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim [city in northern Syria conquered by Assyria]? They did not save Samaria from my ·power [hand].


text:
·Not one [Which…?] of all the gods of these countries has ·saved [rescued; delivered] his people from me. Neither can the Lord ·save [rescue; deliver] Jerusalem from my ·power [hand].”


text:
·The people [They] were silent. They didn’t answer the commander at all, because King Hezekiah had ordered, “Don’t answer him.”


text:
Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah [], ·the palace manager [who was over the house], Shebna [], the ·royal secretary [scribe], and Joah son of Asaph, the ·recorder [royal historian], went to Hezekiah. They tore their clothes [a sign of grief, anguish or despair] and went in and told him what the field commander had said.


text:
Hezekiah Asks God to Help When King Hezekiah heard the message, he tore his clothes [a sign of mourning or distress; ] and put on ·rough cloth [burlap; sackcloth; also a sign of mourning]. Then he went into the ·Temple [house] of the Lord.


text:
Hezekiah sent Eliakim [], ·the palace manager [who was over the house], and Shebna [], the ·royal secretary [scribe], and the ·older [or senior; leading; elders of the] priests to Isaiah. They were all wearing ·rough cloth [burlap; sackcloth] when they came to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz.


text:
They told Isaiah, “This is what Hezekiah says: Today is a day of ·sorrow [distress; trouble] and ·punishment [insults; rebuke] and ·disgrace [rejection], as when a child ·should [is ready to] be born, but the mother is not strong enough to give birth to it.


text:
The king of Assyria sent his ·field commander [chief advisor; or Rabshakeh] to ·make fun of [defy; ridicule; insult] the living God. Maybe the Lord your God will hear what the commander said and will ·punish [rebuke] him for it. So pray for the ·few of us who are left alive [remnant that is left].”


text:
he said to them, “Tell your ·master [lord] this: ·The Lord says [Thus says the Lord], ‘Don’t be afraid of what you have heard. Don’t be frightened by the words the ·servants [subordinates; young men] of the king of Assyria have ·spoken [used to blaspheme] against me.


text:
·Listen [Look; Behold]! I am going to put a spirit [either an evil spirit or an inclination] in the king of Assyria. He will hear a report that will make him return to his own country, and I will cause him to ·die [fall] by the sword there.’”


text:
The ·field commander [chief advisor; or Rabshakeh] heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish. When he went back, he found the king fighting against the city of Libnah.


text:
The king received a report that Tirhakah, the ·Cushite king of Egypt [king of Cush; ruled 689–664 bc], was coming to attack him. When the king of Assyria heard this, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,


text:
Did the gods of ·those people [the nations] ·save [rescue; deliver] them? My ·ancestors [predecessors; fathers] destroyed them, defeating the cities of Gozan, Haran, and Rezeph, and the people of Eden living in Tel Assar [cities in Mesopotamia].


text:
Where are the kings of Hamath and Arpad [; ]? Where are the kings of Sepharvaim [], Hena, and Ivvah?”


text:
Hezekiah Prays to the Lord When Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it, he went up to the ·Temple [house] of the Lord. He spread the letter out before the Lord


text:
“Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts], you are the God of Israel, whose throne is ·between [above] the ·gold creatures with wings [cherubim; ; ], only you are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth [].


text:
·Hear [Extend/Incline your ear], Lord, and listen. Open your eyes, Lord, and see. Listen to all the words Sennacherib has said to ·insult [defy; ridicule; mock] the living God.


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“It is true, Lord, that the kings of Assyria have ·destroyed [devastated; laid waste to] all these ·countries [nations] and their lands.


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They have thrown the gods of these nations into the fire, ·but [for] they were only wood and rock statues ·that people made [the work of human hands]. So they have destroyed them.


text:
Now, Lord our God, ·save [rescue; deliver] us from the king’s ·power [hand] so that all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you, ·Lord, are the only God […alone are Lord; ].”


text:
The Lord Answers Hezekiah Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah that said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘You prayed to me about Sennacherib king of Assyria [from 704–681 bc].


text:
So this is what the Lord has said against Sennacherib: The ·people of Jerusalem [virgin daughter of Zion] ·hate you [despise] and ·make fun of [mock; scorn] you; the ·people [daughter] of Jerusalem ·laugh at you [tosses her head] ·as you run away [as you flee; or behind your back].


text:
·You have insulted me and spoken against me [Whom have you defied/ridiculed/mocked?]; ·you have raised your voice against me [against whom have you raised your voice?]. ·You have a proud look on your face […and arrogantly lifted your eyes/gaze…?], which is against me, the Holy One of Israel []!


text:
You have sent your messengers to ·insult [defy; ridicule; mock] the Lord. You have said, “With my many chariots I have gone to the tops of the mountains, to the ·highest [or remotest] mountains of Lebanon. I have cut down its tallest cedars and its best ·pine [cypress] trees. I have gone to its greatest heights and its ·best [densest] forests.


text:
A ·few people will come out of Jerusalem alive [remnant will spread out from Jerusalem]; ·a few from Mount Zion will live […and survivors out from Mount Zion]. The ·strong love [zeal] of the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] will ·make this happen [accomplish this].’


text:
The Angel of Death Then the ·angel [messenger] of the Lord went out and killed one hundred eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up early the next morning, they saw all the dead bodies.


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Hezekiah’s Illness At that time Hezekiah became so sick he ·almost died [was about to die]. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to see him and told him, “·This is what the Lord says [Thus says the Lord]: ·Make arrangements [Set your house in order], because you are going to die. You will not recover.”


text:
“Go to Hezekiah and tell him: ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your ·ancestor [father] David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. So I will add fifteen years to your life.


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I will ·save [rescue] you and this city from [the hand of] the king of Assyria; I will defend this city.


text:
The sun has made a shadow go down the stairway of Ahaz, but I will make it go back ten steps.’” So the shadow made by the sun went back up the ten steps it had gone down.


text:
I said, “I am in the ·middle [prime] of my life. Do I have to go through the gates of ·death [or the grave; Sheol]? Will I have the rest of my life ·taken away [deprived; robbed] from me?”


text:
I said, “I will not see ·the Lord [the Lord, the Lord; Yah, Yah; ] in the land of the living again. I will not again see ·the people [a human being] who live on the earth.


text:
Like a shepherd’s tent, my home has been pulled down and taken from me. I am like the cloth a weaver rolls up and cuts from the loom. ·In one day [From day to night] you brought me to this end.


text:
·All night I cried loudly [or I waited patiently till morning]. Like a lion, he ·crushed [breaks] all my bones. ·In one day [From day to night] you brought me to this end.


text:
I ·cried [twitter; chatter] like a ·bird [swallow or a crane] and moaned like a dove. My eyes ·became tired as I looked [grew weary from looking] to the ·heavens [heights]. Lord, I ·have troubles [am oppressed]. ·Please help me [Be my security].”


text:
What can I say? ·The Lord told me what would happen and then made it happen [He spoke to me and he did it]. I will ·be humble [wander about; shuffle along; walk slowly] all my ·life [years] because of ·these troubles in [the bitterness of] my soul.


text:
Lord, because of ·you [these things], people live. Because of ·you [them], my spirit also lives; you ·made me well [restored me] and let me live.


text:
It was for my own ·good [welfare; peace; Hebrew shalom] that I had such ·troubles [anguish; bitterness]. Because you love me very much, you ·did not let me die [delivered my soul from the pit of destruction/corruption] but threw my sins ·far away [behind your back].


text:
·People in the place of the dead [or For the grave; For Sheol] cannot ·praise [thank] you; ·those who have died [death] cannot ·sing praises [praise] to you; those who ·die [go down to the pit] ·don’t trust you to help them [cannot hope for your faithfulness].


text:
·The people who are alive [The living, the living] are the ones who ·praise [thank] you. They praise you as I praise you today. A father should tell his children ·that you provide help [about your faithfulness].


text:
The Lord ·saved me [or will save; or is ready to save], so we will play songs on stringed instruments in the ·Temple [house] of the Lord all the days of our lives.


text:
Then Isaiah said, “·Make a paste from [or Take a cake of] figs and put it on Hezekiah’s boil. Then he will get well.”


text:
Hezekiah ·then [or had] asked Isaiah, “What will be the sign? What will show that I will go up to the ·Temple [house] of the Lord?”


text:
Messengers from Babylon At that time Merodach-Baladan son of Baladan was king of Babylon [ruled 722–710 and 703–702 bc]. He sent ·letters [greetings] and a gift to Hezekiah, because he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick and was now well.


text:
Hezekiah was pleased and showed the messengers what was in his storehouses: the silver, gold, spices, ·expensive perfumes [precious oils], his ·swords and shields [armory], and all his ·wealth [treasures]. He showed them everything in his ·palace [house] and in his kingdom.


text:
Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah: “Listen to the words of the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts]:


text:
‘·In the future to you [The time/day is coming when] everything in your palace and everything your ·ancestors [fathers] have stored up until this day will be ·taken away [carried off] to Babylon. Nothing will be left,’ says the Lord.


text:
Some of your own ·children [sons], those ·who will be born to you [you will father], will be taken away, and they will become ·servants [eunuchs] in the palace of the king of Babylon.”


text:
Hezekiah told Isaiah, “These words from the Lord are good.” He said this because he thought, “There will be peace and security in my lifetime.”


text:
Speak kindly to ·the people of Jerusalem [Jerusalem] and tell them that their time of ·service [or warfare] is finished, that ·they have paid for their sins [or her sins are pardoned], that ·the Lord has punished Jerusalem [she has received from the Lord] ·twice [double] for every sin they did.”


text:
This is the voice of one who calls out: “Prepare in the ·desert [wilderness] the way for the Lord. Make a straight road in the ·dry lands [arid plain] for our God.


text:
Every valley will be ·raised up [elevated], and every mountain and hill will be made ·flat [level; low]. The rough ground will be ·made level [smoothed out], and the rugged ground will be made ·smooth [into a plain].


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Then the glory of the Lord [his manifest presence] will be ·shown [revealed], and all ·people [flesh] together will see it. ·The Lord himself said these things [For the mouth of the Lord has spoken].”


text:
A voice says, “Cry out!” Then I said, “What shall I cry out?” “Say all ·people [flesh] are like the grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.


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The grass ·dies [withers] and the flowers fall when the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are like grass.


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The grass ·dies [withers] and the flowers fall, but the word of our God will ·live [endure; stand] forever.”


text:
·Jerusalem [Zion], ·you have good news to tell [herald of good news]. Go up on a high mountain. Jerusalem, ·you have good news to tell [herald of good news]. Shout out loud the good news. Shout it out and don’t be afraid. Say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God.”


text:
Look, the Lord God is coming with power ·to rule all the people [his arm rules for him]. Look, ·he will bring reward for his people [his reward is with him]; ·he will have their payment with him [his payment/prize is before him].


text:
He ·takes care of his people [tends his flock] like a shepherd. He gathers them like lambs in his arms and carries them ·close to him [on his chest/bosom]. He gently leads the mothers of the lambs.


text:
God Is Supreme Who has measured the ·oceans [waters] in the ·palm [hollow] of his hand? Who has used ·his hand [a span; the distance between the extended thumb and little finger] to measure the ·sky [heavens]? Who has used a bowl to measure all the dust of the earth and ·scales to weigh the mountains and [a balance (to weigh) the] hills?


text:
Who has ·known [comprehended; or directed; or measured] the ·mind [or Spirit] of the Lord or been able to ·give him advice [instruct him as counselor; ; ]?


text:
Whom did he ·ask for help [take counsel from]? Who taught him the ·right way [path/way of justice/judgment]? Who taught him knowledge and showed him the way to understanding?


text:
[Look; Behold] The nations are like one small drop in a bucket; they are ·no more than [regarded as] the dust on his measuring scales. ·To him the islands are no more than fine dust on his scales [He weighs/or lifts the coastlands/islands like fine dust].


text:
·All the trees in Lebanon are not enough [Lebanon is not sufficient] for the altar fires, and all the animals in Lebanon are not enough for burnt offerings.


text:
·Compared to the Lord [Before him] all the nations are worth nothing; to him they are ·less than nothing [nothing and void/empty].


text:
An idol is ·formed [cast] by a craftsman, and a goldsmith ·covers [overlays] it with gold and ·makes [forms; refines] silver chains for it.


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A poor person cannot ·buy those expensive statues [make such an offering], so he finds a tree that will not rot. Then he finds a skilled craftsman to make it into an idol that will not fall over.


text:
·Surely you [Do you not…?] know. ·Surely you have [Have you not…?] heard. ·Surely [Has not…?] from the beginning someone told you. ·Surely you [Do you not…?] understand ·how the earth was created [or from the foundations of the earth].


text:
·God sits on his throne [He sits] above the ·circle [horizon] of the earth, and ·compared to him, [its] people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the ·skies [heavens] like a ·piece of cloth [canopy; curtain] and spreads them out like a tent to ·sit under [or live in].


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He makes rulers ·unimportant [nothing] and the judges of this world ·worth nothing [insignificant; useless].


text:
·They are like plants that are placed in the ground [Indeed, they are barely planted], ·like seeds that are planted [indeed, they are barely sown]. ·As soon as they begin to grow strong [Indeed, they barely take root], he blows on them and they ·die [wither], and the ·wind [storm; whirlwind] blows them away like ·chaff [straw].


text:
Look up to the ·skies [heavens]. Who created ·all these stars [these]? He leads out the ·army [hosts] of heaven one by one and calls ·all the stars [them all] by name. Because ·he is strong and powerful [of his great strength and mighty power], not one of them is missing.


text:
·People of Jacob [Jacob], why do you complain? ·People of Israel [Israel], why do you say, “The Lord does not see ·what happens to me [my way/path]; he ·does not care if I am treated fairly [disregards my cause]”?


text:
·Surely you [Do you not…?] know. ·Surely you have [Have you not…?] heard. The Lord is the ·God who lives forever [everlasting God], who created ·all [the ends of] the ·world [earth]. He does not become tired or ·need to rest [weary]. No one can ·understand [fathom; comprehend] how great his ·wisdom [knowledge] is.


text:
Even ·children [youths; young people] become tired and ·need to rest [weary], and young ·people [men] ·trip and fall [fall in exhaustion].


text:
But the people who ·trust [hope in; wait on] the Lord will become strong again. They will rise up ·as an eagle in the sky [with wings like eagles]; they will run and not ·need rest [grow weary]; they will walk and not ·become tired [faint].


text:
The Lord Will Help Israel The Lord says, “·Faraway countries [or Coastlands; or Islands], listen to me. Let the nations ·become strong [renew their strength]. ·Come to me [Approach] and speak; ·we will [or let us] meet together ·to decide who is right [for judgment/or debate].


text:
“Who ·caused the one to come [stirs up one] from the east [the Persian king Cyrus the Great; ; ; ]? Who ·gives him victories everywhere he goes [or calls him in righteousness to his service/foot]? He [the Lord] gives nations over to him and ·defeats [subdues] kings. He uses his sword, and kings become like dust. He uses his bow, and they are blown away like ·chaff [straw].


text:
He chases them and ·is never hurt [passes by in peace], ·going places he has never been before [by a path his feet have not gone].


text:
Who caused this to happen? ·Who has controlled history […calling generations] since the beginning? I, the Lord, am the one. ·I was here at the beginning, and I will be here when all things are finished [or…the First and the Last; or…with them at the first and the last; first and with them at the last].”


text:
All you ·faraway places [or islands; or coastlands], look and be afraid; all you ·places far away on [ends of] the earth, shake with fear. Come close and ·listen to [approach] me.


text:
·The workers help each other [A man helps his companion/neighbor] and say to ·each other [his brother], “Be strong!”


text:
The ·craftsman [engraver; metal worker] encourages the goldsmith, and the workman who smooths the metal with a hammer encourages the one who ·shapes the metal [strikes the anvil]. He says, “This ·metal work [welding; soldering] is ·good [sound; well crafted].” He nails the statue to a base so it can’t fall over [the nations find false hope and baseless courage in their idols; ].


text:
Only the Lord Can Save Us ·The Lord says, “People of Israel, you are my servants [“You Israel, my servant]. ·People of Jacob, I chose you [Jacob, whom I have chosen; ]. You are ·from the family [descendants; offspring; seed] of my friend Abraham [].


text:
I took you from ·places far away on [the ends of] the earth and called you from ·a faraway country [its farthest parts]. I said, ‘You are my ·servants [servant].’ I have chosen you and have not ·turned against [rejected; thrown away] you.


text:
So don’t ·worry [fear], because I am with you. Don’t be ·afraid [dismayed], because I am your God. I will ·make you strong [strengthen you] and will help you; I will ·support [uphold] you with my ·right hand that saves you [or righteous right hand; a symbol of power to save and protect; ; ].


text:
“[Look; Behold] All those people who ·are angry with [seethe/rage against] you will be ashamed and disgraced. Those who ·are [strive] against you will ·disappear [become nothing] and ·be lost [perish].


text:
You will look for your enemies, but you will not find them. Those who ·fought [wage war] against you will ·vanish completely [be as nothing].


text:
[For; Because] I am the Lord your God, who holds your right hand, and I tell you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I will help you.’


text:
Do not be afraid ·even though you are weak as a worm [you worm, Jacob], you ·few people of Israel who are left [or people of Israel; or maggot, Israel]. I myself will help you,” says the Lord. “·The one who saves you [Your redeemer/protector] is the Holy One of Israel [].


text:
Look, I ·have made [or will make] you like a new threshing ·board [sledge] with many sharp teeth. So you will ·walk on [thresh the] mountains and crush them; you will make the hills like ·chaff [straw].


text:
You will ·throw them into the air [winnow them], and the wind will carry them away; a ·windstorm [gale; tempest] will scatter them. Then you will ·be happy [rejoice] in the Lord; you will ·be proud of [boast in] the Holy One of Israel [].


text:
“The poor and needy people look for water, but ·they can’t find any [there is none]. Their tongues are ·dry [parched] with thirst. But I, the Lord, will answer ·their prayers [them]; I, the God of Israel, will not ·leave them to die [abandon/forsake them].


text:
I will ·make rivers flow [open rivers] on the ·dry hills [barren heights] and springs flow through the valleys. I will change the ·desert [wilderness] into ·a lake [pools] of water and the ·dry [arid; parched] land into ·fountains [springs] of water.


text:
I will ·make trees grow [plant; put] in the ·desert [wilderness]— cedars, acacia, myrtle, and olive trees. I will put pine, fir, and cypress trees growing together in the desert.


text:
[…so that] People will see these things and ·understand [know]; they will ·think carefully about these things [consider] and ·learn [comprehend] that the Lord’s ·power [hand] did this, that the Holy One of Israel [] ·made these things [created it].”


text:
The Lord Challenges False Gods The Lord says, “Present your case.” The King of Jacob says, “·Tell me [Produce; Bring forth] your ·arguments [evidence; strong words].


text:
·Bring in your idols [Let them come forward] to tell us what is going to happen. Have them tell us ·what happened in the beginning [the former things]. Then we will ·think about [consider] these things, and we will know ·how they will turn out [their outcome; how they were fulfilled]. Or tell us ·what will happen in the future [things to come].


text:
Tell us what is coming next so we will ·believe [know] that you are gods. Do something, whether it is good or bad, and make us ·afraid [or dismayed and afraid].


text:
[Look; Behold] ·You gods [You] are less than nothing; you can’t do anything. Those who ·worship [choose] you ·should be hated [are detestable/an abomination].


text:
“I have ·brought [stirred up] someone to come out of the north [Cyrus, king of Persia; ; ; ; ]. ·I have called him by name from the east [or…one from the east/rising sun who calls on my name]. He ·walks on kings [tramples on rulers] as if they were ·mud [mortar], just as a potter ·walks [treads] on the clay.


text:
Who ·told us about [declared; decreed] this ·before it happened [from the beginning]? Who told us ahead of time so we could say, ‘He was right’? ·None of you [Indeed no one] told us anything; ·none of you [indeed no one] told us before it happened; ·no one [indeed no one] heard you tell about it.


text:
I, the Lord, was the first one to tell ·Jerusalem [Zion] ·that the people were coming home [or “Look, help is coming!”; “Look, here they are!”]. I sent a messenger to Jerusalem with the good news.


text:
I ·look at the idols [look], but there is ·not one that can answer [no one/man]. None of them can give ·advice [counsel]; none of them can answer my questions.


text:
Look, all these idols are ·false [a deception/delusion; or foolish; worthless]. They cannot do anything; their images are ·worth nothing [wind and confusion/chaos; or empty wind].


text:
The Lord’s Special Servant “Here is my servant [; ; ; ], the one I ·support [strengthen; uphold; the first of four “servant songs” in Isaiah, concerning Israel, and applied to the mission and suffering of the Messiah; ; ; ; ]. He is ·the one I chose [my chosen], and ·I am pleased with [my soul delights in] him [; ; ]. I have put my Spirit upon him [], and he will bring justice to the nations [].


text:
He will not break a ·crushed blade of grass [bruised reed] or ·put out [extinguish] even a ·weak flame [dim/smoldering wick; symbols of care for the weak and oppressed]. He will ·truly [faithfully] bring justice;


text:
he will not ·lose hope [falter; or grow dim] or ·give up [be discouraged; or be bruised/crushed] until he brings justice to the world. And ·people far away [or the islands; or the coastlands] will ·trust [wait/put hope in] his ·teachings [instruction; law; Torah].”


text:
God, the Lord, said these things. He created the ·skies [heavens] and stretched them out. He spread out the earth and ·everything on it [its offspring]. He gives breath to all people on earth, and life to everyone who walks on the earth.


text:
The Lord says, “I, the Lord, called you ·to do right [or to demonstrate my righteousness/justice; or by my righteous decree; in righteousness], and I will hold your hand and ·protect [keep; guard] you. ·You will be the sign of my agreement with [I will give/establish you as a covenant/treaty for] the people, a light to shine for ·all people [the nations/Gentiles; ; ; ].


text:
You will ·help the blind to see [open blind eyes]. You will free those who are in prison, and you will lead those who live in darkness out of their prison [; ; ; ].


text:
“I am the Lord. That is my name. I will not ·give [share; yield] my glory to another; I will not let idols take ·the praise that should be mine [my praise].


text:
[Look; Behold] The ·things I said would happen [former things] have happened, and now I ·tell you about [declare/announce] new things. Before those things ·happen [spring forth; sprout], I tell you about them.”


text:
A Song of Praise to the Lord Sing a ·new song [celebrating victory; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ] to the Lord; sing his praise ·everywhere on [from the end of] the earth. Praise him, you people who ·sail on [go down to] the seas and ·you animals who live in them [its fullness]. Praise him, you people living in ·faraway places [or islands; or coastlands].


text:
The ·deserts [wilderness] and their ·cities [towns] should ·praise him [shout; raise their voices]. The settlements of Kedar [desert nomads, descended from Ishmael; ] should praise him. The people living in Sela [an Edomite city; ] should sing for joy; they should shout from the mountaintops.


text:
They should give glory to the Lord. People in ·faraway lands [or the islands; or the coastlands] should praise him.


text:
The Lord will march out like a ·strong soldier [mighty man/hero]; he will ·be excited [arouse/stir up zeal] like a man ready to fight a war. He ·will shout out the battle cry [shouts, indeed he cries out] and ·defeat [prevails/triumphs over] his enemies.


text:
The Lord says, “For a long time I have ·said nothing [kept silent/still]; I have been ·quiet [still] and held myself back. But now I will cry out and ·strain [pant and gasp] like a woman giving birth to a child.


text:
I will ·destroy [level; lay waste] the hills and mountains and dry up all their plants. I will make the rivers become ·dry land [islands; or coastlands] and dry up the pools of water.


text:
Then I will lead the blind along a way they never knew; I will guide them along paths they have not known. I will make the darkness become light for them, and the rough ground smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not ·leave [abandon; forsake] my people.


text:
But those who trust in idols, who say to their ·statues [idols; carved images], ‘You are our gods’ will be ·rejected [turned away/back] in ·disgrace [shame; humiliations].


text:
·No one [Who…?] is more blind than my servant Israel or more deaf than the messenger I send. ·No one [Who…?] is more blind than ·the person I own [or my covenant people] or more blind than the servant of the Lord.


text:
Israel, you have seen much, but you have not ·obeyed [kept/guarded them]. ·You hear [Your ears are open], but you refuse to listen.”


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The Lord ·made his teachings wonderful [magnified and made glorious his instruction/law/Torah], because ·he is good [or of his righteousness].


text:
These people have been ·defeated and robbed [plundered and looted]. They are trapped in pits or ·locked up [hidden] in prison. ·Like robbers, enemies have taken them away [They have become plunder], and there is no one to ·save [rescue] them. ·Enemies carried them off [They have become loot], and no one said, “Bring them back.”


text:
Who ·let [gave up; handed over] ·the people of Jacob [Jacob] ·be carried off [to the looter; for plunder]? Who let ·robbers [plunderers] take Israel away? ·The Lord [Was it not the Lord who…?] allowed this to happen, because we sinned against him. We did not ·live the way he wanted us to live [walk in his ways] and did not obey his ·teaching [law; instruction; Torah].


text:
So he ·became very angry with us [poured out on him his burning anger; on Jacob/Israel] and brought ·terrible wars [the violence/power of war] against ·us [him]. It ·was as if the people of Israel had fire all around them [enveloped him in flame], but they didn’t ·know what was happening [understand]. It ·was as if they were burning [burned him up], but they didn’t ·pay any attention [lay/take it to heart].


text:
God Is Always with His People Now this is what the Lord says. He created you, ·people of Jacob [Jacob]; he formed you, ·people of Israel [Israel]. He says, “Don’t be afraid, because I have ·saved [ransomed; redeemed] you. I have called you by name, and you are mine.


text:
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you [as at the Red/or Reed Sea; ]. When you cross rivers, ·you will not drown [they will not overflow you; as when Israel crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land; ]. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned [], nor will the flames hurt you.


text:
This is because I, the Lord, am your God, the Holy One of Israel [], your Savior. I gave Egypt ·to pay for you [for your ransom], and I gave ·Cush [Ethiopia] and Seba ·to make you mine [in place of you].


text:
Because you are precious ·to me [in my eyes], because I give you honor and love you, I will give other people in your place; I will give other nations ·to save [in exchange for] your life.


text:
Don’t be afraid, because I am with you. I will bring your ·children [descendants; offspring; seed] from the east and gather you from the west.


text:
I will tell the north: Give my people to me. I will tell the south: Don’t ·keep my people in prison [or hold them back; restrain them]. Bring my sons from far away and my daughters from ·faraway places [the end of the earth].


text:
Bring to me all the people who are ·mine [called by my name], whom I ·made [created] for my glory, whom I formed and made.”


text:
Judah Is God’s Witness Bring out the people who have eyes but ·don’t see [are blind] and those who have ears but ·don’t hear [are deaf; ].


text:
All the nations gather together, and all the people ·come together [assemble]. ·Which of their gods [Who among them] said this would happen? ·Which of their gods can tell what happened in the beginning […and caused us to hear former things]? Let them bring their witnesses to prove they were right. Then others will say, “It is true.”


text:
The Lord says, “You are my witnesses and the servant I chose []. I chose you so you would know and believe me, so you would understand that I am ·the true God [he]. There was no God ·created [formed] before me, and there will be ·no God [none] after me.


text:
I myself have ·spoken [made known] to you, saved you, and ·told [proclaimed to] you these things. It was not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses, and I am God,” says the Lord.


text:
“·I have always been God [Indeed from the day, I am he; “day” may mean the first day of creation or from this day forward]. No one can save people from my ·power [hand]; when I do something, no one can ·change [undo; reverse] it.”


text:
This is what the Lord, ·who saves you [your protector/redeemer; ], the Holy One of Israel [], says: “I will ·send armies [send] to Babylon for you, and I will ·knock down all its locked gates [or bring them down as fugitives]. The ·Babylonians [Chaldeans] will ·shout their cries of sorrow [or flee in the ships they take such pride in].


text:
God Will Save His People Again This is what the Lord says. He is the one who made a road through the sea [] and a path through ·rough [strong; mighty] waters.


text:
He is the one who ·defeated [led out] the chariots and horses and the mighty armies []. They ·fell together [lay down] and will never rise again. They were ·destroyed [extinguished] as a ·flame [wick] is put out.


text:
Look at the new thing I am going to do. It is already ·happening [sprouting/springing up]. Don’t you see it? I will make a ·road [path; way] in the ·desert [wilderness; the return from Babylon is portrayed as a new Exodus] and ·rivers [streams] in the ·dry land [desert; wasteland].


text:
Even the wild animals will ·be thankful to [honor] me— the ·wild dogs [jackals] and ·owls [or ostriches]. They will honor me when I put water in the ·desert [wilderness] and ·rivers [streams] in the ·dry land [desert; wasteland] to give ·water [drink] to my people, ·the ones I chose [my chosen; ].


text:
“People of Jacob, you have not ·called to me [called upon me; asked for my help]; people of Israel, you have ·become tired of [or not wearied yourself for] me.


text:
You have not brought me your ·sacrifices [burnt offerings; ] of sheep nor honored me with your sacrifices. I did not ·weigh you down [burden you] with ·sacrifices to offer [grain/or gift; tribute offering; ] or make you tired with incense to burn.


text:
So you did not buy ·incense [fragrant calamus; aromatic cane] for me; you did not ·freely bring me [saturate/lavish me with] fat from your sacrifices. Instead you have ·weighed me down [burdened me] with your many sins; you have made me tired of your ·many wrongs [iniquities].


text:
“I, I am the One who ·erases [blots out] all your ·sins [transgressions], for my sake; I will not remember your sins.


text:
But you should ·remind [or review with] me. Let’s ·meet and decide what is right [argue/contend together]. Tell what you have done and show ·you are right [your innocence].


text:
Your first father sinned [probably Jacob (; ), though possibly Abraham ()], and your ·leaders [mediators; spokesmen] have ·turned [transgressed] against me.


text:
So I will make your ·holy rulers [or princes of the sanctuary; either rulers or priests] ·unholy [defiled; disgraced]. I will ·bring destruction on [devote to destruction; ] ·the people of Jacob [Jacob], and I will let Israel be ·insulted [reviled; scorned].”


text:
The Lord Is the Only God The Lord says, “·People of Jacob, you are my servants [Jacob, my servant]. Listen to me! ·People of Israel, I chose you [Israel, my chosen; ].”


text:
This is what the Lord says, who made you, who formed you in ·your mother’s body [the womb], who will help you: “·People of Jacob, my servants [Jacob, my servant], don’t be afraid. ·Israel [Jeshurun; the location of the Temple; ; , ], I chose you.


text:
I will pour out water for the thirsty land and make streams flow on dry land. I will pour out my Spirit ·into your children [on your descendants/offspring/seed] and my blessing on your ·descendants [offspring].


text:
·Your children [They] will ·grow [sprout up] like a tree in the grass, like ·poplar trees [or willows] growing beside streams of water.


text:
One person will say, ‘I belong to the Lord,’ and another will use the name Jacob. Another will ·sign his name [or write on his hand] ‘I am the Lord’s,’ and another will ·use [call himself by] the name Israel.”


text:
The Lord, the king of Israel, is the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts], who saves Israel. This is what he says: “I am the ·beginning and the end [first and the last]. ·I am the only God [There is no god but me].


text:
Who is like me? Let him ·come and prove [proclaim; claim] it. Let him tell and explain all that has happened since I ·set up [established] my ancient people. He should also tell what will happen in the future.


text:
Don’t be afraid! Don’t ·worry [fear]! ·I have always told you what will happen [Have I not proclaimed it long ago?]. You are my witnesses. ·There is no other [Is there another…?] God but me. I know of no other Rock; I am the only One.”


text:
Idols Are Useless Some people make idols, but they are ·worth nothing [nothing; void]. People treasure them, but they are ·useless [worthless]. Those people are witnesses for the statues, but those people cannot see. They know nothing, so they will be ·ashamed [put to shame; idolmakers are as ignorant as their idols].


text:
[Look; Behold] ·The workmen who made them [All his compansions] will be ·ashamed [put to shame], because ·they [the craftsmen] are only human. If they all would come together to stand against me, they would all be ·afraid [terrified] and ·ashamed [put to shame].


text:
One ·workman [blacksmith] uses tools to heat iron, and he works over hot coals. With his hammer he beats the metal and makes a statue, using his powerful arms. But when he becomes hungry, he loses his ·power [strength]. If he does not drink water, he becomes tired.


text:
·Another workman [A carpenter/craftsman] ·uses a line and a compass [stretches a line] to draw on the wood. Then he uses his chisels to cut a statue and his ·calipers [compass] to measure the statue. In this way, the workman makes the wood ·look exactly like a person [like the pattern of a man], and this statue of a person ·sits [or dwells] in ·the house [or a shrine].


text:
He cuts down cedars or cypress or oak trees. ·Those trees grew by their own power in [or He secures it for himself from] the forest. Or he plants a pine tree, and the rain makes it grow.


text:
Then he burns the tree. He uses some of the wood for a fire to keep himself warm. He also starts a fire to bake his bread. But he uses part of the wood to make a god, and then he worships it! He makes the idol and bows down to it [showing the absurdity of worshiping an idol made from the same material he burns]!


text:
The man burns half of the wood in the fire. He uses the fire to cook his meat, and he eats the meat until he is full. He also burns the wood to keep himself warm. He says, “Good! Now I am warm. ·I can see because of the fire’s light [or …as I watch the fire; I have seen the fire].”


text:
But he makes a statue from the wood that is left and calls it his god. He bows down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, “You are my god. ·Save [Rescue] me!”


text:
Those people ·don’t know what they are doing [or know nothing]. They ·don’t understand [are ignorant]! ·It is as if their eyes are covered [or They shut their eyes] so they can’t see. Their minds don’t understand.


text:
·They have not thought about these things [No one considers]; they don’t understand. They have never thought to themselves, “I burned half of the wood in the fire and used the hot coals to bake my bread. I cooked and ate my meat. ·And I used the wood that [or Should I use what…?] was left to make this ·hateful [abominable; detestable] thing. ·I am worshiping [or Should I bow down to…?] a block of wood!”


text:
He ·doesn’t know what he is doing [feeds on ashes; or eats on a pile of ashes]; his ·confused mind [deluded/deceived heart] leads him ·the wrong way [astray]. He cannot ·save [rescue; deliver] himself or say, “·This statue I am holding is a false god [Is there not a lie in my right hand?].”


text:
The Lord Is the True God “·People of Jacob [Jacob], remember these things! ·People of Israel [Israel], remember you are my servants. I ·made [shaped; formed] you, and you are my servants. So Israel, I will not forget you.


text:
I have ·swept away [removed; or blotted out] your ·sins [offenses; transgressions] like a big cloud; I have removed your sins like a ·cloud that disappears into the air [mist]. Come back to me because I ·saved [redeemed] you.”


text:
·Skies [or Heavens], sing for joy because the Lord ·did great things [or acts; intervenes; has done this]! Earth, shout for joy, even in your deepest parts! ·Sing [Break into song], you mountains, with thanks to God. Sing, too, you forests and all your trees! The Lord ·saved [redeemed] ·the people of Jacob [Jacob]! He ·showed his glory when he saved [is glorified in] Israel.


text:
This is what the Lord ·who saved you [your redeemer] says, the one who formed you in ·your mother’s body [the womb]: “I, the Lord, made everything, stretching out the skies by myself and spreading out the earth all alone.


text:
I ·show that the signs of the lying prophets are false [frustrate the signs of babblers/or empty talkers]; I make fools of ·those who do magic [diviners]. I ·confuse even [reverse what is said by] the wise; they think they know much, but I make ·them look foolish [their knowledge into foolishness].


text:
I ·make the messages of my servants come true [confirm my servants’ words]; I make the ·advice [or prophecies] of my messengers come true. I say to Jerusalem, ‘·People will live in you again [It will be inhabited]!’ I say to the towns of Judah, ‘You will be built again!’ I say to Jerusalem’s ruins, ‘I will ·repair you [raise you up].’


text:
I say of Cyrus [the Persian king (ruled 550–530 bc) who allowed Israel to return from exile; ; ; ; ], ‘He is my shepherd and will ·do [fulfill] all that I want him to do. He will say to Jerusalem, “You will be built again!” He will tell the Temple, “Your foundations will be rebuilt.”’”


text:
God Chooses Cyrus to Free Israel This is what the Lord says to Cyrus [], his ·appointed king [anointed one; messiah]: “I hold your right hand and will help you ·defeat [subdue] nations and ·take away other kings’ power [or remove kings’ armor; open the loins of kings]. I will open doors for you so city gates will not ·stop you [be shut].


text:
I will go before you and ·make the mountains flat [level mountains; ]. I will ·break down [shatter; smash] the bronze gates of the cities and cut through their iron bars.


text:
I will give you the ·wealth that is stored away [treasures of darkness] and the ·hidden riches [hoards in secret places] so you will know I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by name.


text:
I do these things for ·my servants, the people of Jacob [the sake of Jacob my servant], and for ·my chosen people, the Israelites [Israel, my chosen]. ·Cyrus, I call [I call] you by name, and I give you a title of honor even though you don’t know me.


text:
I am the Lord. There is no other God; I am the only God. I will ·make you strong [or arm you for battle; gird you], even though you don’t know me,


text:
so that everyone will know there is ·no other God [none besides me]. From the ·east [rising of the sun] to ·the west [its setting] they will know I alone am the Lord.


text:
I make the light and create the darkness. I bring ·peace [prosperity; wholeness; Hebrew shalom], and I ·cause [create] ·troubles [disaster; calamity]. I, the Lord, do all these things.


text:
“·Sky [Heavens] above, make ·victory [or righteousness] fall like rain; clouds, pour down ·victory [or righteousness]. Let the earth ·receive it [open up], and let salvation grow, and let ·victory [or righteousness] grow with it. I, the Lord, have created it.


text:
“·How terrible it will be for [Woe to] those who argue with ·the God who made them [their Maker]. ·They are like a piece of broken pottery [A potsherd] among ·many pieces [potsherds of the earth]. ·The clay does not [Does the clay…?] ask the potter [; ], ‘What are you doing?’ The thing that is made doesn’t say to its maker, ‘You have no ·hands [or skill].’


text:
·How terrible it will be for [Woe to] the child who says to his father, ‘·Why are you giving me life [or What have you fathered]?’ ·How terrible it will be for [Woe to] the child who says to his mother, ‘·Why are you giving birth to me [or What have you given birth to]?’”


text:
This is what the Lord, the Holy One of Israel [], and its Maker, says: “You ask me about what will happen. ·You [or Do you…?; or How dare you…!] question me about my children. ·You [or Do you…?; or How dare you…!] give me orders about ·what I have made [the work of my hands].


text:
I made the earth and all the people living on it. With my own hands I stretched out the ·skies [heavens], and I commanded all ·the armies in the sky [or the stars in the sky; their host].


text:
I will ·bring [raise/stir up] ·Cyrus [him; ] ·to do good things [or for my righteous purpose; in my righteousness], and I will make his ·work easy [ways/paths straight]. He will rebuild my city and set my ·people [exiles] free without any payment or ·reward [gift; or bribe]. The Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] says this.”


text:
The Lord says, “The ·goods made in [labor of] Egypt and the ·products [merchandise; or revenue] of ·Cush [Ethiopia] and the tall people of Seba [] will ·come to [or be brought to] you and will become yours. ·The Sabeans [They] will walk behind you, coming along in chains [Israel is depicted as a great empire, receiving tribute from other nations]. They will bow down before you and pray to you [because they recognize Israel as God’s representative], saying, ‘God is with you, and there is no other God.’”


text:
God and Savior of Israel, ·you are [or how, then, can you be…?] a God ·that people cannot see [who hides himself].


text:
All the people who make idols will be put to great shame; they will go off together in ·disgrace [humiliation; or confusion].


text:
But Israel will be saved by the Lord, and that salvation will continue forever. Never again will Israel be ·put to shame [shamed; disgraced].


text:
The Lord created the heavens. He is the God who formed the earth and made it. He did not ·want [create] it to be ·empty [or formless; chaotic; ], but he ·wanted life on the earth [formed it to be inhabited]. This is what the Lord says: “I am the Lord. There is no other God.


text:
I did not speak in secret or hide my words in some dark place. I did not tell the ·family [descendants; offspring; seed] of Jacob to ·look for me in empty places [or seek me in vain]. I am the Lord, and I speak the truth; I say what is right.


text:
“You ·people who have escaped [fugitives; refugees] from other nations, gather together and come before me; come near together. People who carry idols of wood ·don’t know what they are doing [know nothing; or are fools]. They pray to a god who cannot save them.


text:
·Tell these people to come to me [or Declare and bring your case]. Let them ·talk about these things [take counsel] together. Who told you long ago that this would happen? Who told about it long ago? I, the Lord, said these things. There is no other God besides me. I am the only good God. I am the Savior. There is no other God.


text:
“All ·people everywhere [the ends of the earth], ·follow [turn] and be saved. I am God. There is no other God.


text:
I ·will make a promise by my own power [have sworn by myself], and ·my promise is true [a righteous/right/true word goes out of my mouth]; what I say will not ·be changed [be revoked; return]. ·I promise that everyone will bow before me [For to me every knee will bow] and ·will promise to follow me [every tongue will swear; allegiance; ; ].


text:
People will say about me, ‘·Goodness [Righteousness; or Deliverance] and ·power [strength] come only from the Lord.’” Everyone who has been angry with him will come to him and be ashamed.


text:
But with the Lord’s help, the ·people [descendants; offspring; seed] of Israel will be ·found to be good [justified; vindicated; or victorious], and they will ·praise [boast/glory in] him.


text:
False Gods Are Useless Bel bows down and Nebo bends low [important gods of Babylon]. Their ·idols [images] ·are carried by animals [belong to beasts and cattle]. The statues are only heavy loads carried by tired animals.


text:
·These gods will all ·bow [stoop and bow] down. They cannot save themselves but will all be carried away ·like prisoners [into captivity].


text:
“·Family [House] of Jacob, listen to me! All ·you people from Israel who are still alive [the remnant of the house of Israel], listen! I have carried you since you were born; I have taken care of you from ·your birth [the womb].


text:
Even when you are old, I ·will be the same [am he]. Even when your hair has turned gray, I will ·take care of [sustain; carry] you. I made you and will carry you. I will ·take care of [sustain; carry] and ·save [rescue] you.


text:
Some people ·are rich with gold [pour out gold from their bags] and weigh their silver on the scales. They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god. Then they bow down and worship it.


text:
They put it on their shoulders and carry it. They set it in its place, and there it stands; it cannot move from its place. People may ·yell at [or cry out to] it, but it cannot answer. It cannot save them from their troubles.


text:
“Remember this, and ·do not forget it [be firm/steadfast]! Think about these things, you ·who turn against God [rebels; transgressors].


text:
Remember ·what happened long ago [the former things of antiquity]. Remember that I am God, and there is no other God. I am God, and there is no one like me.


text:
From the beginning I told you what would happen in the end. ·A long time ago [From ancient times] I told you things that have not yet happened. ·When I plan something, it happens […saying, “My counsel will stand”]. What I want to do, I will do.


text:
I am calling a man from the east to carry out my plan; he will come like a ·hawk [bird of prey; eagle] from a country far away. I will make what I have said come true; I will do what I have planned.


text:
I ·will soon do the things that are right [am bringing my righteousness near]. ·I will bring salvation soon[It is not far away]. I will save ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple] ·and bring glory to Israel [Israel, my splendor/glory].”


text:
God Will Destroy Babylon The Lord says, “·City of [Virgin daughter] Babylon, go down and sit in the ·dirt [dust]. ·People of Babylon [Daughter of the Chaldeans], sit on the ground. ·You are no longer the ruler […without a throne]. You will no longer be called tender or ·beautiful [delicate; pampered].


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Take millstones and grind grain into flour. Remove your veil and ·take [strip] off your nice skirts. Uncover your legs and cross the rivers [actions of a servant, not a queen].


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People will see your nakedness; they will see your shame [probably a euphemism for sexual organs]. I will ·punish you [take vengeance]; I will ·punish every one of you [spare no one].”


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Our ·Savior [Redeemer] is named the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts]; he is the Holy One of Israel [].


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“·Babylon [Daughter of the Chaldeans], sit in ·darkness and say nothing [silence and go into darkness]. You will no longer be called the queen of kingdoms.


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I was angry with my people, so I ·rejected [defiled; desecrated; profaned] ·those who belonged to me [my inheritance/possession]. I gave them ·to you [into your hand], but you showed them no mercy. You even ·made the old people work very hard [laid a very heavy yoke on the aged].


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You said, ‘I will ·live [reign; be] forever as the queen.’ But you did not think about these things or consider ·what would happen [the outcome/end].


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“Now, listen, you lover of pleasure. You ·think you are safe [who dwell in security]. You tell yourself, ‘·I am the only one [I am], and there is no other []. I will never be a widow or ·lose [know the loss of] my children.’


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Two things will happen to you suddenly, in a single day. You will lose your children and ·your husband [become a widow]. These things will ·truly happen to [or overwhelm; come in abundance upon] you, in spite of all your ·magic [sorceries], in spite of your powerful ·tricks [spells; enchantments].


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You ·do evil things, but you feel safe [trusted/felt secure in your evil/wickedness] and say, ‘No one sees ·what I do [me].’ Your wisdom and knowledge have ·fooled [mislead] you. You say to yourself, ‘·I am the only one [I am], and there is no other [].’


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But ·troubles [disaster; evil] will come ·to [upon] you, and you will not know how to ·stop them [conjure/charm it away]. ·Disaster [Calamity; Destruction] will fall on you, and you will not be able to ·keep it away [appease it; make atonement/pay ransom for it]. A catastrophe will strike ·quickly [suddenly]; you will not even ·see it coming [know].


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“Keep on using your ·tricks [magic spells; enchantments] and doing all your ·magic [sorceries] that you have ·used [practiced; labored at] since you were young. Maybe ·they will help you [you will succeed/profit]; maybe you will be able to ·scare someone [provoke terror].


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You are tired of the ·advice [counsel] you have received. So let ·those who study the sky [the astrologers; those who divide the heavens]— those who ·tell the future by looking at the stars and the new moons [gaze at the stars to know the months]— let them save you from what is about to happen to you.


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But they are like straw; fire will quickly burn them up. They cannot save themselves from the power of the fire. They are not like coals that give warmth nor like a fire that you may sit beside.


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You have ·worked [labored] with these people, and they have ·been [or done business] with you since you were young, but they will not be able to help you. Everyone will ·go [or wander off] his own way, and there will be no one left to save you.”


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God Controls the Future The Lord says, “·Family [House] of Jacob, listen to me. You are called [by the name of] Israel, and you come from the ·family [waters; wellsprings] of Judah. You ·swear [take oaths] by the Lord’s name and ·praise [confess; call on] the God of Israel, but ·you are not honest or sincere [not in truth or in righteousness].


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You call yourselves ·people of [or by the name of; from] the holy city, and you ·depend on [trust in] the God of Israel, who is named the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts].


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Long ago I told you ·what would happen [the former things]. ·I said these things and [They went out from my mouth and I] made them known; suddenly I acted, and these things happened.


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I knew you were stubborn; your neck was like an iron muscle, and your ·head [forehead; brow] was like bronze.


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So a long time ago I told you about these things; I told you about them before they happened so you couldn’t say, ‘My idols did this, and my ·wooden [carved images] and metal statues ·made these things happen [decreed/ordained/commanded them].’


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“You heard and saw everything that happened, ·so you should [will you not…?] tell this news to others. ·Now [From this time on] I will tell you about new things, hidden things that you don’t know yet.


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·These things are happening [They are created] now, not long ago; you have not heard about them before today. So you cannot say, ‘[Look; or Yes; Behold] We already knew about that.’


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But you have not heard; you have not understood. Even long ago ·you did not listen [your ear has not been opened]. I knew you would surely ·turn [act treacherously] against me; you ·have fought against me [were called a rebel] ·since you were born [from the womb].


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But for my ·own [name’s] sake I will ·be patient [hold back my anger]. ·People will praise me because [For the sake of my praise] I did not become angry and ·destroy you [cut you off].


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I have ·made you pure [refined you], but not by fire, as silver is made pure. I have purified you ·by giving you troubles [in the furnace of affliction/suffering].


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I do this for myself, for my own sake. ·I will not [How could I…?] let ·people speak evil against me [my name be defiled/profaned], and I will not ·let some god take my glory [give/share my glory with another].


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Israel Will Be Free “·People of Jacob [Jacob], listen to me. ·People of Israel [Israel], ·I have called you to be my people [whom I called]. I am ·God [he; the one]; I am the ·beginning and the end [first and I am the last; ; ].


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I ·made [laid the foundation of] the earth with my own hands. With my right hand I spread out the skies. When I call them, they ·come [stand] together before me.”


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All of you, come together and listen. ·None of the gods [Who among them…?] said these things would happen. The Lord ·has chosen someone [has an ally; or loves him; a reference to Cyrus, king of Persia; see ; ; ; ] to carry out his ·wishes [desire; purpose] against Babylon, ·to attack [his arm will be against] the Babylonians;


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Come to me and listen to this. From the ·beginning [first] I have ·spoken openly [not spoken in secret]. From the time it ·began [happened], I was there.” Now, the Lord God ·has sent me with his Spirit [or and his Spirit have sent me; Cyrus is probably speaking here; ].


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This is what the Lord, ·who saves you [your Redeemer], the Holy One of Israel [], says: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you ·to do what is good [what is best; or how to succeed], who leads you in the way you should go.


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If you had obeyed my commands, you would have had peace like a river [abundant and overflowing; ]. ·Good things [Your righteousness] would have flowed to you like the waves of the sea.


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·Your ·children [descendants] would have been ·as numerous as [like] ·sand in the sea [sand] and your ·descendants [offspring/seed of your body] like grains of sand [; ; ; ]. ·They [Their name] would never have ·died out [been cut off] nor been destroyed.”


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·My people, leave [Go out from] Babylon! Run from the ·Babylonians [Chaldeans]! Tell this news with shouts of joy to the people; spread it ·everywhere on [to the end of] earth. Say, “The Lord has ·saved [redeemed] his ·servants, the people of Jacob [servant Jacob].”


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They did not become thirsty when he led them through the deserts. He made water flow from a rock for them. He split the rock, and water flowed out [; ; ].


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God Calls His Special Servant All of you ·people in faraway places [or islands; or coastlands], listen to me. ·Listen [Pay attention], all you nations far away. ·Before I was born [From the womb], the Lord called me to serve him. The Lord named me while I was still in my mother’s womb [this passage () is the second of four “servant songs” in Isaiah; ].


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He made my ·tongue [mouth] like a sharp sword [his words enact judgment; ; ; ]. He hid me in the shadow of his hand. He made me like a ·sharp [or polished] arrow. He hid me in ·the holder for his arrows [his quiver].


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But I said, “I have worked hard ·for nothing [in vain]; I have used all my power, ·but I did nothing useful [for nothing; in futility]. But ·the Lord will decide what my work is worth [my judgment/vindication is the Lord’s]; God will decide my reward.”


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The Lord made me in the ·body [womb] of my mother to be his servant, to lead ·the people of Jacob [Jacob] back to him so that Israel might be gathered to him. ·The Lord will honor me [I am honored in the eyes of the Lord], and ·I will get my strength from my God [God will be my strength].


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Now he told me, “·You are an important servant to me [It is too small a thing; or Is it too small a thing…?] to ·bring back [restore; raise up] the tribes of Jacob, to bring back the ·people of Israel who are left alive [remnant/preserved ones of Israel]. I will make you a light for the nations [; ; ] so that my salvation will reach ·people all over the world [the end of the earth].”


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The Lord ·who saves you [the Redeemer], the Holy One of Israel []. says to the one who is ·hated [despised and abhorred] by the ·people [or nation; or nations], to the servant of rulers. This is what he says: “Kings will see you and ·stand [rise; to honor him]; ·great leaders [princes] will bow down before you, because the Lord ·can be trusted [is faithful]. He is the Holy One of Israel [], who has chosen you.”


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The Day of Salvation This is what the Lord says: “At the ·right time [time of favor] I will ·hear your prayers [answer you]. On the day of salvation I will help you []. I will protect you, and ·you will be the sign of my agreement with [I will give/establish you as a covenant for] the people []. ·You will bring back the people to the land […to restore/rebuild the land] and ·give the land that is now ruined back to its owners [bequeath its desolate inheritances].


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You will tell the prisoners, ‘·Come out [].’ You will tell those in darkness, ‘·Come into the light [Show yourselves; Appear].’ ·The people [They] will ·eat [feed; graze] beside the roads [the people are symbolically pictured as sheep], and they will find ·food [pasture] even on bare hills.


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They will not be hungry or thirsty. Neither the ·desert wind [heat] nor the hot sun will ·hurt [strike] them. The God who comforts them will lead them and guide them by springs of water.


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I will make my mountains into roads, and the ·roads [highways] will be raised up [to make a level road; ].


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Look, people are coming to me from far away, from the north and from the west, from ·Aswan in southern Egypt [the land of Sinim].”


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Heavens, shout with joy; earth, be happy; mountains, burst into song, because the Lord comforts his people and will have ·pity [compassion] on ·those who suffer [the oppressed].


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Jerusalem and Her Children But ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple] said, “The Lord has ·left [abandoned; forsaken] me; the Lord has forgotten me.”


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The Lord answers, “Can a woman forget the baby she nurses? Can she feel no kindness for the child ·to which she gave birth [of her womb]? Even if she could forget her children, I will not forget you.


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See, I have ·written [engraved; inscribed] your name on my ·hand [palms]. ·Jerusalem, I always think about your walls [Your walls are always before me; destroyed by the Babylonians].


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Your children ·will soon return to you [hurry; hasten], and the people who defeated you and destroyed you will leave.


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·Look up [Lift up your eyes] and look around you. All your children are gathering to return to you.” The Lord says, “As surely as I live, ·your children will be [you will wear them all] like ·jewels [or ornaments] ·that a bride wears proudly [you will put them on like a bride].


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“You were destroyed and defeated, and your land was made ·useless [desolate]. But now you will have more people than the land can hold, and those people who ·destroyed [devoured] you will be far away.


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The children ·born to you while you were sad [of your bereavement] will say to you, ‘This place is too small for us. Give us a bigger place to live.’


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Then you will say ·to yourself [in your heart], ‘Who ·gave me all these children [bore me these]? I was ·sad [bereaved] and ·lonely [barren], ·defeated [rejected] and ·separated from my people [exiled]. So who reared these children? I was left all alone. Where did all these children come from?’”


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This is what the Lord God says: “See, I will lift my hand ·to signal [to] the nations; I will raise my banner for all the people to see. Then they will bring your sons back to you in their ·arms [bosom; lap], and they will carry your daughters on their shoulders [Jews returning from exile are pictured as children returning to their parents].


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Kings will ·teach your children [be guardians/foster parents], and ·daughters of kings [princesses; or queens] will take care of them. They will bow down before you with their faces to the ground and ·kiss the dirt [lick the dust] at your feet. Then you will know I am the Lord. Anyone who ·trusts in [hopes in; waits on] me will not be ·disappointed [or ashamed].”


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Can ·the wealth a soldier wins in war [spoils; plunder] be taken away from ·him [a warrior; a strong man]? Can a prisoner be freed from a ·powerful soldier [tyrant]?


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This is what the Lord says: “The ·prisoners [captives] will be taken from the ·strong soldiers [mighty one]. ·What the soldiers have taken will be saved […and spoils/plunder rescued from the tyrant]. I will fight ·your enemies [those who fight with you], and I will save your children.


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I will force ·those who trouble you [your enemies/oppressors] to eat their own flesh. Their own blood will be the wine that makes them drunk. Then ·everyone [all flesh] will know I, the Lord, am the One who saves you; I am the Powerful One of Jacob ·who saves you [your redeemer].”


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Israel Was Punished for Its Sin This is what the Lord says : “People of Israel, you say I ·divorced [sent away] your mother. Then where is the certificate of divorce that proves it? Or ·do you think I sold you to pay a debt [to which of my creditors did I sell you]? Because of ·the evil things you did [your sins/iniquities], I sold you. Because of ·the times she turned against me [your transgressions], your mother was sent away.


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·I came home and found [Why, when I came, did I find…?] no one there; I called, but no one answered. ·Do you think I am not able [Is my hand too short] to ·save [redeem] you []? Do I not have the power to save you? ·Look [Behold], ·I need only to shout and [With my rebuke] the sea becomes dry []. I change rivers into a desert [], and their fish rot because there is no water; they die of thirst.


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I can ·make the skies dark [clothe the skies/heavens in darkness; ]; I can make ·them black like clothes of sadness [sackcloth their covering].”


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God’s Servant Obeys The Lord God gave me the ·ability to teach [tongue of a student/learned one] so that I know what to say to make the ·weak [weary] strong. Every morning he wakes me. He ·teaches me [awakens my ear] to listen like a student [this passage () is the third of four “servant songs” in Isaiah; see ].


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The Lord God ·helps me learn [or speaks clearly to me; has opened my ear], and I have not ·turned against him [rebelled] nor ·stopped following him [turned away/back].


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I offered my back to those who beat me. I offered my cheeks to those who ·pulled [ripped out] my beard. I ·won’t [or did not] hide my face from them when they ·make fun of [mocked; insulted; shamed] me and spit at me [; ; ; ; ].


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The Lord God helps me, so I will not be ·ashamed [disgraced]. I ·will be determined [have set my face like flint; ], and I know I will not be ·disgraced [put to shame].


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He ·shows that I am innocent [vindicates], and he is ·close to me [near]. So who can ·accuse me [bring charges against me; ]? If there is someone, let us ·go to court [stand up] together. ·If someone wants to prove I have done wrong [Who are my accusers?], he should ·come and tell [challenge; come near] me.


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Look! It is the Lord God who helps me. So who can ·prove me guilty [condemn me]? Look! All those who try will ·become useless like old clothes [wear out like a garment]; moths will eat them.


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Who among you fears the Lord and obeys his servant? The person who walks in the dark without light should trust in the [name of the] Lord and depend on his God.


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·But instead [or Look; Behold], ·some of you want to [all of you who] light your own fires and make your own light. So, go, walk in the light of your fires, and trust ·your own light to guide you [the torches you have ignited]. But this is what you will receive from ·me [my hand]: You will lie down in ·a place of pain [torment; could refer to physical pain in the present world or to the torment of hell].


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Jerusalem Will Be Saved The Lord says, “Listen to me, those of you who ·try to live right [pursue righteousness] and ·follow [seek] the Lord. Look ·at [or to] the rock from which you were cut; look ·at [or to] the stone quarry from which you were dug [referring to their ancestors Abraham and Sarah; see ].


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Look at Abraham, your ·ancestor [father], and Sarah, who gave birth to ·your ancestors [you]. Abraham ·had no children [was just one person; was one] when I called him [], but I blessed him and ·gave him many descendants [made him many].


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So the Lord will comfort ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple]; he will ·show mercy to [comfort] ·those who live in [all] her ruins. He will change her ·deserts [wilderness] into ·a garden like Eden [Eden]; he will make her ·empty lands [desert; arid plains] like the garden of the Lord. ·People there will be very happy [Joy and gladness will be found in her]; ·they will give thanks and sing songs [thanksgiving and the voice of song].


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“My people, listen to me; my nation, pay attention to me. ·I will give the people my teachings [Law/Instruction/Torah will go out from me], and my ·decisions [justice] will be like a light to the ·people [nations].


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·I will soon show that I do what is right [My righteousness/justice draws near]. ·I will soon save you [My salvation goes out]. ·I will use my power and [My arms will] judge the nations. The ·faraway places [or islands; or coastlands] are ·waiting for [looking to; hoping in] me; they wait for my ·power to help them [arm].


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·Look up [Lift your eyes] to the heavens []. Look at the earth below. The skies will disappear like clouds of smoke. The earth will ·become useless [wear out] like old clothes [], and its people will die like flies. But my salvation will continue forever, and my ·goodness [righteousness] will never end.


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“You people who know ·what is right [righteousness] should listen to me; you people who ·follow my teachings [have my law/Torah in your heart] should hear what I say. Don’t be afraid of the ·evil things people say [reproach/scorn of people], and don’t be ·upset [discouraged; dismayed] by their insults.


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Moths will eat those people as if they were clothes, and worms will eat them as if they were wool. But my goodness will continue forever, and my salvation ·will continue from now on [from generation to generation].”


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Wake up, wake up, and ·use your [clothe yourself with] strength, ·powerful [arm of the] Lord. Wake up as you did in the ·old times [ancient days], as you did ·a long time ago [in generations everlasting]. ·With your own power, you [Were you not the one who…?] cut Rahab [a mythical sea monster symbolizing chaos; ; ] into pieces and ·killed [pierced] that ·sea monster [serpent; dragon; ; ].


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·You dried [Did you not dry…?] up the sea and the waters of the deep ocean. You made a road through the deepest parts of the sea for your ·people to cross over and be saved [or redeemed people to cross over; ; ; ].


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The people the Lord has ·freed [rescued; ransomed] will return and enter ·Jerusalem [Zion; ] with ·joy [singing]. ·Their happiness will last forever [Everlasting joy will crown them/be on their head]. They will ·have [be overwhelmed/overtaken with] joy and gladness, and all sadness and sorrow will ·be gone far [flee] away [].


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The Lord says, “·I [I, even I] am the one who ·comforts you []. So why should you be afraid of people, who die? ·Why should you fear people […or the son of man; human beings] who ·die [is given up] like the grass []?


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Have you forgotten the Lord who made you, who stretched out the ·skies [heavens] and ·made [laid the foundations of] the earth []? Why are you always afraid of ·those angry people who trouble you [the anger/wrath of the oppressor] and who ·want [seek; plan] to destroy? But where ·are those angry people [is the anger/wrath of the oppressor] now?


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·People in prison [Those who are burdened/stooped over] will soon be set free; they will not die in prison, and they will ·have enough food [not lack bread].


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I am the Lord your God, who stirs the sea and makes the waves roar. My name is the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts].


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I will ·give you the words I want you to say [put my words in your mouth]. I will cover you with ·my hands and protect you [the shadow of my hand]. I ·made [established] the heavens and [laid the foundation of] the earth, and I say to ·Jerusalem [Zion; ], ‘You are my people.’”


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God Punished Israel Awake! Awake! Get up, Jerusalem. ·The Lord was very angry with you; your punishment was like wine in a cup. The Lord made you drink that wine [You have drunk from the hand of the Lord the cup of his wrath]; you ·drank the whole cup [drained the goblet to its dregs] until you stumbled.


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·Though Jerusalem had many people [Among all the children she bore], there was not one to lead her. Of all the people ·who grew up there [she raised], no one was there to ·guide her [take her by the hand].


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·Troubles [Calamities] came to you two by two, but no one will ·feel sorry for [or console] you. There was ruin and ·disaster [destruction], ·great hunger [famine] and ·fighting [sword]. ·No one [But who…?] can comfort you.


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Your ·people [children; sons] have ·become weak [fainted]. They fall down and lie ·on every street corner [at the head of every street], like ·animals [antelope] caught in a net. They ·have felt the full anger [or are filled with the wrath] of the Lord and have heard God’s ·angry shout [rebuke].


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Your God will ·defend [plead the case of] his people. This is what the Lord your God says: “·The punishment I gave you is like a cup of wine. You drank it and could not walk straight. But I am taking that cup of my anger away from you, [Look/Behold, I have taken from your hand the cup of staggering, the dregs of the cup of my wrath] and you will never ·be punished by my anger [drink from it] again.


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I will now give that cup of punishment to ·those who gave you pain [your tormentors; , , ], who told you, ‘Bow down so we can walk over you.’ ·They [You] made your back like dirt for them to walk on; you were like a street for them to travel on.”


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Jerusalem Will Be Saved Wake up, wake up, ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple]! ·Become strong [Clothe yourself with/Put on strength]! ·Be beautiful again [Put on beautiful/glorious clothes], holy city of Jerusalem. The ·people who do not worship God and who are not pure [uncircumcised and defiled/unclean] will not enter you again.


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Jerusalem, ·you once were a prisoner [or be enthroned/seated]. Now shake off the dust and ·stand up [arise]. ·Jerusalem, you once were a prisoner [Captive daughter of Zion,]. Now free yourself from the chains around your neck.


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This is what the Lord says: “You were ·not sold for a price [sold for nothing], so you will be ·saved [redeemed] without cost.”


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This is what the Lord God says: “First my people went down to Egypt to live. Later Assyria ·made them slaves [oppressed them].


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“Now ·see what has happened [what do I have here…?],” says the Lord. “Another nation has taken away my people for nothing. Those who rule them ·make fun of me [mock; taunt],” says the Lord. “All day long they ·speak against [slander; blaspheme] me.


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This has happened so my people will know ·who I am [my name], and so, ·on that future [in that] day, they will know that I am the one speaking to them. ·It will really be me [Look/Behold, I].”


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·How beautiful [or How beautiful on the mountains] ·is the person [are the feet of him] who ·comes over the mountains to bring [or brings] good news, who announces peace and brings good news, who announces salvation [] and says to ·Jerusalem [Zion; ], “Your God ·is King [or reigns].”


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Listen! Your ·guards [watchmen] ·are shouting [raise their voices]. They are all shouting [together] for joy! They all will see ·with their own eyes [right in front of their eyes; eye in eye] when the Lord returns to ·Jerusalem [Zion; ].


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·Jerusalem, although your buildings are destroyed now [You ruins of Jerusalem], shout and rejoice together, because the Lord has comforted his people. He has ·saved [redeemed] Jerusalem.


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The Lord ·will show his holy power [flexes his holy muscles; bared his holy arm] ·to [to the eyes of] all the nations. Then ·everyone on [all the ends of the] earth will see the salvation of our God.


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You people, leave, leave; get out ·of Babylon [from there]! Touch nothing that is ·unclean [defiled]. You who carry the ·Lord’s things used in worship [articles/vessels of the Lord], leave there and make yourselves pure.


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You will not ·be forced to leave Babylon quickly [leave in haste]; you will not be forced to run away, because the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will ·guard you from behind [be your rear guard].


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The Lord’s Suffering Servant The Lord says, “See, my servant will ·act wisely [or have success]. ·People will greatly honor and respect him [He will be raised and exalted; is the fourth of four “servant songs” in Isaiah; see ].


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Many people were ·shocked [astonished; appalled] when they saw him. His appearance was so ·damaged [disfigured; marred] he did not look like a man; his form ·was so changed they could barely tell he was human [beyond the sons of man/children of humanity].


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But now he will ·surprise [startle; or sprinkle; as the blood of a sacrifice sprinkled on the altar; , ] many nations. Kings will ·be amazed [shut their mouths because of him]. They will see things they had not been ·told about him [told], and they will understand things they had not heard.”


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Who ·would have [or has] believed ·what we heard [or our message; ; ]? ·Who saw the Lord’s power in this [And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed]?


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He grew up like a ·small plant [young plant; tender shoot; ] before ·the Lord [him], like a root growing in a ·dry land [parched soil]. He had no special beauty or ·form [majesty] to make us notice him; there was nothing in his appearance to make us desire him.


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He was ·hated [despised] and rejected by people. ·He had much pain [A man of pain/suffering/sorrows] and ·suffering [one who knew/was acquainted with pain/grief]. People ·would not even look at [turned their backs on; hid their faces from] him. He was ·hated [despised], and we ·didn’t even notice him [or did not esteem him].


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But he ·took [bore] our suffering on him and ·felt our pain for us [carried our sorrows/sickness]. ·We saw his suffering and thought God was punishing him […stricken and afflicted by him; God].


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But he was wounded for ·the wrong we did [our transgressions]; he was crushed for ·the evil we did [our iniquities]. The punishment, which ·made us well [brought us wholeness/peace], was given to him, and we are healed because of his ·wounds [lacerations; stripes; ].


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We all have ·wandered away [gone astray] like sheep; each of us has gone his own way []. But the Lord has put on him ·the punishment for all the evil we have done [all of our sins/iniquity].


text:
He was ·beaten down [oppressed] and ·punished [treated harshly; afflicted], but he didn’t ·say a word [open his mouth]. He was like a lamb being led to be ·killed [slaughtered]. He was quiet, as a sheep is quiet ·while its wool is being cut [before its shearers; ; ; ; ; ]; he never opened his mouth.


text:
Men took him away ·roughly and unfairly [or after unjustly condemning him; from oppression and judgment]. ·He died without children to continue his family [or Yet no one of his generation objected; and his generation, who considers/speaks of it?]. He was ·put to death [cut off from the land of the living]; he was ·punished [struck down] for the ·sins [transgressions] of my people.


text:
He was ·buried [assigned his grave] with ·wicked men [criminals], and ·he died with the rich [or he was put in a rich man’s tomb; with the rich in his death; , ]. He had done ·nothing wrong [no violence], and he had ·never lied [no deceit in his mouth; ].


text:
But it was the ·Lord who decided [Lord’s will] to crush him and make him suffer. The Lord made his life a ·penalty [sin] offering, but he will still see his ·descendants [offspring; seed] and ·live a long life [extend his days]. ·He will complete the things the Lord wants him to do [The pleasure/will/purpose of the Lord will prosper in his hands].


text:
“After his soul suffers many things, he will see ·life [or light; or the light of life] and be satisfied. [By his knowledge/experience] My ·good [righteous] servant will ·make many people right with God [justify many]; he will carry away their ·sins [iniquities].


text:
For this reason I will ·make him a great man among people [or give him a portion with the great ones], and he will ·share in all things [divide the spoils] with those who are strong, because he ·willingly gave [laid bare; poured out] his life and was ·treated like a criminal [numbered/counted with rebels/trangressors]. But he ·carried away [bore] the sins of many people and ·asked forgiveness [made intercession] for ·those who sinned [rebels; transgressors].”


text:
People Will Return to Jerusalem The Lord says, “Sing, ·Jerusalem [barren one; ]. ·You are like a woman who […who] never gave birth to children. Start singing and shout for joy. You never ·felt the pain of giving birth [were in labor], ·but you will have more children [for more are the children of the desolate one] than the woman who has a husband.


text:
Make your tent bigger; stretch ·it [your tent curtains] out and make it wider. Do not hold back. Make the ·ropes [cords] longer and its stakes stronger,


text:
because you will spread out to the right and to the left. Your ·children [descendants; offspring; seed] will take ·over [possession of] other nations, and they will ·again live in [resettle] cities that once were ·destroyed [ruined; desolate].


text:
“Don’t be afraid, because you will not be ashamed. Don’t be ·embarrassed [discouraged], because you will not be disgraced. You will forget the shame ·you felt earlier [of your youth]; you will not remember the ·shame [disgrace; reproach] ·you felt when you lost your husband [of your widowhood; or of your abandonment].


text:
·The God who made you is like [For your Maker is] your husband. His name is the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts]. The Holy One of Israel [] is ·the one who saves you [your redeemer]. He is called the God of all the earth.


text:
You were like a woman ·whose husband left her [deserted; abandoned], ·and you were very sad [grieved/distressed in spirit]. You were like a wife who married young and then ·her husband left her [was rejected]. But the Lord ·called you to be his [or will call you back],” says your God.


text:
God says, “I left you for a ·short time [moment], but with great ·kindness [mercy; compassion] I will bring you back again.


text:
I ·became very angry [had a surge/burst of anger] and hid from you for a ·time [moment], but I will show you ·mercy [compassion] with ·kindness [lovingkindness; loyalty; covenant love] forever,” says the Lord ·who saves you [your redeemer].


text:
The Lord says, “This day is like the ·time [days] of Noah to me []. I ·promised [swore] then that ·I [the waters of Noah] would never ·flood [cover] the world again []. In the same way, I ·promise [swore] I will not be angry with you or ·punish [rebuke] you again.


text:
The mountains may ·disappear [move; be shaken], and the hills may ·come to an end [be removed; disappear], but my ·love [lovingkindness; loyalty; covenant love] will never ·disappear [be moved/shaken]; my ·promise [covenant; treaty] of peace will not ·come to an end [be removed; disappear],” says the Lord who ·shows mercy to [has compassion for] you.


text:
“·You poor city [Afflicted one]. Storms have ·hurt [battered; tossed] you, and you have not been comforted. But I will rebuild you with ·turquoise stones [gems], and I will build your foundations with ·sapphires [or lapis lazuli].


text:
I will use ·rubies [or agate; or jasper] to build your ·walls [towers; battlements; pinnacles] and ·shining jewels [or beryl; or garnet; or crystal] for the gates and precious jewels for all your outer walls.


text:
All your children will be taught by the Lord, and they will have much ·peace [prosperity; wholeness; Hebrew: shalom].


text:
I will ·build [establish] you ·using fairness [in righteousness]. ·You will be safe from those who would hurt you [Tyranny/oppression will be far from you], ·so you will have nothing to fear [terror will be far away]. Nothing will come to make you afraid.


text:
·I will not send anyone to attack you [If anyone attacks, it is not from me], and you will defeat those who do attack you.


text:
“See, I made the blacksmith. He fans the fire to make it hotter, and he ·makes the kind of tool he wants [forges a weapon for his purpose]. In the same way I have made the destroyer to destroy.


text:
So no weapon ·that is used [forged] against you will ·defeat you [succeed]. You will ·show that those who speak against you are wrong [refute every accusation against you; refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment]. These are the ·good things [heritage] my servants receive. Their ·victory [vindication; righteousness] comes from me,” says the Lord.


text:
God Gives What Is Good The Lord says, “All you who are thirsty, come ·and drink [to the waters; ]. Those of you who do not have money, come, buy and eat []! Come buy wine and milk without money and without cost.


text:
Why spend your money on something that is not ·real food [bread]? Why work for something that doesn’t really satisfy you? Listen closely to me, and you will eat what is good; your soul will ·enjoy [delight in] the ·rich food that satisfies [fat].


text:
Come to me and ·listen [extend your ear]; listen to me so you may live. I will make an ·agreement with you that will last forever [everlasting covenant/treaty with you]. I will give you the ·blessings [covenant love; loyalty; lovingkindness; sure mercies] I promised to David [; ; ].


text:
[Look; Behold] I made David a witness ·of my power for all [to the] nations, a ruler and commander of many nations.


text:
[Look; Behold] You will call for nations that you don’t yet know. And these nations that do not know you will run to you because of the Lord your God, because of the Holy One of Israel [] who ·honors [has glorified] you.”


text:
·So you should look for [Seek] the Lord ·before it is too late [while he may be found]; you should call to him while he is near.


text:
The wicked should ·stop doing wrong [abandon/forsake their ways], and ·they [the unrighteous person] should stop their evil thoughts. They should return to the Lord so he may have ·mercy [compassion] on them. They should come to our God, because he will freely forgive them [; ; ].


text:
Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts [].


text:
Rain and snow fall from the sky and don’t return without watering the ground. They cause the plants to sprout and grow, making seeds for the ·farmer [sower] and bread for the ·people [eater].


text:
The same thing is true of the words ·I speak [that go out of my mouth]. They will not return to me empty. They ·make the things happen that I want to happen [accomplish what I desire/purpose], and they succeed in doing what I send them to do.


text:
“So you will go out with joy [returning from the Babylonian exile] and be led out in peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees in the fields will clap their hands [the earth rejoices at God’s restoration of creation].


text:
·Large cypress [or Juniper; Evergreen] trees will grow where thornbushes were. Myrtle trees will grow where ·weeds [briers] were. These things will be ·a reminder of the Lord’s promise [or for the Lord’s honor/renown; to the Lord for a name], ·and this reminder will never be destroyed [for an eternal sign that will not be cut off].”


text:
All Nations Will Obey the Lord This is what the Lord says: “·Give justice to all people [Promote justice], and ·do what is right [practice righteousness], because my salvation ·will come to you soon [draws near]. Soon ·everyone will know that I do what is right [my righteousness will be revealed].


text:
The person who ·obeys the law about [keeps from defiling] the Sabbath will be blessed, and the ·person [son of man] who ·does no [keeps his hand from doing] evil will be blessed.”


text:
Foreigners who have ·joined [committed to] the Lord should not say, “The Lord will ·not accept me with [exclude/separate me from] his people [].” The eunuch should not say, “·Because I cannot have children, the Lord will not accept me [Look, I am a dry tree].”


text:
This is what the Lord says: “This is for the eunuchs who ·obey the law about the Sabbath [keep my Sabbaths] and ·do what I want [choose what pleases me] and ·keep [hold firmly to] my ·agreement [covenant]:


text:
I will ·make their names remembered [set up a memorial/monument and a name] within my ·Temple [house] and its walls. It will be better for them than ·children [sons and daughters]. I will give them a name that will last forever, that will ·never be forgotten [not be cut off].


text:
As for the foreigners who ·join [commit themselves to] the Lord to ·worship [minister to] him and love ·him [his name], to serve him, to ·obey the law about [keep from defiling] the Sabbath, and to ·keep [hold firmly to] my ·agreement [covenant]:


text:
I will bring these people to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. The offerings and sacrifices they place on my altar will ·please me [be accepted], because my Temple will be called a house for prayer for people from all nations [; ; ].”


text:
The Lord God says— he who gathers the ·Israelites that were forced to leave their country [outcasts/exiles of Israel]: “I will ·bring together [gather] other people to join those who are already gathered.”


text:
Israel’s Leaders Are Evil All you ·animals [beasts] of the field, all you animals of the forest, come to ·eat [devour].


text:
·The leaders who are to guard the people [His watchmen; ] are blind; they ·don’t know what they are doing [lack knowledge; are ignorant]. All of them are like ·quiet [mute; or muzzled] dogs that ·don’t know how to [cannot] bark. They lie down and dream and love to sleep.


text:
They are like ·hungry [greedy; ravenous] dogs that are never satisfied. They are like shepherds who ·don’t know what they are doing [lack understanding; are ignorant; ]. They all have gone their own way; ·all they want to do is satisfy themselves [each seeks their own gain/profit].


text:
They say, “Come, let’s drink some wine; let’s ·drink all the [fill ourselves with] ·beer [strong drink; alcoholic beverage made from grain] we want. And tomorrow ·we will do this again [will be like today], ·or, maybe we will have an even better time [even better; or it will be very great indeed; very much abundantly great].”


text:
Israel Does Not Follow God ·Those who are right with God [The righteous] ·may die [perish; pass away], but no one ·pays attention [cares; sets/takes it to heart]. ·Good people [The devout; People of lovingkindness/loyalty/covenant love] are taken away [by death], but no one understands. ·Those who do right [The righteous] are being taken away ·from [to be spared from; or by the power of] evil


text:
and are given peace. Those who ·live [walk] ·as God wants [uprightly] ·find rest in death [rest on their beds].


text:
“Come here, you ·magicians [sons/children of a sorceress]! Come here, you ·children [offspring; seed] of prostitutes and adulterers!


text:
Of whom are you ·making fun [mocking; ridiculing]? Whom are you ·insulting [sneering at; opening your mouth at]? At whom do you stick out your tongue? You ·turn against God [are children of rebellion], and you are ·liars [the offspring/seed of liars].


text:
You ·have sexual relations [burn with lust; inflame yourselves] beneath the oaks and under every green tree [a reference to pagan fertility rites]. You ·kill [slaughter] children in the ·ravines [valleys] and ·sacrifice them in the rocky places [under the rocky clefts; child sacrifices, like those associated with the Phoenician god Molech; ; ; ].


text:
You take the smooth rocks from the ·ravines [valleys] as your portion. ·To them you are devoted [They, they are your lot]. You pour drink offerings ·on them to worship them [out to them], and you give grain [gift; tribute] offerings [] to them. ·Do you think this makes me want to show you mercy [Should I relent because of these things; or Should I be happy about these things]?


text:
You have hidden your ·idols [signs; pagan symbols; memorials] behind your doors and doorposts. You have ·left [deserted] me, and you have uncovered ·yourself [or your bed]. You have ·pulled back the covers [opened it] and climbed into bed. You have made an ·agreement [pact; covenant] with those whose beds you love, and you have looked at their nakedness [euphemisms for sexual relations, here referring to pagan worship].


text:
You ·use your oils and perfumes to look nice for [went with oil and increased your perfumes for] ·Molech [or the king]. You have sent your messengers to faraway lands; you even tried to send them to ·the place of the dead [or the grave; Sheol].


text:
You were tired from doing these things, but you never ·gave up [said, “It is hopeless”]. You found ·new strength [the life of your hand], so you did not ·quit [faint; grow weary].


text:
“Whom ·were you so afraid of [did you fear or dread] that you lied to me? You have not remembered me or even ·thought about me [set/taken it to heart]. ·I [or Is It because I…?] have been quiet for a long time. Is that why you are not afraid of me?


text:
I will tell about your ‘·goodness [righteousness]’ and ·what you do [your works], and those things will ·do you no good [not profit/help you].


text:
When you cry out for help, let ·the gods you have gathered [your collection of idols] ·help [save; rescue] you. The wind will blow them all away; just a ·puff of wind [breath] will take them away. But the person who depends on me will ·receive [inherit] the land and ·own [possess] my holy mountain.”


text:
The Lord Will Save His People Someone will say, “Build ·a road [up; or it]! Build ·a road [up; or it]! Prepare the way [; ]! ·Make the way clear [Remove the obstacles] for my people.”


text:
And this is the reason: God lives forever and is holy. He is high and ·lifted up [exalted]. He says, “I live in a high and holy place, but I also live with people who are ·sad [contrite] and ·humble [lowly in spirit]. I ·give new life to [revive the spirit of] those who are ·humble [lowly] and to those whose hearts are ·broken [contrite; repentant].


text:
I will not ·accuse [or contend/fight against them] forever, nor will I always be angry, because then ·human life [the spirit] would grow weak. ·Human beings [The breath], whom I created, would die.


text:
I was angry because ·they were dishonest in order to make money [of their sinful greed]. I punished them and ·turned away from them [hid my face] in anger, but they ·continued to do evil [turned away in the way of their heart].


text:
I have seen ·what they have done [their ways], but I will heal them. I will guide them and comfort them and those who ·felt sad for them [mourn]. ·They will all praise me [I will create praise on their lips; …creating fruit of lips].


text:
·I will give peace, real peace [Peace, peace], to those far and near, and I will heal them,” says the Lord.


text:
But ·evil people [the wicked] are like the ·angry [surging; tossing] sea, which cannot rest, whose waves toss up ·waste [mire; muck] and mud.


text:
How to Honor God The Lord says, “Shout out loud. Don’t hold back. ·Shout out loud [Raise/lift up your voice] like a trumpet. Tell my people ·what they have done against their God [their transgression]; tell ·the family of Jacob about [Jacob] their sins.


text:
They ·still come looking for [seek] me ·every day [day to day] and ·want [delight] to learn my ways. They act just like a nation that does ·what is right [righteousness], that ·obeys [did not forsake/reject] the ·commands [judgments] of its God. They ask me ·to judge them fairly [for righteous judgment]. They ·want [delight] to ·be near [draw near to] God.


text:
They say, ‘·To honor you we had special days when [Why have…?] we fasted, but you didn’t see. ·We humbled ourselves to honor you [Why have we afflicted our souls/selves…?], but you didn’t notice.’” But the Lord says, “[Look; Behold] You ·do what pleases [satisfy; seek pleasure for] yourselves on these fast days, and you ·are unfair to [exploit; oppress] your workers.


text:
Even when you fast, you argue and fight and ·hit each other with your [hit with wicked/sinful] fists. You cannot do these things as you do now and ·believe your prayers are [expect to be] heard ·in heaven [on high].


text:
·This kind of special day is not what [Is this the fast that…?] I ·want [have chosen]. ·This is not the way I want people to be sorry for what they have done [Do I want a day when people afflict/mortify themselves?]. I don’t want people just to bow their heads like a ·plant [reed] ·and wear rough cloth and lie in ashes to show their sadness [stretching out on sackcloth and ashes]. Is this what you call a fast? ·Do you really think this pleases […a day acceptable to] the Lord?


text:
“I will tell you the kind of fast I ·want [have chosen]: ·Free the people you have put in prison unfairly [Release the chains/bonds of wickedness] and ·undo their chains [or untie the ropes from the yoke]. Free ·those to whom you are unfair [the oppressed] and ·stop their hard labor [break every yoke].


text:
Share your food with the hungry and bring poor, homeless people into your own homes. When you see someone who has no clothes, ·give him yours [clothe him], and don’t ·refuse to help [conceal yourself from] your ·own relatives [flesh].


text:
Then your light will shine like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your ·God [righteousness] will walk before you, and the glory of the Lord [his manifest presence] will ·protect you from behind [be your rear guard].


text:
Then you will call out, and the Lord will answer. You will cry out, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ “If you ·stop making trouble for others [take away the yoke from your midst], if you stop ·using cruel words [speaking wickedness] and pointing your finger at others,


text:
if you ·feed [offer your soul/selves to] those who are hungry and ·take care of [satisfy] the needs of ·those who are troubled [the afflicted/oppressed], then your light will ·shine [rise] in the darkness, and ·you will be bright like sunshine at [your darkness/gloom like] noon.


text:
The Lord will always lead you. He will satisfy your ·needs [soul] in dry lands and give strength to your bones. You will be like a garden that is well-watered, like a spring ·that never runs dry [whose waters never fail].


text:
Your people will rebuild the ·old cities that are now in [ancient] ruins; you will rebuild their ancient foundations. You will be ·known for repairing [called the repairer of] the broken walls and ·for rebuilding [the restorer of] the roads and houses.


text:
“·You must obey God’s law about [If you turn your foot away from…; avoiding Sabbath journeys] the Sabbath and not do what pleases yourselves on that holy day. ·You should […and if you…] call the Sabbath a ·joyful day [delight] and honor it as the Lord’s holy day. ·You should […and if you…] honor it by not ·doing whatever you please [going your own way] nor saying ·whatever you please [idle words] on that day.


text:
·Then […then] you will find ·joy [delight] in the Lord, and I will ·carry you to [or cause you to ride on] the high places above the earth. I will ·let you eat the crops of the land [feed you with the inheritance] of your ancestor Jacob.” The ·Lord has said these things [mouth of the Lord has spoken].


text:
The Evil That People Do Surely the Lord’s ·power [hand] is ·enough [not too short] to save you. ·He can hear you when you ask him for help […nor his ear too heavy to hear].


text:
It is your ·evil [iniquity] that has separated you from your God. Your sins cause him to ·turn away [hide his face] from you, so he does not hear you.


text:
·With your hands you have killed others [For your hands are defiled with blood], and ·with your fingers you have done wrong [your fingers with sin/iniquity]. With your lips you have lied, and with your tongue you ·say [utter; mutter] evil things.


text:
·People take each other to court unfairly [No one sues with cause; or No one calls for justice], and no one tells the truth in ·arguing [setting forth; pleading] his case. They ·accuse each other falsely [or rely on empty arguments] and tell lies. They ·cause [conceive] trouble and ·create more [give birth to] evil.


text:
They hatch ·evil like eggs [eggs] from ·poisonous snakes [vipers]. If you eat one of those eggs, you will die, and if you break one open, a poisonous snake comes out. People ·tell lies as they would spin [spin] a spider’s web.


text:
The webs they make cannot be used for clothes; you can’t cover yourself with ·those webs [what they make]. The things they do are evil, and ·they use their hands to hurt others [a deed of violence is in their hands].


text:
·They eagerly [Their feet] run to do evil [; ], and they are always ready to ·kill innocent people [shed innocent blood]. They ·think evil thoughts [or devise evil schemes]. ·They cause ruin and destruction everywhere they go [Ruin and destruction are in their paths/roads].


text:
They don’t know ·how to live in [the path/way of] peace, and there is no ·fairness [justice] in their ·lives [paths]. They ·are dishonest [act deceitfully; have made their paths/ways crooked]. Anyone who ·lives as they live [walks on them] will never ·have [know] peace.


text:
Israel’s Sin Brings Trouble ·Fairness [Justice] has gone far away; ·goodness [righteousness] ·is nowhere to be found [does not reach/overtake us]. We ·wait [hope] for the light, but ·there is only darkness now [look/behold, darkness]. We ·hope [wait] for a bright light, but ·all we have is darkness [we walk in gloom/shadows/darkness].


text:
We are like the blind ·feeling our way [groping] along a wall. We ·feel our way [grope] as if we had no eyes. ·In the brightness of day [At midday/noon] we ·trip [stumble] as if it were ·night [evening; twilight]. We are like dead men ·among the strong [or in desolate places].


text:
All of us growl like the bears. We ·call out sadly [moan/coo mournfully] like the doves. We ·look [hope; wait] for justice, but there isn’t any. We ·want to be saved [hope/wait for salvation], but salvation is far away.


text:
·We have done many wrong things [For our sins/transgressions are many] ·against our God [before you]; our sins ·show we are wrong [testify against us]. ·We know we have turned against God [Our transgressions are with us]; we know the ·evil things [iniquities] we have done:


text:
·sinning [transgressing; rebelling] and ·rejecting [lying against] the Lord, turning ·away from [our backs to] our God, ·planning to hurt others and to disobey God [speaking oppression and revolt], ·planning [conceiving] and speaking lies.


text:
So we have driven away justice, and ·we have kept away from what is right [righteousness stands far off]. Truth ·is not spoken [stumbles] in the ·streets [public squares]; what is honest ·is not allowed to enter the city [cannot enter].


text:
Truth ·cannot be found anywhere [is lost/gone; or fails], and people who refuse to do evil ·are attacked [become prey]. The Lord looked and could not find any justice, and he was displeased.


text:
He ·could not find anyone to help the people [saw there was no one], and he was ·surprised [shocked; appalled] that there was no one to ·help [intervene]. So ·he used his own power to save the people [his own arm brought him salvation]; his own ·goodness [righteousness] gave him strength.


text:
He ·covered himself with goodness [put on righteousness] like ·armor [a breastplate]. He put the helmet of salvation on his head [; ]. He put on ·his clothes for punishing [garments of vengeance] and wrapped himself in ·the coat of his strong love [zeal/jealousy as a cloak].


text:
The Lord will ·pay back his enemies [repay] ·for what they have done [according to their deeds]. He will show his ·anger [wrath] to ·those who were against him [his adversaries] and will ·punish [repay] his ·enemies [foes]; he will ·punish [repay] the ·people in faraway places [or islands; or coastlands] as they deserve.


text:
Then people from the west will fear the [name of the] Lord, and people from the ·east [rising of the sun] will fear his glory. ·The Lord [For he] will come quickly like a ·fast-flowing [or pent up] river, driven by the ·breath [or wind; or Spirit] of the Lord.


text:
“Then a Savior will come to ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple] and to the people of Jacob who have turned from ·sin [transgressions],” says the Lord [].


text:
The Lord says, “This is my ·agreement [promise; covenant] with these people: My Spirit and my words that I ·give you [have put in your mouth] will ·never leave you [not depart from your mouth] or [the mouth of] your ·children [descendants; seed] or [the mouth of] your ·grandchildren [descendants’ descendants; seed’s seed], now and forever [; ; ].”


text:
Jerusalem Will Be Great “Jerusalem, ·get up [arise] and shine, because your light has come, and the glory of the Lord shines on you.


text:
[Look; Behold] Darkness ·now covers [or will cover] the earth; deep darkness covers ·her people [the nations]. But the Lord shines on you, and people see his glory [his manifest presence] ·around [upon] you.


text:
Nations will come to your light; kings will come to ·the brightness of your sunrise [or your radiance].


text:
“[Lift up your eyes and] Look around you. People are gathering and coming to you. Your sons are coming from far away, and your daughters are ·coming with them [or carried on the hip; or nursed at their side; or escorted by guardians].


text:
When you see them, you will ·shine with happiness [shine; be radiant]; you will be excited and ·full of joy [your heart will swell/enlarge], because the wealth of the nations across the seas will be given to you; the riches of the nations will come to you.


text:
·Herds [or Caravans; An abundance of] of camels will cover your land, young camels from Midian and Ephah. ·People [All] will come from Sheba [unknown location, perhaps present-day Yemen, Eritrea, or Ethiopia; see ] bringing gold and ·incense [or frankincense], and they will sing praises to the Lord.


text:
All the sheep from Kedar will be ·given [gathered] to you; the ·sheep [rams] from Nebaioth [] will ·be brought to [serve; minister to; perhaps for sacrifices] you. They will be ·pleasing [acceptable] sacrifices on my altar, and I will ·make my beautiful Temple more beautiful [glorify/adorn my glorious Temple].


text:
“·The people are returning to you [Who are these who fly…?] like clouds, like doves flying to their ·nests [shelters; windows].


text:
·People in faraway lands [For the coastlands/or islands] ·are waiting [or look] for me. The ·great trading ships [ships of Tarshish; ] will come first, bringing your children from ·faraway lands [afar], and with them silver and gold. ·This will honor […for the name of] the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel [], ·who does wonderful things for you [because he has glorified/beautified you].


text:
“Jerusalem, foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you. ·When I was angry [In my wrath], I ·hurt [struck] you, but now ·I want to be kind to you and comfort you [in grace/favor I will have compassion/mercy on you].


text:
Your gates will always be open; they will not be closed day or night so the nations can bring their wealth to you, and their kings ·will be led to you [or leading the way; either as captives or leading the procession of gifts].


text:
The nation or kingdom that doesn’t serve you will ·be destroyed [perish]; it will be completely ruined.


text:
“The ·great trees [glory] of Lebanon will ·be given [come] to you []: its ·pine [juniper], fir, and cypress trees together. You will use them to make ·my Temple [the place of my sanctuary] beautiful, and I will ·give much honor to [glorify] ·this place where I rest [the place of] my feet [].


text:
The ·people who have hurt you [children/sons of your oppressors] will bow down to you; those who ·hated [despised] you will bow down at your feet. They will call you The City of the Lord, ·Jerusalem, city [Zion; ] of the Holy One of Israel [].


text:
“You have been ·hated [despised] and ·left empty [abandoned; forsaken] with no one passing through. But I will make you great from now on; you will be a place of ·happiness [pride; majesty] ·forever and ever [for generations to come].


text:
You will ·be given what you need from [drink the milk of] the nations, like a child ·drinking milk from its mother [nursing at royal breasts]. Then you will know that it is I, the Lord, ·who saves you [your savior]. You will know that the Powerful One of Jacob ·protects [redeems] you.


text:
I will bring you gold in place of bronze, silver in place of iron, bronze in place of wood, iron in place of rocks. I will ·change your punishment into peace [or make peace your governor/leader], and ·you will be ruled by what is right [righteousness will be your ruler].


text:
There will be no more violence [heard] in your country, no more ·ruin [devastation; havoc] or destruction within your borders. You will name your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.


text:
The sun will no longer be your light during the day nor will the brightness from the moon be your light, because the Lord will be your ·light forever [everlasting light], and your God will be your glory [; ; ].


text:
Your sun will never set again, and your moon will ·never be dark [not wane/disappear], because the Lord will be your ·light forever [everlasting light], and your ·time of sadness [days of mourning] will end.


text:
All of your people will ·do what is right [be righteous]. They will ·receive [possess; inherit] the earth forever. They are the ·plant [branch; shoot] I have planted, the work of my own hands to show my ·greatness [glory; manifest presence].


text:
The ·smallest family will grow to [least of you will become] a thousand. The ·least important [smallest] of you will become a powerful nation. I am the Lord, and ·when it is [in its] time, I will ·make these things happen quickly [hasten it].”


text:
The Lord’s Message of Freedom The Lord God has put his Spirit in me, because the Lord has ·appointed [anointed] me to ·tell [bring] the good news to the poor. He has sent me to ·comfort [bind up] those whose hearts are broken, to tell the captives they are free, and to tell the prisoners they are released.


text:
He has sent me to announce the ·time when the Lord will show his kindness [year of the Lord’s favor; an allusion to the Year of Jubilee; ; ] and the ·time when our God will punish evil people [day of vengeance of our God]. He has sent me to comfort all those who ·are sad [mourn]


text:
and to help the ·sorrowing [mourning] people of ·Jerusalem [Zion; location of the Temple; ]. I will give them a ·crown [garland; headdress] to replace their ashes, and the oil of ·gladness [joy] to replace their ·sorrow [mourning], and ·clothes [a garment] of praise to replace their ·spirit of sadness [discouragement; heavy heart]. Then they will be called ·Trees of Goodness [or Oaks of Righteousness], trees planted by the Lord to show his ·greatness [glory; manifest presence].


text:
They will rebuild the ·old [ancient] ruins and restore the places destroyed long ago []. They will repair the ruined cities that were destroyed for ·so long [generations].


text:
·Foreigners [Strangers] will come to tend your sheep. ·People from other countries [Foreigners] will ·tend [plow] your fields and vineyards.


text:
You will be called priests of the Lord; you will be named the ·servants [ministers] of our God. You will ·have riches from all the nations on earth [eat the wealth of nations], and ·you will take pride in them [in their glory you will boast].


text:
Instead of ·being ashamed [your shame], you will receive ·twice as much wealth [a double portion]. Instead of being ·disgraced [dishonored; humiliated], they will ·be happy because of what they receive [rejoice over their portion]. They will receive a double share of the land, so ·their happiness will continue forever [everlasting joy will be theirs].


text:
“I, the Lord, love justice. I hate ·stealing [robbery] and ·everything that is wrong [wrongdoing]. ·I will be fair and give my people what they should have [I will reward/give wages in truth/faithfulness], and I will make an ·agreement [covenant; treaty] with them that will continue forever.


text:
·Everyone in all nations will know the children of my people [Their descendants/seed will be known among the nations/Gentiles], and their ·children [offspring] will be known among the ·nations [peoples]. Anyone who sees them will know that they are ·people [descendants; seed] the Lord has blessed.”


text:
I will ·rejoice [delight] greatly in the Lord; ·all that I am [my soul] ·rejoices [exults] in my God. He has covered me with ·clothes [garments] of salvation and wrapped me with a ·coat [robe] of ·goodness [righteousness], like a bridegroom ·dressed for his wedding [or who adorns himself with a headdress like a priest], like a bride ·dressed in [adorns herself with] jewels.


text:
[For as] The earth causes plants to grow, and a garden causes the seeds planted in it to grow. In the same way the Lord God will make ·goodness [righteousness] and praise ·come [sprout; spring up] ·from [or before; in front of] all the nations.


text:
New Jerusalem ·Because I love Jerusalem [For Zion’s sake], I will ·continue to speak for her [not be silent]; for Jerusalem’s sake I will not ·stop speaking [be silent] until her ·goodness [vindication; righteousness] shines like ·a bright light [brightness], until her salvation burns bright like a ·flame [torch].


text:
Jerusalem, the nations will see your ·goodness [righteousness; vindication], and all kings will see your glory. Then you will ·have [be called by] a new name, which the [mouth of the] Lord himself will ·give you [name].


text:
You will be like a ·beautiful crown [crown of majesty/glory] in the Lord’s hand, like a ·king’s crown [royal diadem] in your God’s hand.


text:
You will never again be called ·the People that God Left [Abandoned; Deserted], nor your land ·the Land that God Destroyed [Desolate]. You will be called ·the People God Loves [My Delight Is In Her; Hephzibah; a proper name], and your land will be called ·the Bride of God [Married; Beulah; a proper name], because the Lord ·loves you [takes delight in you]. And your land will ·belong to him as a bride belongs to her husband [be married].


text:
As a young man marries a ·woman [young woman; virgin], so your ·children [or builder] will marry ·your land [you]. As a ·man [bridegroom] rejoices over ·his new wife [the bride], so your God will rejoice over you.


text:
Jerusalem, I ·have put guards [post watchmen] on your walls. They ·must not [or will never] be silent day or night. You people who ·remind the Lord of your needs in prayer [or call on the Lord] should ·never be quiet [take no rest].


text:
You should ·not stop praying to him [give him no rest] until he builds up Jerusalem and makes it a city ·all people will praise [of praise/pride in the earth].


text:
The Lord ·has made a promise [swears by his right hand], and by his ·power he will keep his promise [mighty arm]. He said, “I will never again give your grain as food to your enemies. I will not let ·your enemies [foreigners] drink the new wine that you have worked to make.


text:
Those who ·gather food [gather/harvest it] will eat it, and they will praise the Lord. Those who gather the grapes will drink the wine in the courts of my ·Temple [sanctuary; holy place].”


text:
Go through, go through the gates! Make the way ready for the people. Build up, build up the ·road [highway]! Move all the stones off the road. Raise ·the banner as a sign [a standard/signal flag] for the ·people [nations].


text:
The Lord ·is speaking [announces] to ·all the faraway lands [the end of the earth]: “·Tell the people of Jerusalem [Say to the daughter of Zion; ], ‘Look, your Savior is coming. He is bringing ·your reward to you [his reward with him]; ·he is bringing his payment [his recompense/reward is] with him.’”


text:
·His people [They] will be called the Holy People, the ·Saved People [Redeemed] of the Lord, and Jerusalem will be called ·the City God Wants [Sought After], the City ·God Has Not Rejected [or Not Abandoned; Deserted].


text:
The Lord Judges His People Who is this coming from Edom [], from the city of Bozrah, ·dressed in red [or in crimson-stained garments; Edom means “red”]? Who is this dressed in ·fine clothes [honorable clothing; or royal garments] and marching forward with his great power? He says, “I, the Lord, speak ·what is right [in righteousness]. I ·have the power [am mighty] to save you.”


text:
Someone asks, “Why are your clothes bright red as if you had ·walked [stomped; trodden] on the grapes to make wine?”


text:
The Lord answers, “I have ·walked [stomped; trodden] in the winepress alone, and no one among the nations ·helped [was with] me. I was angry and ·walked [stomped; trod] on the nations and crushed them because of my anger. Blood splashed on my clothes, and I stained all my clothing.


text:
·I chose a time to punish people […for the day of vengeance was in my heart], and the ·time [year] has come for me to ·save [redeem].


text:
I looked around, but I saw no one to help me. I was ·surprised [shocked; appalled] that no one supported me []. So ·I used my own power to save my people [my own arm accomplished salvation/victory]; my own ·anger [wrath] ·supported [sustained; upheld] me.


text:
While I was angry, I ·walked on the [trampled] nations. In my ·anger [wrath] I ·punished them [made them drunk; ; ] and poured their ·blood [juice] on the ·ground [earth].”


text:
The Lord’s Kindness to His People I will tell about the Lord’s ·kindness [lovingkindness; loyalty; covenant love] and praise him for everything he has done. I will praise the Lord for the many good things he has given us and for his goodness to the ·people [house] of Israel. ·He has shown great mercy to us […according to his compassion] and ·has been very kind to us [according to his great lovingkindness/loyalty/covenant love].


text:
He said, “[Surely] These are my people; my children will not ·lie to [deal falsely with; betray] me.” So he saved them.


text:
When they ·suffered [were distressed/afflicted], he ·suffered [was distressed/afflicted] also. ·He sent his own angel to save them [The angel/messenger of his presence/face saved them; ]. Because of his love and kindness, he saved them. ·Since long ago [All the days of old] he has ·picked [lifted] them up and carried them [].


text:
But they ·turned [rebelled] against him [; ; ] and ·made his Holy Spirit very sad [grieved his Holy Spirit; ]. So he became their enemy, and he fought against them.


text:
But then his people remembered ·what happened long ago [the days of old], in the days of Moses and the Israelites with him. Where is the Lord who brought the people ·through [up out of] the sea [], with the ·leaders of his people [shepherds of the flock; probably Moses, Aaron and the tribal leaders]? Where is the one who put his ·Holy Spirit [or holy spirit] among them,


text:
who led Moses by the right hand with his ·wonderful power [glorious arm], who divided the water before them [] to make ·his name famous [a reputation/name for himself] forever,


text:
who led the people through the ·deep waters [depths]? Like a horse walking ·through a desert [in the wilderness], the people did not stumble.


text:
Like cattle that go down to the valley, the Spirit of the Lord gave ·the people a place to rest [them rest]. Lord, that is the way you led your people, and by this you ·won [made] for yourself ·wonderful fame [a glorious reputation/name].


text:
A Prayer for Help Lord, look down from the heavens and see; look at us from your ·wonderful [glorious] and holy ·home [abode] in heaven. Where is your ·strong love [zeal] and power? Why are you ·keeping [holding back] your ·love [tenderness] and ·mercy [compassion] from us?


text:
You are our father. […though] Abraham doesn’t know ·we are his children [us], and Israel doesn’t recognize us. Lord, you are our father. ·You are called [or Your name is] “·the one who has always saved us [our redeemer from of old].”


text:
Lord, why are you making us wander from your ways? Why do you make ·us stubborn [our hearts hard] so that we don’t ·honor [fear] you? For our sake come back to us, your servants, ·who belong to you [the tribes of your inheritance].


text:
Your ·people [or holy people] had ·your Temple [possession of your holy place; or possession of a land] for a while, but now our enemies have ·walked on your holy place and crushed it [trampled down your sanctuary].


text:
We have become like people you never ruled over, like those who have never ·worn [been called by] your name.


text:
If only you would tear open the ·skies [heavens] and come down to earth so that the mountains would ·tremble [shake] before you.


text:
Like a fire that ·burns [kindles; ignites] ·twigs [dry wood], like a fire that makes water boil, let your ·enemies [adversaries] know ·who you are [your name]. Then all nations will shake with fear ·when they see you [before you].


text:
You have done amazing things ·we did not expect [beyond our expectations]. You came down, and the mountains trembled before you.


text:
From ·long ago [ancient times; of old] no ·one [ear] has ever heard of a God like you. No ·one [eye] has ever seen a God besides you, who ·helps [acts on behalf of] the people who ·trust [wait for] you.


text:
You help those who ·enjoy doing good [joyfully act righteously], who remember ·how you want them to live [your ways/paths]. ·But [Look; Behold] you were angry because we sinned. For a long time we disobeyed, so how can we be saved?


text:
All of us ·are dirty with sin [became like an unclean/defiled thing]. All ·the right things we have done [our righteous deeds] are like ·filthy pieces of cloth [filthy garments/rags; or a menstrual cloth; ]. All of us ·are [fade; shrivel] like dead leaves, and our ·sins [iniquities], like the wind, have carried us away.


text:
No one ·worships you [calls on your name] or ·even asks you to help us [rouses himself to lay hold of you]. That is because you have ·turned away [hidden your face] from us and have ·let our sins destroy us [given us over to our sins].


text:
Lord, don’t continue to be angry with us; don’t remember our sins forever. Please, look at us, because we are your people.


text:
Your holy cities ·are empty like the desert [have become a wilderness/wasteland]. ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple] is like a ·desert [wilderness; wasteland]; it is ·destroyed [a desolation].


text:
Our ancestors worshiped you in our holy and wonderful Temple, but now it has been burned with fire, and all our ·precious [treasured; pleasant] things have ·been destroyed [become ruins].


text:
·When you see these things [After this], will you hold yourself back from helping us, Lord? Will you be silent and punish us beyond ·what we can stand [measure]?


text:
All People Will Learn About God The Lord says, “I ·made myself known to people [allowed myself to be sought by those] who were not looking for me. I was found by those who were not asking me for help. I said, ‘Here I am. Here I am,’ to a nation that ·was not praying to me [did not call on my name; or called by my name].


text:
All day long I ·stood ready to accept [stretched out my hands to a] people who ·turned [rebelled] against me, but the way they continue to ·live [walk] is not good; ·they do anything they want to do [following their own thoughts/schemes].


text:
·Right in front of me [To my face] they continue to do things that make me angry. They offer sacrifices to their gods in their gardens [], and they burn incense on altars of brick.


text:
They sit among the graves and spend their nights ·waiting to get messages from the dead [or keeping vigil; or in secret places]. They eat the ·meat [flesh] of pigs [unclean animal; ; ], and their pots are full of soup made from ·meat that is wrong to eat [defiled/polluted things].


text:
But they tell others, ‘Stay away, and don’t come near me. I am too holy for you.’ These ·people [or practices] are like smoke in my ·nose [nostrils]. Like a fire that burns all ·the time [day long; their sin never ceases and God’s anger grows].


text:
“Look, it is written here before me. I will not ·be quiet [keep silent]; instead, I will repay you in full. I will ·punish you for what you have done [pay it back into their laps/bosom].


text:
I will punish you for your sins and your ·ancestors’ [fathers’] sins,” says the Lord. “They burned incense ·to gods on [on] the mountains and ·shamed [insulted; defied] me on those hills. So I will ·punish them as they should be punished for what they did [measure into their laps/bosoms payment for their former deeds].”


text:
This is what the Lord says: “When there is ·juice left [new wine; or good grapes] in a bunch of grapes, people say, “Don’t destroy it, because there is ·good left [blessing] in it.” So I will do the same thing to my servants— I will not destroy them all.


text:
I will ·leave some of the children of [produce/bring forth offspring/seed from] Jacob, and some of the people of Judah will ·receive [possess; inherit] my mountain. ·I will choose the people who [My chosen ones] will ·live there [possess/inherit it]; my servants will live there.


text:
Then ·the Plain of Sharon [Sharon; a fertile plain in western Israel; ] will be a field for flocks, and the Valley of Achor [located in eastern Israel, near Jericho] will be a place for herds to rest. They will be for the people who ·want to follow [have sought] me.


text:
“But as for you who ·left [abandoned; forsook] the Lord, who forgot about my holy mountain, who ·worship the god Luck [spread a table for Fortune/Luck; Hebrew Gad, a pagan god], ·who hold religious feasts for the god Fate [fill bowls of mixed wine for Fate; Hebrew Meni, a pagan god],


text:
I ·decide your fate, and I will punish you with my sword [destine/number you for the sword]. You will all ·be killed [fall in the slaughter; or bow to the executioner], because I called you, but you refused to answer. I spoke to you, but you wouldn’t listen. You did ·the things I said were evil [evil before my eyes] and chose to do things ·that displease me [I did not delight in].”


text:
So this is what the Lord God says: “My servants will eat, but ·you evil people [you] will be hungry. My servants will drink, but ·you evil people [you] will be thirsty. My servants will ·be happy [rejoice], but ·you evil people [you] will be shamed.


text:
My servants will shout for joy because of the ·goodness [joy] of their hearts, but ·you evil people [you] will ·cry [shout; cry out], ·because you will be sad [from an anguished heart]. You will ·cry loudly [wail; lament], because your spirits will be broken.


text:
Your names will be ·like curses to [or used as a curse by; left as a curse to] my ·servants [chosen ones], and the Lord God will put you to death. But he will call his servants by another name.


text:
People in the land who ask for blessings will ·ask for them from [or be blessed by] the faithful God. And people in the land who ·make a promise [swear an oath] will ·promise [swear] ·in the name of the faithful God [or by the one true God], because the troubles of the past will be forgotten. ·I will make those troubles go away […and are hidden from my eyes].


text:
A New Time Is Coming “·Look [Behold], I will ·make [create] new heavens and a new earth, and people will not remember the ·past [former things] or ·think about those things [bring them to heart/mind].


text:
My people will be happy and joyful forever because of the things I will ·make [create]. I will make a Jerusalem that is full of joy, and I will make her people a delight.


text:
Then I will rejoice over Jerusalem and be delighted with my people. There will never again be heard in that city the sounds of ·crying [weeping] and ·sadness [crying].


text:
There will never be a ·baby [infant] from that city who lives only a few days. And there will never be an older person who doesn’t ·have a long life [live out his days]. A person who ·lives a hundred years will be called young [or dies at a hundred years will still be considered a child], and a person who dies before he is a hundred will be thought of as a ·sinner [or accursed].


text:
In that city those who build houses will live there. Those who plant vineyards will get to eat their grapes [as opposed to times of conquest, when homes are confiscated and crops are stolen].


text:
No more will one person ·build a house and someone else live there [build and another inhabit]. One person will not ·plant a garden and someone else eat its fruit [plant and another eat]. ·My people will live a long time, as trees live long [For like the days of a tree shall be the days of my people]. My chosen people will live there and enjoy the ·things they make [work of their hands].


text:
They will ·never again work for nothing [not labor in vain]. They will never again give birth to children ·who die young [doomed for misfortune/disaster]. All my people will be blessed by the Lord; they and their ·children [descendants; seed] will be blessed.


text:
I will ·provide for their needs [answer] before they ·ask [call], and I will ·help them [hear] while they are still ·asking for help [speaking].


text:
The wolf and the lamb will ·eat together in peace [feed/graze together]. The lion will eat hay like an ox, and ·a snake on the ground will not hurt anyone [the serpent’s food will be dust; ]. They will not hurt or destroy each other on all my holy mountain,” says the Lord.


text:
The Lord Will Judge All Nations This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. So ·do you think you can build a house for me [where is this house you would build for me]? ·Do I need a place to rest [Where is my resting place]?


text:
[Hasn’t…?] My hand made all things. All things are here because I made them,” says the Lord. “These are the people ·I am pleased with [upon whom I look]: those who are ·not proud or stubborn [humble and contrite in spirit] and who ·fear [tremble at] my word.


text:
But those people who kill bulls as a sacrifice to me are like those who kill people. Those who kill sheep as a sacrifice are like those who break the necks of dogs. Those who give me ·grain [gift; tribute] offerings [] are like those who offer me the blood of pigs [dogs and pigs were ritually unclean animals and were forbidden as sacrifices]. Those who burn incense are like those who worship idols [their rituals were no better than pagan worship because their hearts were not right with God]. These people choose their own ways, not mine, and they ·love [delight in] ·the terrible things they do [their abominations].


text:
So I will choose ·their punishments [harsh treatment for them], and I will punish them with what they fear most. This is because I called to them, but they did not listen. I spoke to them, but they did not hear me. They did things I said were evil; they chose to do things I did not ·like [delight in].”


text:
You people who ·obey the words of the Lord [tremble at his word], listen to what he says: “Your brothers hated you and ·turned against [excluded; cast out] you because ·you followed me [of my name]. Your brothers said, ‘Let the Lord be ·honored [glorified] so we may see ·you rejoice [your joy],’ but they will be ·punished [put to shame].


text:
·Listen to the loud noise coming [A sound of uproar…!] from the city; hear the ·noise [or voice] from the Temple. It is the [voice/sound of the] Lord ·punishing [repaying] his enemies, giving them the punishment they deserve.


text:
“·A woman does not give birth [She gives birth; alluding to Jerusalem/Zion; ] before she ·feels the pain [goes into labor]; she ·does not give birth to a son [delivers a son/child] before the pain starts.


text:
·No one has ever [Who has…?] heard of that happening; ·no one has ever [Who has…?] seen that happen. ·In the same way no one ever saw [Can…?] a country ·begin [be born] in one day; ·no one has ever heard of a new nation beginning [can a nation be brought forth…?] in one moment. But ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple] will give birth to her children just as soon as she feels the birth pains [the rebirth of the nation will be sudden and unexpected].


text:
·In the same way I will not cause pain [Will I bring one to the moment of birth…?] without allowing something new to be born,” says the Lord. “If I cause you ·the pain [to deliver], ·I will not stop you from giving birth to your new nation [will I (now) close the womb?],” says your God.


text:
“·Jerusalem, rejoice [or Rejoice with Jerusalem]. All you people who love Jerusalem, be ·happy [glad for/with her]. Those of you who ·felt sad [mourned] for Jerusalem should now ·feel happy [rejoice with joy] with her.


text:
You will ·take comfort from her [nurse] and be satisfied, ·as a child is nursed by its mother [at her comforting breasts]. You will ·receive her good things [drink deeply] ·and enjoy her wealth [from her glorious abundance].”


text:
This is what the Lord says: “I will give her peace that will flow to her like a river. The ·wealth [glory] of the nations will come to her like a ·river overflowing its banks [flood]. ·Like babies you will [You will] be nursed and held in ·my [her] arms and bounced on ·my [her] knees.


text:
When you see these things, ·you [your heart] will ·be happy [rejoice], and ·you [or your bones] will ·grow [flourish] like the grass. The Lord’s servants will see his ·power [hand], but his enemies will see his ·anger [wrath].


text:
Look, the Lord is coming with fire and his ·armies [chariots] with ·clouds of dust [a whirlwind]. He will ·punish those people with his anger [satisfy/render his anger with fury/wrath]; he will ·punish them [satisfy/render his rebuke] with flames of fire.


text:
The Lord will judge the people with fire, and he will ·destroy many people [judge all people] with his sword; ·he will kill many people [many will be slain by the Lord].


text:
“These people ·make themselves holy and pure [sanctify/consecrate and purify themselves] to go ·to worship their gods in their [into] gardens [pagan worship sites; ]. Following ·each other [or their leader; one], they eat the meat of pigs and rats and other ·hateful [detestable; abominable] things. But they will ·all be destroyed [perish] together,” says the Lord.


text:
“I know ·they have evil thoughts and do evil things [their deeds and thoughts], so I am ·coming to punish them [coming]. I will gather all nations and all ·people [languages; tongues], and they will come together and see my glory.


text:
“I will put a ·mark [sign] ·on some of the people [among them], and I will send ·some of these saved people [or those who survive] to the nations: to Tarshish [], ·Libya [Pul], Lud (·the land of archers [who draw the bow]), Tubal, ·Greece [Javan], and all the faraway ·lands [or islands; or coastlands]. These people have never heard about ·what I have done [my fame] nor seen my glory. So ·the saved people [they] will tell the nations about my glory.


text:
And they will bring all your ·fellow Israelites [brothers] from all nations to my holy mountain in Jerusalem as an offering to the Lord. ·Your fellow Israelites [They] will come on horses, donkeys, and camels and in chariots and wagons. They will be like the grain offerings that the people bring in ·clean [pure; undefiled] ·containers [vessels] to the Temple,” says the Lord.


text:
“I will make new heavens and the new earth, which will ·last forever [endure before me],” says the Lord. “In the same way, your name and your ·children [descendants; offspring; seed] will ·always be with me [remain; endure].


text:
“They will go out and see the dead bodies of the people who ·sinned [rebelled] against me. The worms that eat them will never die, and the fires that burn them will never ·stop [be quenched], and ·everyone will hate to see those bodies [they will be a horror/abhorrence to all flesh].”


text:
These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah [perhaps the person who discovered the lost book of the law; , ]. ·He belonged to the family of […from the] priests who lived in Anathoth [a town given to the Levites a few miles northeast of Jerusalem; ; ] in the land of Benjamin.


text:
The Lord spoke his word to Jeremiah during the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amon was king of Judah [627–626 bc; a good king who returned Israel to true worship; ; ].


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The Lord also spoke to Jeremiah while Jehoiakim [; ] son of Josiah was king of Judah and during the eleven years that Zedekiah [; ] son of Josiah was king of Judah. In the fifth month of his last year [586 bc], the people of Jerusalem were taken away as ·captives [exiles; ; ].


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“Before I ·made [formed] you in your mother’s womb, I ·chose [knew] you. Before you ·were born [came out of the womb], I ·set you apart for a special work [consecrated you]. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”


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But the Lord said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I am only a ·boy [child; youth].’ You must go everywhere I send you, and you must say everything I ·tell you to say [command you].


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Then the Lord ·reached [sent] out his hand and touched my mouth [to consecrate it; ]. He said to me, “See, I am putting my words in your mouth.


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Today I have ·put you in charge of [appointed you over] nations and kingdoms. You will ·pull [pluck] up and ·tear [pull] down, destroy and overthrow, build up and plant [he will announce judgment and salvation].”


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Jeremiah Sees Two Visions The Lord spoke his word to me, saying: “Jeremiah, what do you see?” I answered, “I see a ·stick [branch] of almond ·wood [tree].”


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The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, because I am watching to make sure my words come true [“to watch” (shaqad) sounds like “almond tree” (shoqed)].”


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The Lord spoke his word to me ·again [or a second time]: “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a pot of boiling water, tipping over from the north.”


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The Lord said to me, “Disaster will ·come [let loose; open up] from the north and strike all the people who live in this country [the Babylonians would attack from the north].


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In a short time I will call all of the ·people [clans] in the northern kingdoms,” said the Lord. “Those kings will come and set up their thrones near the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem. They will attack all the city walls around Jerusalem and all the cities in Judah.


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And I will announce my judgments against my people because of their evil in ·turning away from [abandoning; forsaking] me. They ·offered sacrifices [or burned incense] to other gods and ·worshiped [bowed down to] ·idols they had made with [the works of] their own hands.


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“Jeremiah, ·get ready [brace yourself; gird up your loins]. Stand up and tell them everything I command you to say. Don’t be afraid of the people, or I will give you good reason to be afraid of them.


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Today I am going to make you a ·strong [fortified] city, an iron pillar, a bronze wall. You will be able to stand against everyone in the land: Judah’s kings, officers, priests, and the people of the land.


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They will fight against you, but they will not ·defeat [prevail over] you, because I am with you to protect you!” says the Lord.


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“Go and ·speak to the people of Jerusalem [announce/proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem], saying: This is what the Lord says: ‘I remember ·how faithful you were to me when you were a young nation [your loyalty/devotion as a youth/girl/child]. You loved me like a young bride. You ·followed [went after] me through the ·desert [wilderness; as they traveled from Egypt to the Promised Land], a land that had never been ·planted [sown].


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The people of Israel were holy to the Lord, like the firstfruits from his harvest [both belonged to God; ; ; ; ]. Those who tried to ·hurt Israel [consume it] were judged guilty. ·Disasters [Troubles] ·struck [came to] them,’” says the Lord.


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Hear the word of the Lord, ·family [house] of Jacob, all you ·family groups [clans of the house] of Israel.


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This is what the Lord says: “·I was fair to your ancestors, so why did they turn away from me? [What wrong did your ancestors/fathers find in me that they removed themselves from me?] Your ·ancestors [fathers] ·worshiped [went after] ·useless idols [worthless/meaningless things] and became ·useless [worthless; meaningless] themselves.


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Your ·ancestors [fathers] didn’t say, ‘Where is the Lord who brought us out of Egypt? He led us through the ·desert [wilderness], through a ·dry [barren] and ·rocky [broken] land, through a dangerous [parched] and dark land. He led us where no one ·travels [passes through] or lives.’


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I brought you into a ·fertile land [orchard; land of plenty] so you could eat its fruit and produce. But you came and made my land unclean [in a ritual sense]; you made ·it [my inheritance] a ·hateful place [abomination].


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The priests didn’t ask, ‘Where is the Lord?’ The people who ·know [handle; deal with] the ·teachings [laws; instructions; Torah] didn’t know me. The ·leaders [shepherds] turned against me. The prophets prophesied in the name of Baal [] and ·worshiped useless idols [went after unprofitable things].


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“So now I will ·again tell what I have against [accuse; charge] you,” says the Lord. “And I will ·tell what I have against [accuse; charge] ·your grandchildren [the sons of your sons].


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·Go across the sea [Cross over] to the ·island [or coasts] of Cyprus [to the west] and see. Send someone to the land of Kedar [eastern desert nomads; ; ; ] to look closely. See if there has ever been anything like this.


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Has a nation ever exchanged its gods? (·Of course, its gods are not really gods at all [And they are not gods].) But my people have exchanged their glory [God] for ·idols worth nothing [unprofitable things].


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·Skies [Heavens], be shocked at the things that have happened and ·shake [shudder] with great fear!” says the Lord.


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“My people have done two evils: They have ·turned away from [abandoned; forsaken] me, the ·spring [fountain] of living water []. And they have dug their own ·wells [cisterns], which are broken ·wells [cisterns] that cannot hold water [the idols, like the wells, are useless].


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Have the people of Israel become slaves? Have they become like ·someone who was born a slave [a home-born servant; ]? Why ·were they taken captive [have they become plunder]?


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·Enemies have roared like lions at Israel [The lions roar against him]; they have ·growled at Israel [given forth their voice]. They have ·destroyed [made a desolation of] the land of Israel. The cities of Israel lie in ruins, ·and all the people have left [and there are no inhabitants].


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The ·men from the cities [sons] of ·Memphis [Noph] and Tahpanhes [two important Egyptian cities] have ·shaved [or broken] the top of your head [disgracing them; Israel embarrassed itself by entering into alliances with Egypt; ; ; ; ; ].


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·Haven’t you brought this on yourselves [Did you not do this to yourself] by ·turning away from [abandoning; forsaking] the Lord your God when he was leading you in the ·right way [or path]?


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·It did not help to go to [Why would you go on the path to…?] Egypt and drink from the Shihor River [the Nile or one of its tributaries]. ·It did not help to [Why would you…?] go to Assyria and drink from the River [the Euphrates].


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Your evil will ·bring punishment to [instruct; discipline] you, and ·the wrong you have done [your apostasy/infidelity] will ·teach you a lesson [reprove/convict/rebuke you]. ·Think about it and understand [Know and see] that it is ·a terrible evil [evil and bitter] to ·turn away from [abandon; forsake] the Lord your God. It is wrong not to fear me,” says the Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts].


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“Long ago you broke your yoke [abandoning God]. You snapped off your ropes [rejecting their dependence on God] and said, ‘I will not serve you!’ In fact, on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute [worshiping at pagan altars in the hills; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ].


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But I planted you as a ·special [choice] vine [], ·as a very good seed [from good stock]. How then did you turn into a wild vine [growing bad fruit]?


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Although you wash yourself with ·cleanser [lye] and use much soap [], I can still see the stain of your guilt,” says the Lord God.


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“How can you say to me, ‘I am not ·guilty [defiled]. I have not ·worshiped [gone after] the Baals [idols]’? Look at ·the things you did [your way/path] in the valley. ·Think about [Know] what you have done. You are like a she-camel that runs from place to place [as if in heat].


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You are like a wild donkey that lives in the ·desert [wilderness] and sniffs the wind ·at mating time [when in heat]. At that time who can hold ·her back [back her lust]? None who ·chase [seek] her ·will easily catch her [need to exert themselves]; ·at mating time [in her month], it is easy to find her.


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Stop before your feet are bare or your throat is dry [from running after her]. But you say, ‘It’s no use! I love those strangers [other gods], and I must ·chase [go after] them!’


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“A thief is ·ashamed [humiliated] when someone ·catches [discovers] him. In the same way, the ·family [house] of Israel is ·ashamed [humiliated]— they, their kings, their ·officers [princes], their priests, and their prophets.


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They say to ·things of wood [a tree], ‘You are my father,’ and to a stone, ‘You gave birth to me [idols were made out of wood and stone].’ Those people have turned their backs to me, not their faces. But when they get into trouble, they say, ‘·Come [Rise up] and ·save [rescue] us!’


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Where are the gods you made for yourselves [idols]? Let them ·come [rise up] and ·save [rescue] you when you are in trouble [; ; ]! People of Judah, you have as many gods [idols] as you have towns!


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“Why do you ·complain to [charge; accuse] me? All of you have ·turned [rebelled; transgressed] against me,” says the Lord.


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“I ·punished [struck] your ·people [children], ·but it did not help [in vain]. They didn’t ·come back when they were punished [accept instruction/discipline]. With your swords you ·killed [devoured] your prophets like a ·hungry [ravenous] lion [; ; ].


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“·People of Judah [Oh generation], ·pay attention [look] to the word of the Lord: Have I been a ·desert [wilderness] to the people of Israel or a dark land [useless or even dangerous]? Why do my people say, ‘We are ·free to wander [our own masters]. We won’t come to you anymore’?


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·A young woman does not [Does a virgin…?] forget her ·jewelry [ornaments], and ·a bride does not [does a bride…?] forget the decorations for her dress. But my people have forgotten me for more days than can be counted.


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·You really know how to chase after love [How well you know the path to seek lovers!]. Even ·the worst [evil] women can learn ·evil ways from you [your ways/paths].


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Even on your clothes you have the blood of poor and innocent people, but ·they weren’t thieves you caught breaking in [you did not find them breaking in; in which case they could have killed them in self-defense; ]. You do all these things,


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but you say, ‘I am innocent. ·God is not angry with me [His anger has turned from me].’ But I will judge you [guilty of lying], because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’


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It is so easy for you to change your ·mind [way; path]. Even Egypt will ·let you down [shame/embarrass you], as Assyria ·let you down [shamed/embarrassed you].


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You will eventually ·leave that place [go out] with your hands on your head [like captives]. ·You trusted those countries [For the Lord has rejected these in whom you had confidence], and you will not ·be helped by [find success with] them.


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Judah Is Unfaithful “If a man ·divorces [sends away] his wife and she leaves him and marries another man, should her first husband come back to her again? If he went back to her, wouldn’t the land become completely ·unclean [defiled; polluted; in a ritual sense; such a thing was forbidden by the Law; ]? But you have acted like a prostitute with many lovers, and now you want to come back to me?” says the Lord [];


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“·Look up [Lift up your eyes and look] to the bare hilltops, Judah. Is there any place where ·you have not been a prostitute [you have not been lain with; the hill country contained many pagan altars]? You have sat by the road waiting for lovers, like an Arab in the ·desert [wilderness]. You made the land ·unclean [defiled; polluted; in a ritual sense], because you did evil and were like a prostitute.


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So the rain has ·not come [been withheld], and there have not been any spring rains []. But ·your face still looks like the face [you have the forehead] of a prostitute [unembarrassed]. You refuse even to be ashamed of what you did.


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·Now you are [Are you not now…?] calling to me, ‘My father, you have been my friend since I was young.


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Will you always be angry at me? Will your anger last ·forever [to the end]?’ Judah, you said this, but you did as much evil as you could!”


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Judah and Israel Are like Sisters ·When [In the days when] Josiah [Jeremiah began his work in Josiah’s thirteenth year (626 bc) and continued until Josiah’s death (609 bc) and beyond; ] was ·ruling Judah [king], the Lord said to me, “Did you see what unfaithful Israel did? She was like a prostitute with her idols on every hill and under every green tree [].


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I said to myself, ‘Israel will come back to me after she does this evil,’ but she didn’t come back. And Israel’s ·wicked [traitorous; treacherous] sister Judah saw what she did [; ].


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Judah saw that I ·divorced [sent away with a certificate of divorce] unfaithful Israel because of her adultery [in the Assyrian exile of 722 bc], but that didn’t make Israel’s ·wicked [traitorous; treacherous] sister Judah afraid. She also went out and acted like a prostitute!


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And she didn’t care that she was acting like a prostitute. So she made her country ·unclean [defiled; polluted; in a ritual sense] and was guilty of adultery with stone and wood [by worshiping idols made of these materials].


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Israel’s ·wicked [traitorous; treacherous] sister, Judah, didn’t even come back to me with her whole heart, but only pretended,” says the Lord.


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The Lord said to me, “·Unfaithful [Apostate] Israel ·had a better excuse [is more righteous] than ·wicked [traitorous; treacherous] Judah.


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Go and speak ·this message [these words] toward the north: ‘·Come back [Return], ·unfaithful [apostate] people of Israel,’ says the Lord. ‘I will ·stop being angry [no longer frown; make my face fall] at you, because I am ·full of mercy [loyal],’ says the Lord. ‘I will not be angry with you forever.


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·All you have to do is admit your sin—[Acknowledge your guilt] that you ·turned [rebelled; transgressed] against the Lord your God and ·worshiped gods [scattered your ways to strangers] under every green tree [] and didn’t ·obey me [listen to my voice],’” says the Lord.


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“·Come back [Return] to me, you ·unfaithful [apostate] children,” says the Lord, “because I am your master. I will take one person from every city and two from every ·family group [clan], and I will bring you to ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple].


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Then I will give you ·new rulers [shepherds] ·who will be faithful to me [according to my heart], who will ·lead [shepherd] you with knowledge and ·understanding [insight].


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In those days ·there will be many of you [you will multiply and be fruitful] in the land,” says the Lord. “At that time people will no longer say, ‘The Ark of the ·Agreement [Covenant; Testimony; Treaty; ].’ They won’t remember it or miss it or make another one.


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At that time people will call Jerusalem The Throne of the Lord [due to God’s presence], and all nations will ·come together [gather] in Jerusalem to ·show respect to [the name of] the Lord [; ; ; ; ; ; ; ]. They will not ·follow [go after] their stubborn, evil hearts anymore.


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In those days the ·family [house] of Judah will join the ·family [house] of Israel. They will come together from a land in the north to the land I ·gave their ancestors [caused their ancestors/fathers to inherit; the future return from exile].


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“I, the Lord, said, ‘How ·happy I would be to treat you as [I would set you among] my own children and give you a ·pleasant [favored; coveted; desired] land, a ·land [inheritance] more beautiful than that of any other nation [, ; ; ; , ].’ I thought you would call me ‘My Father’ and not turn away from me.


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But like a woman who is ·unfaithful [a traitor; treacherous] to her husband, ·family [house] of Israel, you have been unfaithful [a traitor; treacherous] to me,” says the Lord.


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You can hear ·crying [a voice] on the bare hilltops []. It is the people of Israel crying and ·praying for mercy [supplicating]. They have ·become very evil [wandered off their path] and have forgotten the Lord their God.


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“Come back to me, you ·unfaithful [apostate] children, and I will ·forgive [heal] you for being ·unfaithful [apostate].” “Yes, we will come to you, because you are the Lord our God.


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·It was foolish to worship idols on [Deception/Illusions come from] the hills and ·orgies [a tumult] on the mountains. Surely the salvation of Israel comes from the Lord our God.


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Since our youth, shameful things [false gods] have eaten up everything our ·ancestors [fathers] worked for— their flocks and herds, their sons and daughters.


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Let us lie down in our ·shame [humiliation], and let our disgrace cover us. We have sinned against the Lord our God, both we and our ·ancestors [fathers]. From our youth until now, we have not ·obeyed [listened to the voice of] the Lord our God.”


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“If you ·will [want to] return, Israel, then return to me,” says the Lord. “If you will ·throw away [turn from] your abominations [the idols], then ·don’t wander away from me [no longer go astray].


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If you say when you ·make a promise [swear], ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’ and you can say it in a truthful, ·honest [just], and ·right [righteous] way, then the nations will be blessed by him, and they will ·praise him for what he has done [boast in him].”


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This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and to Jerusalem: “Plow your unplowed fields [a metaphor for changing their spiritual condition], and don’t ·plant seeds [sow] among thorns.


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·Give yourselves to the service of [Circumcise yourself to] the Lord [a metaphor for obedience], and ·decide to obey him [remove the foreskin of your heart; ; ], people of Judah and ·people [inhabitants] of Jerusalem. If you don’t, my anger will ·spread among you [flare/blaze up] like a fire, and no one will be able to ·put it out [quench it], because of the evil you have done.


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Trouble from the North “·Announce this message [Declare; Shout; Let it be heard] in Judah and ·say [proclaim] it in Jerusalem: ‘Blow the ·trumpet [ram’s horn] throughout the ·country [land]!’ Shout out loud and say, ‘·Come [Gather] together! Let’s all ·escape [go] to the ·strong, walled [fortified] cities!’


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Raise the ·signal flag [banner; military insignia] toward ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple]! ·Run for your lives [Take refuge/shelter], and don’t ·wait [delay], because I am bringing ·disaster [trouble] from the north [the Babylonians; ] There will be terrible destruction.”


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A lion has come out of his ·den [lair; thicket; ]; a destroyer of nations has begun to march. He has left his ·home [place] to ·destroy [set destruction in] your land. Your towns will be ·destroyed [devastated] with no one left to live in them.


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So put on ·rough cloth [sackcloth; burlap; mourning clothes], ·show how sad you are [lament; mourn], and ·cry loudly [wail]. The ·terrible [fierce] anger of the Lord has not turned away from us.


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“·When this happens [In that day],” says the Lord, “the ·king and officers will lose their courage [heart of king and officers/princes will fail]. The priests will be ·terribly afraid [desolate], and the prophets will be ·shocked [stunned; appalled]!”


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Then I said, [“Aha,] Lord God, you have ·tricked [deceived] ·the people of Judah [this people] and Jerusalem. You said, ‘You will have peace,’ but now the sword ·is pointing at [touches] our ·throats [or very lives]!”


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At that time ·this message will be given [it will be said] to Judah and Jerusalem: “A hot wind blows from the bare hilltops [] of the ·desert [wilderness] toward the ·Lord’s [daughter of my] people. ·It is not a gentle wind to separate grain from chaff […not for winnowing or for cleansing].


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I feel a stronger wind than that. Now even I will announce judgments against ·the people of Judah [them].”


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Look! ·The enemy [He] rises up like a cloud, and his chariots come like a ·tornado [whirlwind]. His horses are faster than eagles. ·How terrible it will be for [Woe to] us! We are ·ruined [devastated]!


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People of Jerusalem, ·clean [wash] the evil from your hearts so that you can be ·saved [rescued; ; ]. ·Don’t continue making [How long will you lodge in your heart/mind] evil plans.


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A voice from Dan makes an announcement and ·brings bad news [proclaims disaster/trouble] from the mountains of Ephraim.


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“Report this to the nations. ·Spread this news [Make it heard] in Jerusalem: ‘Invaders are coming from a faraway country [Babylon], shouting [war cries] against the cities of Judah.


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The enemy has surrounded Jerusalem as men guard a field, because Judah ·turned [rebelled; transgressed] against me,’” says the Lord.


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“·The way you have lived and acted [Your path/way and your deeds] has brought this trouble to you. This is your ·punishment [trouble; disaster]. How ·terrible [bitter] it is! ·The pain stabs [It reaches] your heart!”


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Jeremiah’s Cry Oh, ·how I hurt [my pain/anguish/innards]! ·How I hurt [My pain/anguish/innards]! ·I am bent over in pain [My heart writhes]. Oh, the ·torture in [walls of] my heart! My heart is pounding inside me. I cannot keep quiet, because I have heard the sound of the ·trumpet [ram’s horn]. I have heard the shouts of war.


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Disaster after disaster is reported; the whole country has been ·destroyed [devastated]. My tents are ·destroyed [devastated] ·in only a moment [suddenly]. My curtains are torn down quickly.


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How long must I look at the war flag? How long must I listen to the ·war trumpet [sound of the ram’s horn]?


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The Lord says, “My people are ·foolish [stupid]. They do not know me. They are stupid children; they don’t understand. They are ·skillful [wise] at doing evil, but they don’t know how to do good.”


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Disaster Is Coming I looked at the earth, and it ·had no form and was empty [was a formless void; ]. I looked at the ·sky [heavens], and ·its light was gone [there was no light].


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I looked, and the good, ·rich land [fertile land; land of plenty; orchards] had become a ·desert [wilderness]. All its towns had been destroyed by the Lord and his great anger.


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This is what the Lord says: “All the land will be ruined, but I will not ·completely destroy it [make a complete end].


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So the people in the land will ·cry loudly [mourn; wail], and the ·sky [heavens above] will grow dark [; ; ; ], because I have spoken and made a decision. I will not change my mind; I will not turn back.”


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At the sound of the horsemen and the archers, all the people in the towns ·run away [flee]. They ·hide [go] in the thick bushes and climb up into the rocks. All of the cities of Judah are ·empty [abandoned; forsaken]; no one lives in them.


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You destroyed nation [Judah], what are you doing? Why do you put on ·scarlet [purple; an expensive dress] and decorate yourself with gold jewelry? Why do you ·put color around your eyes [enlarge your eyes with black eye paint]? You make yourself beautiful, ·but it is all useless [in vain; without purpose]. Your lovers ·hate [despise; reject] you; they ·want to kill you [seek your life].


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I hear a cry like a woman ·having a baby [writhing in labor], ·distress [trouble] like a woman having her first child. It is the sound of ·Jerusalem [the daughter of Zion; the location of the Temple] gasping for breath. She ·lifts [spreads] her hands in prayer and says, “·Oh! I am about to [Woe to me, for I am] faint before my murderers!”


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No One Is Right The Lord says, “·Walk [or Run] up and down the streets of Jerusalem. Look around and ·discover [know] these things. Search the public squares of the city. If you can find one person who does ·honest [just] things, who ·searches for the truth [or seeks to be faithful], I will forgive this city.


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Although the people say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives!’ they ·don’t really mean it [swear/take an oath falsely].”


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Lord, ·don’t you [do your eyes] look for ·truth [faithfulness] in people? You struck ·the people of Judah [them], but they didn’t feel any ·pain [anguish]. You ·crushed [consumed] them, but they refused to ·learn what is right [take your correction/instruction]. ·They became more stubborn [Their faces became harder] than a rock; they refused to ·turn back to God [return; repent].


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But I thought, “These are only the poor, ·foolish people [they have no sense]. They ·have not learned [do not know] the ·way [path] of the Lord and ·what their God wants them to do [the ordinances/judgments of their God].


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So I will go to the ·leaders [great; or rich] and talk to them. Surely they ·understand [know] the ·way [path] of the Lord and ·know what God wants them to do [the ordinances/judgments of their God].” But even ·the leaders [they] had all joined together to break their yoke [abandoning God]; they had snapped off their ropes [rejecting their dependence on God; ].


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So a lion from the forest will ·attack [strike] them. A wolf from the desert will ·kill [destroy] them. A leopard is ·waiting for [watching] them near their towns. It will ·tear to pieces [make prey of] anyone who comes out of the city, because the people of Judah have ·sinned [rebelled; transgressed] greatly. ·They have wandered away from the Lord many times [Their apostasies are great].


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The Lord said, “·Tell me why I should [How can I…?] forgive you. Your children have ·left [abandoned; forsaken] me and have ·made promises [sworn] to those who are not gods at all [idols]. I ·gave your children everything they needed [satisfied/sated them], but they still ·were like an unfaithful wife to me [committed adultery]. They ·spent much time in [frequented; trooped to] houses of prostitutes.


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They are like well-fed horses filled with ·sexual desire [lust]; each one ·wants [neighs after] another man’s wife [].


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Shouldn’t I punish them [the people of Judah] for doing these things?” says the Lord. “Shouldn’t I ·give a nation such as this the punishment [get revenge on a nation as] it deserves?


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“Go along and ·cut down [destroy] her [Judah’s] ·vineyards [rows of vines; ], but do not ·completely destroy them [make a complete end; ]. Cut off its branches [representing the people], because they do not belong to the Lord.


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The ·families [houses] of Israel and Judah have been completely ·unfaithful [traitorous; treasonous] to me,” says the Lord.


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Those people have lied about the Lord and said, “He will not do anything to us! ·Nothing bad [No evil/trouble/harm] will happen to us! We will never see ·war [sword] or ·hunger [famine]!


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The prophets are wind [empty]; the word [of God] is not in them. Let the bad things they say happen to them.”


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So this is what the Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] says: “Because they have spoken this word [that God would not punish them]. the words I ·give you [place in your mouth] will be like fire, and these people will be like wood that it ·burns up [consumes; devours].


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Listen, ·family [house] of Israel,” says the Lord, “I will soon bring a nation from far away ·to attack [against] you. It is an ·old [ancient] nation that has ·lasted [endured] a long time [Babylon]. ·The people there speak a language [Its language/tongue] you do not know [Aramaic or Akkadian]; you cannot ·understand [hear] what they say.


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They will ·eat [consume; devour] your crops and your food. They will ·eat [consume; devour] your sons and daughters. They will ·eat [consume; devour] your flocks and herds. They will ·eat [consume; devour] your ·grapes [vines] and ·figs [fig trees]. They will destroy with their swords the ·strong, walled [fortified] cities you ·trust [have confidence in].


text:
“Yet even ·then [in those days],” says the Lord, “I will not ·destroy you completely [make a complete end; ; ].


text:
When the people [of Judah] ask, ‘Why has the Lord our God done all these things to us [his acts of judgment]?’ then give them this answer: ‘You have ·left [abandoned; forsaken] the Lord and served foreign gods [idols] in your own land. So now you will serve ·foreigners [strangers] in a land that does not belong to you.’


text:
“·Announce this message [Proclaim this] to the ·family [house] of Jacob [Israel], and ·tell it to the nation of [make this heard in] Judah:


text:
Hear this message, you foolish people who have no ·sense [heart]. They have eyes, but they don’t really see. They have ears, but they don’t really listen [God’s people are like the idols they worship; ; ].


text:
·Surely you are afraid of me [Do you not fear me?],” says the Lord. “·You should shake with fear [Do you not tremble…?] in my presence. I am the one who ·made the beaches [set sand] to be a border for the sea, a ·border [limit] the water can never go past. ·The waves may pound the beach [They may rise and fall], but they can’t win over it. ·They [The waves] may roar, but they cannot go beyond it.


text:
But this people [of Judah] ·are stubborn and have turned against me [have a stubborn and rebellious heart]. They have turned aside and gone away from me.


text:
They do not say ·to themselves [in their hearts], ‘We should fear the Lord our God [], who gives us ·autumn [early] and ·spring [late] rains in their seasons, who ·makes sure we have the harvest at the right time [brings us unfailingly the weeks appointed for harvests].’


text:
But your ·evil [iniquities] has kept these [rain and harvest] away. Your sins have kept you from enjoying good things.


text:
There ·are wicked men [wicked are found] among my people. Like ·those who make nets for catching birds [fowlers], they set their traps to catch people.


text:
Like cages full of birds, their houses are full of ·lies [deceit]. They have become ·powerful [great] and rich.


text:
They have grown fat and sleek. There is no end to the evil things they do. They do not judge justly. They won’t plead the case of the orphan [; ; , ; ] or help the poor be judged fairly [; , ; ].


text:
Shouldn’t I punish them [the people of Judah] for doing these things?” says the Lord. “Shouldn’t I ·give a nation such as this the punishment [get revenge on a nation as] it deserves []?


text:
The prophets ·speak lies [prophesy falsely; ], and the priests ·take power [rule] ·into their own hands [or by their hand/control], and my people love it this way. But what will you do when the end comes?


text:
Jerusalem Is Surrounded “·Run for your lives [Take refuge/shelter], ·people [sons] of Benjamin! ·Run away [Take refuge/shelter] from Jerusalem! Blow the ·war trumpet [ram’s horn] in the town of Tekoa [about ten miles southeast of Jerusalem]! Raise the warning flag over the town of Beth Hakkerem [“House of Vineyards,” of uncertain location]! ·Disaster [Evil] is coming from the north [Babylon]; terrible destruction is coming to you.


text:
·Jerusalem [Daughter of Zion; the location of the Temple], I ·will destroy you, you who are fragile and gentle [or compare you to a delightful pasture].


text:
Shepherds [leaders of the attacking army] with their flocks will come against it [Jerusalem]. They will set up their tents all around her, each shepherd taking care of his own section.”


text:
They say, “·Get ready to fight [Consecrate yourselves for war; against Jerusalem; ancient Near Eastern peoples performed religious rituals before battle]! Get up! We will attack at noon! ·But it is already getting late [Woe to us, for the day declines]; the evening shadows are growing long.


text:
This is what the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] says: “Cut down the trees [around Jerusalem], and ·build an attack ramp to the top of its walls [throw up a siege ramp]. This city must be punished. Inside it is nothing but ·slavery [oppression]


text:
Jerusalem ·pours out her evil [keeps its wickedness fresh] as a well ·pours out its water [keeps its water fresh] The sounds of violence and destruction are heard within her. I can see the sickness and hurts ·of Jerusalem [always before me].


text:
·Listen to this warning [Be instructed], Jerusalem, or I will turn my back on you and make your land an ·empty desert [desolation] where no one can live.”


text:
This is what the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] says: “·Gather [Glean] the ·few people of Israel who are left alive [remnant of Israel], as ·you would gather the last grapes on a grapevine [a vine; Israel is often compared to a vine; , ; ; ]. ·Check each vine again [Return your hand over it again], like ·someone who gathers grapes.”


text:
To whom can I speak? Whom can I warn? Who will listen to me? ·The people of Israel have closed ears [Your ears have a foreskin; are uncircumcised; a metaphor for not listening to God], so they cannot ·hear my warnings [pay attention]. ·They don’t like the word of the Lord [The word of the Lord is a reproach to them]; they ·don’t want to listen to it [take no pleasure in it]!


text:
But I am full of the anger of the Lord, and I am ·tired [weary] of holding it in. “Pour ·out my anger [it out] on the children who play in the street and on the young men gathered together. A husband and his wife will both be caught in his anger, as will the very old and ·aged [full of years].


text:
Their houses will be turned over to others, along with their fields and wives, because I will ·raise [stretch out] my hand ·and punish [against] the people of Judah,” says the Lord.


text:
“Everyone, from the least important to the greatest, is greedy for ·money [unjust gain]. Even the prophets and priests all ·tell lies [act falsely; are deceptive].


text:
They tried to heal my people’s ·serious injuries [fracture] as if they were small wounds. They said, ‘·It’s all right, it’s all right [Peace, peace].’ But ·really, it is not all right [there is no peace].


text:
They should be ashamed of the ·terrible way they act [abominations they do], but they are not ashamed at all. They don’t even know how to blush [about their sins]. So they will fall, along with ·everyone else [those who fall]. They will ·be thrown to the ground [stumble] ·when [at the time] I punish them,” says the Lord.


text:
This is what the Lord says: “Stand ·where the roads cross [at the crossroads] and look. Ask where the ·old [eternal; enduring] way is [], where the good way is, and walk on it. If you do, you will find rest for ·yourselves [souls]. But they have said, ‘We will not ·walk on the good way [follow it].’


text:
I set watchmen [prophets] over you and told you, ‘·Listen for [Pay attention to] the sound of the ·war trumpet [ram’s horn]!’ But they said, ‘We will not ·listen [pay attention].’


text:
So listen, all you nations, and ·pay attention [know], you ·witnesses [assembly]. Watch what I will do to them [the people of Judah].


text:
Hear this, people of the earth: I am going to bring ·disaster [trouble; evil] to this people [of Judah] because of the ·evil they plan [the fruit of their plots]. They have not ·listened [paid attention] to my ·messages [words] and have rejected my ·teachings [laws; instructions].


text:
Why do you bring me offerings of ·incense [frankincense] from the land of Sheba [unknown location, perhaps present-day Yemen, Eritrea, or Ethiopia; see ]? Why do you bring me sweet-smelling cane from a faraway land? Your burnt offerings [] will not be accepted; your sacrifices do not please me [; ].”


text:
So this is what the Lord says: “I will put stumbling blocks [problems] in front of this people [Judah]. Fathers and sons will stumble over them together. Neighbors and friends will ·die [perish].”


text:
This is what the Lord says: “Look, an ·army [people] is coming from the land of the north [Babylon]; a great nation is ·coming [stirred up] from the far sides of the earth.


text:
·The soldiers carry [They grasp/seize] bows and ·spears [javelins]. They are ·cruel [fierce] and show no ·mercy [compassion]. They sound like the roaring ·ocean [sea; symbol of chaos] when they ride their horses. That army is ·coming lined up [or equipped] for battle, ready to attack you, ·Jerusalem [daughter of Zion; the location of the Temple].”


text:
We have heard the news about ·that army [them] and ·are helpless from fear [our hands grow limp]. We are gripped by our ·pain [distress], like a woman ·having a baby [writhing in childbirth].


text:
Don’t go out into the fields or walk down the ·roads [paths], because the enemy has swords. There is terror on every side.


text:
·My people [Daughter of my people], put on ·rough cloth [sackcloth; burlap] and roll in the ashes [mourning rituals]. ·Cry loudly for those who are dead, as if your only son were dead [Make mourning/Wail for your only son, a bitter lamentation], because the destroyer will ·soon [or suddenly] come against us.


text:
“I have made you [Jeremiah] like a ·worker who tests metal [tester and refiner/or fortress] among people [who are like the ore]. You must ·observe [know] their ways and test them.


text:
All my people have ·turned [rebelled] against me and are stubborn. They go around ·telling lies about others [slandering]. They are like bronze and iron [rusted, not refined] that act dishonestly.


text:
The ·fire is fanned to make it hotter [bellows blow], but the lead ·does not melt [is consumed by the fire]. ·The pure metal does not come out [The refining is in vain]; the evil is not removed from my people.


text:
“Stand at the gate of the ·Temple [house of God] and ·preach [proclaim] this ·message [word] there: “‘Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of the nation of Judah! All you who come through these gates to ·worship [bow down to] the Lord, listen to this message!


text:
This is what the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts], the God of Israel, says: ·Change your lives and do what is right [Reform/Amend your ways/paths and your deeds]! Then I will ·let you live [or live with you] in this place.


text:
Don’t ·trust [put confidence in] ·the lies of people who say [false words], “This is the Temple of the Lord. This is the Temple of the Lord. This is the Temple of the Lord [presumptuously thinking that God will not destroy the city as long as his house is there]!”


text:
You must ·change your lives and do what is right [reform/amend your ways/paths and your deeds]. Be fair to each other.


text:
You must not ·be hard on [oppress] ·strangers [resident aliens], orphans, and widows []. Don’t ·kill [spill the blood of] innocent people in this place! Don’t ·follow [go after] other gods, or they will ·ruin [harm; hurt] your lives.


text:
If you do these things, I will ·let you live [or live with you] in this land that I gave to your ·ancestors [fathers] ·to keep forever [forever and ever].


text:
Will you steal and murder and be guilty of adultery? Will you falsely ·accuse other people [take oaths; swear]? Will you ·burn incense [make offerings] to the god Baal and ·follow [go after] other gods you have not known?


text:
If you do that, do you think you can come before me and stand in this ·place [house] ·where I have chosen to be worshiped [which is called by my name]? Do you think you can say, “We are safe!” when you do all these ·hateful things [abominations]?


text:
This ·place [house] ·where I have chosen to be worshiped [that is called by my name] is nothing more to you than a ·hideout [den] for robbers [; ]. I have been watching you, says the Lord.


text:
“‘You people of Judah, go now to the town of Shiloh, where I ·first [formerly] made ·a place to be worshiped [my name dwell]. See what I did to it because of the evil things the people of Israel had done.


text:
You [the people of Judah] have done all these evil things too, says the Lord. I spoke to you again and again, but you did not listen to me. I called you, but you did not answer.


text:
So I will destroy the ·place [house] ·where I have chosen to be worshiped in Jerusalem [which is called by my name]. You ·trust [have confidence] in that place, which I gave to you and your ·ancestors [fathers], but I will destroy it just as I destroyed Shiloh [; ].


text:
I will ·push you [throw you] away from me just as I ·pushed [threw] away your ·relatives [brothers], the people of Israel [all the seed of Ephraim; the dominant tribe of the northern kingdom of Israel, exiled by the Assyrians in 722 bc]!’


text:
“As for you [Jeremiah], don’t pray for these people. Don’t cry out for them or ask anything for them or ·beg me to help them [intercede with me], because I will not listen to you.


text:
The children gather wood, and the fathers use the wood to make a fire. The women ·make [knead] the dough for cakes of bread, and they offer them to the Queen ·Goddess [of Heaven; probably Ishtar or Asherah, important goddesses of the surrounding cultures; ]. They pour out drink offerings to other gods to make me angry.


text:
But ·I am not the one [is it I whom…?] the people of Judah are really hurting, says the Lord. ·They are [Are they not…?] only hurting themselves and bringing ·shame [humiliation] upon themselves.


text:
“‘So this is what the Lord God says: I will pour out my anger and wrath on this place, on people and animals, on the trees in the field and the ·crops in the [fruit of the] ground. My anger will not be ·put out [extinguished; like a fire].


text:
Obedience Is More than Sacrifice “‘This is what the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts], the God of Israel, says: ·Offer [Add your] burnt offerings [] along with your other sacrifices, and eat the ·meat [flesh] yourselves [it was forbidden to eat the meat of the burnt offering]!


text:
When I brought your ·ancestors [fathers] out of Egypt, I did not speak to them and give them commands only about burnt offerings [] and sacrifices.


text:
I also ·gave them this command [commanded this word]: ·Obey me [Listen to my voice], and I will be your God and you will be my people. ·Do all that I command [Walk in my way/path] so that ·good things will happen to you [things might be well with you].


text:
But your ·ancestors [fathers] did not listen or ·pay attention [bend their ear] to me. They were stubborn in their evil hearts and ·did whatever they wanted [walked in their own counsels]. They went backward, not forward.


text:
Since the day your ·ancestors [fathers] left Egypt until today, I have sent my servants, the prophets, again and again to you.


text:
But your ·ancestors [fathers] did not listen or ·pay attention [bend the ear] to me. ·They were very stubborn [Their necks were stiff] and they did more evil than their ·ancestors [fathers].’


text:
“You [Jeremiah] will tell all these ·things [words] to them [the people of Judah], but they will not listen to you. You will ·call [preach; proclaim] to them, but they will not answer you.


text:
So say to them, ‘This is the nation that has not ·obeyed [listened to the voice of] the Lord its God. These people do ·nothing when I correct them [not accept the discipline/instruction]. ·They do not tell the truth [The truth perishes]; it ·has disappeared from their lips [is cut off from their mouths].


text:
The Valley of Killing “‘Cut off your hair [the Hebrew phrase suggests a Nazirite vow and thus consecrated hair; ] and throw it away. Go up to the bare hilltop [] and ·cry out [lament], because the Lord has rejected these people. He has turned his back on ·them, and in his anger will punish them [the generation that enrages him].


text:
The ·people [descendants; sons] of Judah have done ·what I said was evil [evil in my eyes], says the Lord. They have set up their ·hateful [loathsome; abominable] idols in the ·place where I have chosen to be worshiped [house that is called by my name] and have made it ·unclean [defiled; in a ritual sense].


text:
The people of Judah have built ·places of worship [high places; sites associated with pagan worship or inappropriate worship of God; ] at Topheth in the Valley of Ben Hinnom []. There they burned their own sons and daughters as sacrifices, something I never commanded. It never even entered my ·mind [heart; ; ; ].


text:
So, I warn you. The days are coming, says the Lord, when people will not call this place Topheth [“Spit”] or the Valley of Ben Hinnom anymore. They will call it the Valley of ·Killing [Slaughter]. They will bury the dead in Topheth until there is no room to bury anyone else [].


text:
Then the ·bodies of the dead [corpses] will become food for the birds of the ·sky [heavens] and for the ·wild animals [animals of the earth]. There will be no one ·left alive to chase [to frighten] them away.


text:
I will end the happy sounds of the bride and bridegroom. There will be no happy sounds in the cities of Judah or in the streets of Jerusalem, because the land will become an empty desert!


text:
“‘The Lord says: At that time they will ·remove [bring out] from their tombs the bones of Judah’s kings and ·officers [princes], priests and prophets, and the ·people [inhabitants] of Jerusalem.


text:
The bones will be spread on the ground under the sun, moon, and ·stars [the hosts of heaven] that the people loved and served and went after and searched for and ·worshiped [bowed down to]. No one will gather up the bones and bury them. So they will be like dung on the ground.


text:
·I will force the people of Judah to leave their homes and their land. Those of this evil family who are not dead will wish they were [Death will be preferred to life by all the remnant of those who remain from this evil clan in all the places where I have driven them], says the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts].’


text:
Sin and Punishment “Say to them [the people of Judah]: ‘This is what the Lord says: When people fall down, don’t they get up again? And when someone goes the wrong way, doesn’t he turn back?


text:
Why, then, have the people of Jerusalem gone the wrong way and not turned back? They ·believe their own lies [persisted in deceit/treachery] and refuse to turn back.


text:
I have ·listened to them very carefully [paid attention and listened], but they do not say what is ·right [honest]. They do not ·feel sorry about their wicked ways [repent of evil], saying, “What have I done?” Each person ·goes his own way [runs his course], like a horse ·charging [plunging] into a battle.


text:
Even the storks in the ·sky [heavens] know ·the right times to do things [their appointed times]. The ·doves [turtledoves], ·swifts [or swallows], and ·thrushes [or cranes] ·know [observe] when it is time to ·migrate [return]. But my people don’t know ·what the Lord wants them to do [the ordinances/judgments of the Lord].


text:
“‘·You keep saying [How can you say…?], “We are wise, ·because we have the teachings of the Lord [and the teachings/laws/instructions of the Lord are with us].” But actually, ·those who explain the Scriptures have written lies with their pens [the false pens of the scribes have made it a lie].


text:
These wise teachers ·refused to listen to [rejected] the word of the Lord, so ·they are not really wise at all [what wisdom is in them?]. They will be ·ashamed [humiliated]. They will be ·shocked [stunned; astonished] and trapped.


text:
So I will give their wives to other men and their fields to ·new owners [or conquerors]. Everyone, from the least important to the greatest, is greedy for ·money [unjust gain]. Even the prophets and priests all ·tell lies [act falsely; are deceptive; ].


text:
They tried to heal my people’s ·serious injuries [fracture] as if they were small wounds. They said, “·It’s all right, it’s all right [Peace, peace].” But ·really, it is not all right [there is no peace; ].


text:
They should be ashamed of the ·terrible way they act [abominations they do], but they are not ashamed at all. They don’t even know how to blush [about their sins]. So they will fall, along with ·everyone else [those who fall]. They will ·be thrown to the ground [stumble] ·when [at the time] I punish them, says the Lord [].


text:
“‘I will ·take away their crops [gather them; or bring an end to them], says the Lord. There will be no grapes on the vine and no figs on the fig tree. Even the leaves will dry up. I will take away what I gave them.’”


text:
“Why are we just sitting here? Let’s ·get [gather] together! We have sinned against the Lord, so he has given us poisoned water to drink. Come, let’s ·run [go] to the ·strong, walled [fortified] cities. The Lord our God has ·decided that we must die [doomed us], so let’s ·die [meet our doom] there.


text:
We hoped to have peace, but ·nothing good has come [there is none]. We hoped for a time when he would heal us, but only terror has come.


text:
From the land of Dan [in the far north of Israel, the direction from which the Babylonians attacked], the snorting of its [the enemy’s] horses is heard. The ·ground [earth] shakes from the neighing of their ·large horses [stallions]. They have come and ·destroyed [consumed] the land and everything in it, the city and all ·who live there [its inhabitants].”


text:
“Look! I am sending poisonous snakes [to attack you]. These ·snakes [vipers] cannot be charmed, and they will bite you,” says the Lord.


text:
Jeremiah’s Sadness God, ·you are my comfort when I am very sad [my cheerfulness is gone; grief has come on me] and ·when I am afraid [my heart is sick].


text:
Listen to the ·sound [cry of distress] of ·my people [the daughter of my people]. They cry from a faraway land: “Isn’t the Lord still in ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple]? Isn’t ·Jerusalem’s [its] king still there?” But God says, “Why did the people make me angry ·by worshiping idols [with their images], useless foreign idols?”


text:
And the people say, “Harvest time is over; summer has ended, and we have not been ·saved [rescued].”


text:
Because my people are ·crushed [broken; fractured], I am ·crushed [broken; fractured]. I ·cry loudly [mourn; lament; wail] and ·am afraid for them [horror has seized me].


text:
Isn’t there balm [the resin of the storax tree used as medicine] in the land of Gilead [southern section of the Transjordan region]? Isn’t there a doctor there? So why ·aren’t the hurts of my people healed [is there no new skin on the wound of the daughter of my people]?


text:
·I wish [Oh that] my head were like a spring of water and my eyes like a fountain of tears! Then I could cry day and night for ·my people who have been killed [the corpses of the daughter of my people].


text:
·I wish [Oh that] I had a place in the ·desert [wilderness]— a house where travelers spend the night— so I could ·leave [abandon; forsake] my people. I could go away from them, because they are all adulterers [unfaithful to God; , ; ; ]; ·they are all turning against him [a band of traitors].


text:
Judah’s Failures “They ·use [bend] their tongues like a bow [shooting lies from their mouths like arrows; ]. Lies, not truth, have grown strong in the land. They go from one evil thing to another. They do not know ·who I am [me],” says the Lord.


text:
“·Watch out [Be on guard] for your ·friends [or neighbors], and don’t ·trust [have confidence in] your own ·relatives [brothers], because every ·relative [brother] is a ·cheater [Jacob, who supplants; ], and every ·friend [or neighbor] ·tells lies about [goes around slandering] you.


text:
Everyone ·lies to [deceives] his ·friend [or neighbor], and no one speaks ·the truth [honestly]. They [the people of Judah] have taught their tongues to ·lie [tell falsehoods]. They have become tired from ·sinning [their iniquity].


text:
So this is what the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] says: “I will test them [the people of Judah] as a person ·tests [refines] metal in a fire []. ·I have no other choice [For what else can I do…], because ·my people have sinned [of the daughter of my people?].


text:
Their tongues are like ·sharp [deadly] arrows. Their mouths speak ·lies [deceit]. Everyone speaks ·nicely [peace] to his ·neighbor [or friend], but he ·is secretly planning to attack him [sets his ambush in his innards/inwardly].


text:
Shouldn’t I punish the people [of Judah] for doing this?” says the Lord. “Shouldn’t I ·give a nation like this the punishment [get revenge on a nation as] it deserves?”


text:
I [Jeremiah] will ·cry loudly [take up crying and wailing] for the mountains and sing a ·funeral song [lamentation] for the ·empty fields [pastures of the wilderness]. They are ·empty [scorched], and no one passes through. The ·mooing [sound] of cattle cannot be heard. The birds of the ·air [heavens] and the animals have fled and are gone.


text:
“I, the Lord, will make the city of Jerusalem a heap of ruins, a home for wild dogs. I will destroy the cities of Judah so no one can live there.”


text:
What person is wise enough to understand these things? Is there someone who has been ·taught [spoken to] by the Lord who can explain them []? Why was the land ·ruined [scorched]? Why has it been made like an empty desert where no one goes?


text:
The Lord answered, “It is because Judah ·quit following [abandoned; forsook] my ·teachings [laws; instructions] that I gave them. They have not ·obeyed me [listened to my voice] or ·done what I told them to do [walked in it].


text:
Instead, they ·were stubborn [walked after their stubborn hearts] and ·followed [walked after] the Baals, as their ·ancestors [fathers] taught them to do.”


text:
So this is what the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts], the God of Israel, says: “I will soon make the people of Judah eat ·bitter food [wormwood; the bitter tasting leaves of a shrub] and drink poisoned water.


text:
I will scatter them through other nations that they and their ·ancestors [fathers] never knew about. I will ·chase [pursue; send after] them [the people of Judah] with the sword until they are all ·killed [consumed; finished].”


text:
This is what the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] says: “Now, ·think about these things [reflect; consider]! Call for the women who ·cry at funerals [mourn; professional mourners] to come. Send for those women who are ·good at that job [skilled; wise].


text:
Let them come quickly and ·cry loudly [wail; raise a lament] for us. Then our eyes will ·fill [flow] with tears, and ·streams of water will flow from our eyelids [eyelids will run with water].


text:
The sound of ·loud crying [lamentation] is heard from ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple]: ‘We are ·truly ruined [devastated; desolated]! We are truly ·ashamed [humiliated]! We must ·leave [abandon; forsake] our land, because our ·houses [residences] are ·in ruins [thrown down].’”


text:
Now, women [of Judah], listen to the word of the Lord; ·open your ears to hear [let your ears take in] the words of his mouth. Teach your daughters ·how to cry loudly [a lament]. Teach ·one another [each her neighbor] a ·funeral song [dirge].


text:
Death has climbed in through our windows and has entered our ·strong cities [palaces]. ·Death has taken away […to cut off] our children who play in the streets and the young men ·who meet in [from] the city squares.


text:
Say, “This is what the Lord says: ‘The ·dead bodies [corpses] of people will ·lie [fall] in the open field like dung. They will lie like grain ·a farmer has cut [after the harvester/reaper], but there will be no one to gather them.’”


text:
This is what the Lord says: “The wise must not ·brag [boast] about their wisdom. The strong must not ·brag [boast] about their strength. The rich must not ·brag [boast] about their ·money [riches].


text:
But if people want to ·brag [boast], let them ·brag [boast] that they understand and know me. Let them ·brag [boast] that I am the Lord, and that I am ·kind [loyal] and ·fair [just], and ·that I do things that are right [righteous] on earth. ·This kind of bragging pleases me [In this I am pleased],” says the Lord [; ; ].


text:
The Lord says, “The ·time is [days are] coming when I will punish all those who are circumcised only in the ·flesh [foreskin; observing external rituals (Gen. ), but not from the heart; ; ]:


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the people of Egypt, Judah, Edom, ·Ammon [the sons of Ammon], Moab, and the ·desert [wilderness] people who ·cut their hair short [shave their temples; ]. ·The men in all those countries [All these nations] are not circumcised. And the ·whole family [house] of Israel ·does not give itself to serving me [is uncircumcised in/of heart].”


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The Lord and the Idols ·Family [House] of Israel, ·listen to what [hear the word that] the Lord says to you.


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This is what he says: “Don’t ·live like the people from [learn the way/path of] other nations, and don’t be ·afraid of [terrified by] special signs in the ·sky [heavens; astrology], even though the other nations are ·afraid [terrified] of them.


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The ·customs [statutes; ordinances; requirements] of other people are ·worth nothing [meaningless; useless; a breath]. ·Their idols are just wood cut from the forest [A tree from the forest is cut down], shaped by a ·worker [craftsman] with his ·chisel [or ax; or adze; or blade].


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They decorate their idols with silver and gold. With hammers and nails they fasten them down so they ·won’t fall over [can’t move].


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Their idols are like scarecrows in ·melon [or cucumber] fields; they cannot talk. Since they cannot walk, they must be carried. Do not be afraid of those idols, because they can’t hurt you, and they ·can’t help you either [have no power to do good; ; , ; ; ].”


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·Everyone should respect [Who does not fear…?] you, King of the nations; ·you deserve respect [for it is your due]. Of all the wise people among the nations and in all the kingdoms, ·none of them is as wise as you [there is none like you].


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Those wise people are stupid and foolish. Their ·teachings [instructions] come from ·worthless [meaningless; useless] ·wooden idols [pieces of wood].


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Hammered silver is brought from Tarshish [Tarshish may have been in Spain (Tartessus) or an island in the eastern Mediterranean; ] and gold from Uphaz [high quality], so the idols are made by craftsmen and ·goldsmiths [smelters]. They put blue and purple clothes on the idols. All these things are made by skilled workers.


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But the Lord is the only true God. He is the only living God, the King forever. The earth ·shakes [trembles] when he is angry, and the nations cannot ·stand up to [endure] his anger.


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“Tell them this message: ‘These gods did not make heaven and earth; they will ·be destroyed and disappear [perish] from heaven and earth [this verse is in Aramaic, indicating it was a well known saying].’”


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God made the earth by his power. He used his wisdom to ·build [establish] the world and his understanding to stretch out the ·skies [heavens].


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When he ·thunders [gives forth his voice], the waters in the ·skies [heavens] ·roar [are in tumult]. He makes ·clouds [or mist] rise ·in the sky all over the earth [from the ends of the earth]. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.


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People are so stupid and know so little. ·Goldsmiths [Smelters] are ·made ashamed [humiliated] by their idols, because those ·statues are only false gods [images are false]. They have no breath in them.


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They are ·worth nothing [useless; meaningless; a breath]; ·people make fun of them [laughable; a derision]. When they are judged, they will ·be destroyed [perish].


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But Jacob’s [another name for Israel] Portion [referring to the Lord; God gives himself to Israel] is not like ·the idols [these]. He ·made [formed] everything, and ·he chose Israel to be his special people [Israel is the tribe of his inheritance]. The Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] is his name.


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Destruction Is Coming ·Get everything you own [Gather your goods] ·and prepare to leave [or from the ground], you people who are ·trapped by your enemies [under siege].


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This is what the Lord says: “At this time I will ·throw [sling] out the people who live in this land. I will bring ·trouble [distress] to them so that they may be ·captured [squeezed].”


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·How terrible it will be for me [Woe to me] because of my ·injury [fracture]. My wound ·cannot be healed [is severe]. Yet I told myself, “This is my ·sickness [or punishment]; I must ·suffer through [endure] it.”


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My tent is ·ruined [destroyed; desolated], and all its ropes are broken. My children have gone away and left me. No one is left to ·put up [stretch out] my tent again or to set up ·a shelter for me [my curtains].


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The shepherds are stupid and don’t ·ask the Lord for advice [seek the Lord]. So they do not have success, and all their flocks are scattered.


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Listen! The news is coming. A ·loud noise [great commotion] comes from the north [the Babylonian army] to make the towns of Judah an ·empty desert [desolation] and a ·home [haunt] for wild dogs [jackals]!


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Jeremiah’s Prayer Lord, I know that ·our lives don’t really belong to us [his way/path does not belong to people]. ·We can’t control our own lives [People as they walk cannot establish their steps].


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Lord, ·correct [teach; instruct] me, but be ·fair [just]. Don’t punish me in your anger, or you will ·destroy me [make me dwindle].


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Pour out your anger on other nations that do not know you and do not pray to you. Those nations have ·destroyed [consumed] the people of Jacob. They have ·eaten [consumed] them up completely and ·destroyed [desolated] their homeland.


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“Listen to the words of this ·agreement [covenant; treaty] and tell them to the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem.


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Tell them this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Cursed is the person who does not ·obey [listen to] the words of this ·agreement [covenant; treaty]


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that I ·made with [commanded] your ·ancestors [fathers] when I brought them out of Egypt []. Egypt was like a furnace for melting iron!’ I told them, ‘·Obey me [Listen to my voice] and do everything I command you. Then you will be my people, and I will be your God.


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Then I will ·keep [confirm] the ·promise [oath] I made to your ·ancestors [fathers] to give them a ·fertile land [land flowing with milk and honey; ].’ ·And you are living in that country today […as it is today].” I answered, “·Amen [So be it], Lord.”


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The Lord said to me, “·Announce [Proclaim] ·this message [all these words] in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem: ‘Listen to the words of this ·agreement [covenant; treaty] and ·obey [do] them.


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I warned your ·ancestors [fathers] to obey me when I brought them out of Egypt []. I have warned them again and again to this very day: “·Obey me [Listen to my voice]!”


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But your ·ancestors [fathers] did not ·listen [obey] or ·pay attention [bend their ear] to me. They ·were stubborn and did what their own evil hearts wanted [walked in the stubborness of their evil hearts]. So I made all the ·curses [words] of this ·agreement [covenant; treaty] come upon them []. I commanded them to obey the ·agreement [covenant; agreement], but they did not.’”


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Then the Lord said to me, “I know the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem have made ·secret plans [a conspiracy].


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They have ·gone back [returned] to the ·same sins their ancestors did [iniquity of their fathers of old]. ·Their ancestors [They] refused to listen to my ·message [words] and ·followed and worshiped [went after and served] other gods instead []. The ·families [house] of Israel and [the house of] Judah have broken the ·agreement [covenant; treaty] I ·made [cut] with their ·ancestors [fathers].


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So this is what the Lord says: ‘I will soon bring ·a disaster [harm; evil] on them [the people of Judah] which they will not be able to escape. They will cry to me for help, but I will not listen to them.


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The ·people living in the towns [towns] of Judah and the ·city [inhabitants] of Jerusalem will ·pray [cry for help] to ·their idols [the gods] to whom they burn incense. But ·those idols [they] will not be able to ·help [save them] when ·disaster [harm; evil] comes.


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Look, people of Judah, you have as many ·idols [gods] as there are towns in Judah. You have built as many altars to burn incense to that shameful god Baal as there are streets in Jerusalem.’


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“As for you [Jeremiah], don’t pray for these people or cry out for them or ask anything for them. I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their ·trouble [disaster; harm; evil].


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“What is my beloved [Judah; ; ; ; ; ; ] doing in my ·Temple [house] when she makes many evil plans [their idolatry cancels their right to be there]? Do you think ·animal sacrifices [sacred meat] will stop your ·punishment [disaster; harm; evil]? Can you then be happy?”


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The Lord called you “a ·leafy [green] olive tree, with beautiful fruit and shape [].” But with the roar of a ·strong storm [tempest] he will set that tree on fire, and its branches will be burned up.


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The Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts], who planted you, has announced that ·disaster [harm; evil] will come to you. This is because the ·families [houses] of Israel and Judah have done evil and have made him angry by burning incense to Baal.


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Evil Plans Against Jeremiah The Lord ·showed [made known to] me that people were making plans against me. Because he showed me what they were doing [their evil deeds], I knew they were against me.


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Before this, I was like a gentle lamb waiting to be ·butchered [slaughtered; ; , ]. I did not know they had made plans against me, saying: “Let us destroy the tree and its fruit. Let’s ·kill him [cut him off from the land of the living] so ·people will forget him [his name will no longer be remembered].”


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But, Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts], you ·are a fair judge [judge righteously]. You know how to test peoples’ ·hearts and minds [motives and thoughts]. I have ·told you what I have against them [committed my cause to you]. So let me see you give them the ·punishment [revenge] they deserve.


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So the Lord speaks about the people from Anathoth [Jeremiah’s hometown; ; ] who ·plan to kill Jeremiah [seek your life] and say, “Don’t prophesy in the name of the Lord, or ·we will kill you [you will die by our hand]!”


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So this is what the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] says: “I will soon punish the men [from Anathoth]. Their young men will die ·in war [by the sword]. Their sons and daughters will die from ·hunger [famine].


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·No one from the city of Anathoth will be left alive [They will have no remnant], because I will cause ·a disaster [harm; evil] to happen to them that year.”


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Jeremiah’s First Complaint Lord, when I bring ·my case to [charges against] you, you are ·always right [righteous]. But I want to ·ask you about the justice you give [put my case to you]. Why ·are evil people [is the way/path of the wicked] successful? Why do ·dishonest [treasonous; treacherous] people ·have such easy lives [thrive; Job; ; ; ]?


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You ·have put the evil people here like plants with strong roots [plant them; they take root]. They grow and produce fruit []. ·With their mouths they speak well of you [You are near in their mouths], but ·their hearts are really far away from you [far from their hearts/thoughts].


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But you know ·my heart [me], Lord. You see me and test my ·thoughts [heart] about you [; ]. Drag the evil people away like sheep to be ·butchered [slaughtered]. ·Set them aside [Consecrate them] for the day of killing.


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How much longer will the land ·stay dried up [mourn] and the grass in every field be ·dead [dry]? The animals and birds in the land ·have died [are swept away], because the people are evil. Yes, they are even saying, “God does not see what happens to us.”


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The Lord’s Answer to Jeremiah “If you ·get tired while racing against people [raced with foot-runners and got tired], how can you ·race against [compete with] horses? ·If you stumble in a country that is safe, [or You feel confident in a country that is safe, but…] what will you do in the thick thornbushes along the Jordan River?


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Even your own brothers and ·members of your own family [the house of your father] are ·making plans against [betraying] you. They are crying out against you. Don’t trust them, even when they say nice things to you!


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“I have ·left [abandoned; forsaken] ·Israel [my house; ]; I have ·left [cast off] my ·people [inheritance]. I have given the people I love [Judah] ·over to [into the palm of] their enemies.


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My ·people [inheritance] have become to me like a lion in the forest. They ·roar [give forth their voice] at me, so I hate them.


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My people have become to me like a ·speckled bird [or hyena’s lair] attacked on all sides by ·hawks [birds of prey]. Go, gather the ·wild animals [beasts of the field]. Bring them to get something to eat.


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Many shepherds [the leaders of Judah] have ruined my vineyards and trampled ·the plants in my field [my portion]. They have turned my ·beautiful [precious; coveted; treasured] ·field [portion] into an empty ·desert [wilderness].


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They have turned ·my field [it] into ·a desert [desolation] that is ·wilted [desolate] and ·dead [mourns]. The whole country is ·an empty desert [desolate], because no one ·who lives there cares [sets it on heart].


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·Many soldiers [Destroyers] have marched over those barren hills. ·The Lord is using the armies to punish that land [The sword of the Lord devours] from one end to the other. ·No one is safe [There is no peace for all flesh].


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The people have planted wheat, but they have harvested only thorns. They have worked hard until they were very tired, but they have nothing for all their work. They are ashamed of their poor harvest, because the Lord’s terrible anger has caused this.”


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This is what the Lord said to me: “Here is what I will do to all my wicked neighbors [like Edom; ; ] who ·take [touch] the ·land [inheritance] I ·gave my people Israel [made my people Israel inherit]. I will ·pull them up and throw them out of [uproot them from] their land. And I will ·pull up [uproot] the ·people [house] of Judah from among them.


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But after I ·pull them up [uproot them; ], I will ·feel sorry for [have compassion on] them again. I will ·bring [restore] each person back to his own ·property [inheritance] and to his own land.


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I want them to learn their lessons well. In the past they taught my people to swear by Baal’s name. But if they will now learn to swear by my name, saying, ‘As surely as the Lord lives…’ I will ·allow them to rebuild [build them up] among my people.


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But if a nation will not listen to my message, I will ·pull it up [uproot] completely and destroy it,” says the Lord.


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Jeremiah’s Linen Belt This is what the Lord said to me: “Go and buy a linen ·belt [loincloth; underwear; priests like Jeremiah wore linen undergarments; ; ; ] and put it around your ·waist [loins]. Don’t let the ·belt [loincloth; underwear] ·get wet [be washed; be brought into water].”


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So I bought a ·linen belt [loincloth; underwear], just as the Lord told me, and put it around my ·waist [loins].


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“Take the ·belt [loincloth; underwear] you bought and ·are wearing [is on your loins], and go to Perath [the name of the Euphrates River or a town near Jerusalem with a similar name ()]. Hide the ·belt [loincloth; underwear] there in a crack in the rocks.”


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So I went to Perath and hid the ·belt [loincloth; underwear] there, just as the Lord ·told [commanded] me.


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·Many days later [At the end of many days] the Lord said to me, “Now go to Perath [] and get the ·belt [loincloth; underwear] I ·told [commanded] you to hide there.”


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So I went to Perath and dug up the ·belt [loincloth; underwear] and took it from where I had hidden it. But now it was ruined; it was good for nothing.


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This is what the Lord said: “In the same way I will ·ruin [destroy; rot away] the pride of the people of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem.


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These evil people refuse to listen to my ·warnings [words]. They ·stubbornly do only what they want to do [follow/go after their stubborn hearts], and they ·follow [go after] other gods to serve and ·worship [bow down to] them. So they will become like this ·linen belt [loincloth; underwear]—good for nothing.


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As a ·belt [loincloth; underwear] ·is wrapped tightly around [clings to] a person’s ·waist [loins], I ·wrapped the families of Israel and Judah around [caused all the house of Israel and all the house of Judah to cling to] me,” says the Lord. “I did that so they would be my people and bring fame, praise, and ·honor [splendor] to me. But my people would not listen.


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Warnings About Leather Wine Bags “Say to them: ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: All ·leather bags for holding wine [wineskins] should be filled with wine.’ People will say to you: ‘·Of course, we know [Do we not know that…?] all wine bags should be filled with wine.’


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Then you will say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: I will ·make everyone in this land like a drunken person [fill with drunkenness all who live in this land; they will drink from the “cup of God’s wrath” ()]—the kings who sit on David’s throne, the priests and the prophets, and all the people who live in Jerusalem.


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I will make them smash against one another, fathers and sons alike, says the Lord. I will not feel sorry or have pity on them or show ·mercy [compassion] that would stop me from destroying them.’”


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Threat of Slavery Listen and ·pay attention [give ear]. Don’t ·be too proud [exalt yourself], because the Lord has spoken to you.


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Give glory to the Lord your God before he brings darkness and before ·you slip and fall [your feet stumble] on the dark hills. You hope for light, but he will turn it into thick darkness; he will change it into deep gloom [].


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If you don’t listen to him, I will cry secretly because of your pride. I will cry painfully, and my eyes will ·overflow [run down] with tears, because the ·Lord’s people [the flock of the Lord] will be ·captured [exiled].


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Tell this to the king and the queen mother [perhaps Jehoiachin and his mother Nehushta who went into exile in 597 bc (; ; )] “Come down from your thrones, because your ·beautiful [splendid; glorious] crowns ·have fallen [or will fall] from your heads.”


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The cities of ·southern Judah [the Negev] are ·locked [shut] up, and no one can open them. All Judah will be ·taken as captives to a foreign land [exiled; to Babylon]; they will ·be carried away [exiled] completely [the exile in 597 bc was a precursor to the more complete one in 586 bc].


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Look up and see [addressed to queen mother] the people coming from the north [the Babylonian army]. Where is the flock ·God gave you to care for [given to you], ·the flock you bragged about [your splendid flock; the people of Judah]?


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What will you say when ·they [or God] appoint as your ·heads [rulers] those you had thought were your ·friends [allies]? Won’t ·you have much pain and trouble [pain seize you], like a woman giving birth to a baby [; ; ; ; ; , ; ]?


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You might ·ask yourself [say in your heart], “Why has this happened to me?” It happened because of your many ·sins [iniquities]. Because of your ·sins [iniquities], your skirt was torn off and your ·body [heel; euphemism for genitals] has been ·treated badly [violated].


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Can a person from ·Cush [Ethiopia] change ·his skin [its color]? Can a leopard change his spots? In the same way, you [Jerusalem] cannot change and do good, because you are accustomed to doing evil.


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This is ·what will happen to you [your lot]; ·this is your part in my plans [the portion decreed for you],” says the Lord. “Because you forgot me and ·trusted [had confidence] in ·false gods [falsehood; lies],


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I have seen the terrible things you have done: your acts of adultery and your ·snorting [neighing; like a horse in heat], your prostitution, your ·hateful [abominable; detestable] acts on the hills and in the fields [where they had shrines to false gods]. ·How terrible it will be for [Woe to] you, Jerusalem. How long will you continue being unclean?”


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A Time Without Rain These are the words that the Lord spoke to Jeremiah ·about the time when there was no rain [concerning the drought; often a punishment from God; ; ; ]:


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“The nation of Judah ·cries as if someone has died [mourns], and her ·cities [gates] ·are very sad [languish]. They ·are distressed [wail] over the land. A cry goes up [to God] from Jerusalem.


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The ·important men [nobles] send their ·servants [young/little ones] to get water. They go to the ·wells [cisterns], but they find no water. So they return with empty jars. They are ·ashamed [humiliated] and embarrassed and ·cover [veil] their heads [in shame].


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The ground is cracked open, because no rain falls on the land. The farmers are ·upset and sad [ashamed], so they ·cover [veil] their heads.


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Even the mother deer in the field ·leaves her newborn fawn to die [gives birth and leaves], because there is no ·grass [vegetation].


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Wild donkeys stand on the bare hills and ·sniff the wind [pant] like ·wild dogs [jackals]. But their eyes go blind, because there is no ·food [pasture].”


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We know that we suffer because of our sins. Lord, ·do something to help us for the good of your name [act on behalf of your name/reputation]. ·We have left you many times [Many are our apostasies/infidelities]; we have sinned against you.


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The Hope of Israel [God], you have ·saved [rescued] it [Israel] in times of ·trouble [distress]. Why are you like a ·stranger [alien resident] in the land, or like a traveler who only stays one night?


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Why are you like someone who has been attacked by surprise, like a warrior who is not able to ·save anyone [be victorious]? But you are among us, Lord, and we are called by your name so don’t ·leave us without help [forsake us]!


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This is what the Lord says about this people [of Judah]: “They really love to wander from me; they don’t ·stop themselves from leaving me [restrain their feet]. So now the Lord will not ·accept [be pleased with] them. He will now remember ·the evil they do [their iniquity] and will punish them for their sins.”


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Even if they fast, I will not listen to their ·prayers [cry; ]. Even if they offer burnt offerings [] and ·grain [gift; tribute] offerings [] to me, I will not ·accept [be pleased with] them. Instead, I will ·destroy [finish] them [the people of Judah] with ·war [sword], ·hunger [famine], and ·terrible diseases [plagues; pestilence].”


text:
But I said, “Oh, Lord God, the prophets keep telling the people, ‘·You will not suffer from an enemy’s [Do not fear] sword or from ·hunger [famine]. I, the Lord, will give you ·lasting [reliable; true] peace in this land.’”


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Then the Lord said to me, “Those prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them or ·appoint [command] them or speak to them. They have been prophesying false visions, idolatries, worthless ·magic [divination], and ·their own wishful thinking [the deceit of their hearts; ; ].


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So this is what I say about the prophets who are prophesying in my name. I did not send them. They say, ‘·No enemy will attack this country with swords. There will never be hunger [Sword and famine will not be] in this land.’ So those prophets will ·die from [be finished off by] ·hunger [famine] and from ·an enemy’s sword [sword].


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And the people to whom the prophets speak will be thrown into the streets of Jerusalem. There they will die from ·hunger [famine] and from ·an enemy’s sword [sword]. And no one will be there to bury them, or their wives, or their sons, or their daughters. I will ·punish them [pour out on them harm/disaster/evil].


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“Speak [addressed to Jeremiah] this ·message [word] to them [the people of Judah]: ‘Let my eyes ·be filled [flow] with tears night and day, without stopping. ·My people [The virgin daughter of my people] have received a ·terrible blow [great fracture]; they have been ·hurt [wounded] badly.


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If I go into the ·country [field], I see people killed by swords. If I go into the city, I see ·much sickness, because the people have no food [the sickness of famine]. Both the priests and the prophets ·have been taken to a foreign land [wander/or ply their trade in a land they do not know].’”


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Lord, have you completely rejected the nation of Judah? Do you ·hate [abhor] ·Jerusalem [Zion; the location of the Temple]? Why have you ·hurt us so badly [struck us] ·that we cannot be made well again [and not healed us]? We hoped for peace, but nothing good has come. We looked for a time of healing, but only terror came.


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Lord, we ·admit that we are wicked [know our wickedness] and ·that our ancestors did evil things [the iniquity of our fathers]. We have sinned against you.


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For ·your sake [the sake of your name/fame/reputation], do not ·hate [despise] us [, , ]. Do not ·take away the honor from [treat disdainfully] your glorious throne. Remember your ·agreement [covenant; treaty] with us, and do not break it.


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Do ·foreign idols [futile/useless/meaningless things] have the power to bring rain? Does the ·sky [heaven] itself have the power to send down showers? ·No, it is you [Is it not you…?], Lord our God. You are our only hope, because you are the one who made all these things.


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Then the Lord said to me: “Even if Moses and Samuel ·prayed for them [stood before me], ·I [my soul] would not ·feel sorry for the people of Judah [turn toward this people; Moses and Samuel interceded on behalf of their sinful generations; , ; ; ; ]. Send them away from me! Tell them to go!


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When they ask you, ‘Where will we go?’ tell them: ‘This is what the Lord says: Those who are ·meant to die [for death] ·will die [to death]. Those who are meant ·to die in war [for the sword] ·will die in war [to the sword]. Those who are meant ·to die from hunger [for famine] ·will die from hunger [to famine]. Those who are meant ·to be taken captive [for exile] ·will be taken captive [to exile].’


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“I will ·send [appoint] four kinds of destroyers against them,” says the Lord. “I will send ·war [the sword] to kill, dogs to drag the bodies away, and the birds of the ·air [sky; heavens] and ·wild animals [beasts of the land] to eat and destroy the bodies.


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I will make them [the people of Judah] ·hated by [a horror to] everyone on earth because of what Manasseh did in Jerusalem. (Manasseh son of Hezekiah was king of the nation of Judah [from 698–642 bc; he was a particularly wicked king; ; ].)


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“Who will ·feel sorry for [have pity on] you, Jerusalem? Who will ·be sad and cry [grieve] for you? Who will go out of his way to ask how you are []?


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You [Jerusalem] have ·left me [cast me off],” says the Lord. “You keep going ·farther and farther away [backward], so I have ·taken hold of you [stretched out my hand] and destroyed you. I was tired of ·holding back my anger [relenting].


text:
I have ·separated [winnowed] them [the people of Judah] with my ·pitchfork [winnowing fork] in the gates of the land. My people haven’t changed their ways. So I have destroyed ·them [my people] and ·taken away their children [bereaved them].


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There are more widows than grains of sand in the sea [an ironic reference to ; ; ]. I brought a destroyer at noontime against the mothers of the young men of Judah. I suddenly ·brought pain and fear on the people of Judah [made anguish and fear fall on them].


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A woman with seven sons ·felt faint [languishes; because they would all die]. She ·became weak and unable to breathe [swoons]. Her ·bright day became dark from sadness [sun went down while it was still day]. She felt ·shame [humiliation] and disgrace. And ·everyone else left alive in Judah [the rest of them] I will hand over to the sword of their enemies, too!” says the Lord.


text:
Jeremiah’s Second Complaint Mother, ·I am sorry [woe to me] that you gave birth to me ·since I must accuse and criticize [a man of strife and contention to] the whole land. I have not loaned or borrowed anything, but everyone curses me.


text:
The Lord said, “·I have [Have I not…?] ·saved [or intervened for] you for a good reason. ·I have made your enemies beg you [or Will I not bring the enemy against you…?] in times of ·disaster [harm; evil] and ·trouble [distress].


text:
·No one can smash a piece of iron or bronze that comes from the north [Can iron break the iron of the north and the bronze?; the iron is Babylon (; ) and the bronze is Jeremiah ()].


text:
Your wealth and treasures I will give ·to others free of charge [as plunder without price/charge], because of all your [the people of Judah] sins throughout the country.


text:
I will make you ·slaves to [serve] your enemies in a land you have never known. My anger ·is [kindles] like a hot fire, and it will burn against you.”


text:
Lord, you ·understand [know]. Remember me and take care of me. ·Punish for me [Avenge me on] those who are ·hurting [persecuting; pursuing] me. Don’t ·destroy [snatch] me while you remain patient with them. Think about the ·shame [reproaches] I ·suffer [endure] for you.


text:
Your words ·came to me [were found], and I ·listened carefully to [ate] them. Your words made me very happy and were the delight of my heart, because I am called by your name, Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts].


text:
I never sat with the ·crowd as they laughed [crowd of merrymakers/revelers] and ·had fun [I did not rejoice]. I sat by ·myself [alone], ·because you were there [from before your hand/power], and you filled me with anger [at the evil people around him].


text:
·I don’t understand why my pain has [Why does my pain have…?] no end. ·I don’t understand why my injury is not cured or healed [My wound is uncurable and refuses to be healed]. Will you be like a ·brook that goes dry [deceitful brook]? Will you be like a ·spring that stops flowing [unreliable spring]?


text:
So this is what the Lord says: “If you ·change your heart and return to me [return/repent], I will ·take you back [return to you]. Then you may ·serve me [stand before me]. And if you [Jeremiah] speak things that ·have worth [are precious], not useless words, then you may ·speak for me [be like my mouth]. Let them [the people of Judah] turn to you, but you must not ·change and be like them [turn to them].


text:
I will make you as strong as a wall to this people, ·as strong [fortified] as a wall of bronze []. They will fight against you, but they will not ·defeat [prevail over] you, because I am with you. I will ·save [have victory for] you and ·rescue [protect] you,” says the Lord.


text:
“I will ·rescue [protect] you from ·these wicked people [the hand/control of evil people] and redeem you from ·these cruel people [the hand of the violent].”


text:
The Lord says this about the sons and daughters born in this ·land [place] and their mothers who bear them and fathers who ·father [beget] them in this land:


text:
“They will die of ·terrible diseases [plagues; pestilence], and no one will ·cry for them [mourn] or bury them. Their bodies will lie on the ground like dung. They will ·die [perish] ·in war [by sword], or ·they will starve to death [by famine]. ·Their bodies [They] will be food for the birds of the ·sky [air; heavens] and for the ·wild animals [beasts of the land].”


text:
So this is what the Lord says [addressed to Jeremiah]: “Do not go into a house where there is a funeral ·meal [feast; a pagan mourning festival; ]. Do not go there to ·cry for the dead [lament] or to ·show your sorrow for [bemoan] them, because I have taken back my ·blessing [peace; welfare], my ·love [loyalty], and my ·pity [compassion] from these people,” says the Lord.


text:
“·Important people and common people [Great and small] will die in this land [of Judah]. No one will bury them or ·cry [lament] for them or ·cut [gash] himself or shave his head for them [pagan rituals of mourning; ; ; ].


text:
No one will ·bring food [break bread; break] to comfort those who are crying for the dead. No one will offer a ·drink [cup] to comfort someone whose mother or father has died.


text:
“Do not go into a ·house where the people are having a feast [banquet house; drinking house] to sit down to eat and drink,


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because this is what the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts], the God of Israel, says: I will soon stop the sounds of joy and gladness and the happy sounds of brides and bridegrooms in this place. This will happen ·during your lifetime [in your days and before your eyes].


text:
“When you tell this people [of Judah] these things, they will ask you, ‘Why has the Lord said these ·terrible [evil; harmful] things to us? What ·have we done wrong [is our iniquity]? What sin have we done against the Lord our God?’


text:
“Then say to them: ‘This is because your ·ancestors [fathers] ·quit following [abandoned; left; forsook] me,’ says the Lord. ‘And they ·followed [went after] other gods and served and ·worshiped [bowed down to] them. Your ·ancestors [fathers] ·left [abandoned; forsook] me and ·quit obeying [did not keep/guard] my ·teaching [law; instruction].


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But you have done even more ·evil [harm] than your ·ancestors [fathers]. You are ·very stubborn and do only what you want to do [going after your stubborn heart]; you have not ·obeyed [listened to] me.


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So I will ·throw [hurl] you out of this ·country [land] and send you into a land that you and your ·ancestors [fathers] never knew. There you can ·serve [worship] other gods day and night, because I will not show you any favors.’


text:
“Therefore the ·time [days] is coming,” says the Lord, when it will no longer be said, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the ·people [sons] of Israel out of Egypt.’


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They will say instead, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the ·Israelites [sons of Israel] from the northern land [Babylon] and from all the countries where he had ·sent [driven] them…’ And I will ·bring them back [restore them] to the land I gave to their ·ancestors [fathers; a second Exodus; ; ; ].


text:
“I will soon send for many fishermen,” says the Lord. “And they will catch them [the people of Judah]. After that, I will send for many hunters. And they will hunt them on every mountain and hill and in the ·cracks [clefts] of the rocks.


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·I see everything they do [My eyes are on all their ways]. They ·cannot hide from me the things they do [are not hidden from me]; their ·sin [iniquity] is not ·hidden [concealed] from my eyes.


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I will first pay them back twice for ·every one of their sins [their iniquities and their sins], because they have made my land unclean [in a ritual sense] with their lifeless idols. They have filled my ·country [inheritance] with their ·hateful idols [abominations].”


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Lord, you are my strength and my ·protection [stronghold], my ·safe place [refuge] in times of ·trouble [distress]. The nations will come to you from ·all over [the ends of] the world and say, “Our ·ancestors [fathers] ·had [have inherited] only ·false gods [lies], ·useless [meaningless] idols that didn’t ·help [profit] them.


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The Lord says, “So I will teach those who make idols. This time I will teach them about my ·power [hand] and my strength. Then they will know that my name is the Lord.


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Judah’s Guilty Heart “The sin of Judah is written with an iron ·tool [pen]. Their sins were cut with a ·hard [diamond] point into the ·stone that is [tablet of] their hearts. Their sins were cut into the ·corners [horns] of their altars [].


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Even their children remember their altars [to idols] and their ·Asherah idols [sacred poles; Asherim] beside the green trees and on the high hills [].


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My mountain in the open country and your wealth and treasures I will give ·away to other people [as plunder]. I will give away the places of worship in your country, because you sinned by worshiping there.


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You will ·lose [drop] the ·land [inheritance] I gave you, and it is your own fault. I will ·let your enemies take you as their slaves [make you serve your enemies] to a land you have never known. This is because you ·have made my anger burn like a hot fire [kindled a fire in my anger], and it will burn forever [].”


text:
Trusting in Humans or God This is what the Lord says: “·A curse is placed on [Cursed are] those who ·trust [have confidence in] other people, who ·depend on humans for [make flesh their] strength, who have ·stopped trusting [turned their heart from] the Lord.


text:
They are like a ·bush [shrub; or juniper] in a ·desert [steppe] that ·grows in a land where no one lives [lives in a salt land where no one lives], a ·hot and dry land with bad soil [parched land in the wilderness]. They don’t ·know about the good things God can give [see when good comes].


text:
“But the person who ·trusts [has confidence] in the Lord will be blessed. ·The Lord will show him that he can be trusted […whose trust/confidence is in him].


text:
He will be like a tree planted near water [vital and strong] that sends its roots by a stream []. It is not afraid when the ·days are hot [heat comes]; its leaves are always green. It ·does not worry [is not anxious] in a year ·when no rain comes [of drought]; it always produces fruit.


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“·More than anything else [Above all things], ·a person’s mind is evil [the heart is deceitful; the heart is devious/crooked] and ·cannot be healed [desperately wicked; it is perverse/sick]. Who can ·understand [know] it?


text:
But I, the Lord, ·look into a person’s [investigate/test the] heart and test the ·mind [kidneys]. ·So I can decide what each one deserves […to give to each according to his way/path]; I can give each one the right payment for what he does.”


text:
Like a ·bird [partridge] hatching an egg it did not lay, so are the people who get rich ·by cheating [unjustly]. When their ·lives [days] are half finished, ·they will lose their riches [it will leave/abandon them]. At the end of their lives, it will be clear they were fools.


text:
From the beginning, our ·Temple [sanctuary] has been ·honored [exalted] as a glorious throne [for God; ; ; ].


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Lord, hope of Israel, those who ·leave [abandon; forsake] you will be ·shamed [humiliated]. People who ·quit following the Lord [turn away from you] will be ·written [recorded] in the ·dust [or underworld], because they have ·left [abandoned; forsaken] the Lord, the spring of living water [].


text:
Jeremiah’s Third Complaint Lord, heal me, and I will truly be healed. ·Save [Rescue] me, and I will truly be ·saved [rescued]. You are ·the one I praise [my praise].


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The people of Judah keep asking me, “Where is the word from the Lord? ·Let’s see that message come true [Let it come]!”


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Lord, I didn’t ·run away from [or insist on] being the shepherd ·you wanted [after you]. I didn’t want the ·terrible day [or day of despair] to come. You know ·everything I have said [what comes out of my lips]; ·you see all that is happening [it was before your face].


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Don’t be a terror to me. ·I run to you for safety [You are my refuge] in ·times [days] of ·trouble [disaster; evil].


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Make those who are ·hurting [persecuting; pursuing] me be ·ashamed [humiliated], but don’t bring ·shame to [humiliation on] me. Let them be terrified, but keep me from terror. Bring the day of ·disaster [evil; trouble] on them [my enemies]. Destroy them, ·and destroy them again [with double destruction].


text:
Keeping the Sabbath Holy This is what the Lord said to me: “Go and stand at the People’s Gate [of Jerusalem], where the kings of Judah go in and out. And then go to all the other gates of Jerusalem.


text:
Say to them there: ‘Hear the word of the Lord, kings of Judah, all you people of Judah, and all who live in Jerusalem, who come through these gates into the city.


text:
This is what the Lord says: Be careful not to ·carry [lift] a ·load [burden] on the Sabbath day or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem.


text:
Don’t take a ·load [burden] out of your houses on the Sabbath or do any work on that day. But keep the Sabbath as a holy day, as I commanded your ·ancestors [fathers; ; ; ].


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But your ·ancestors [fathers] did not listen or ·pay attention [incline their ear] to me. They ·were very stubborn [stiffened their necks] and did not listen. ·I punished them, but it didn’t do any good [They did not take instruction/discipline].


text:
But you must ·be careful to obey [listen to] me, says the Lord. You must not bring a ·load [burden] through the gates of this city [Jerusalem] on the Sabbath, but you must keep the Sabbath as a holy day and not do any work on that day.


text:
“‘If you obey this command, kings who sit on David’s throne [] will come through the gates of ·Jerusalem [this city] with their officers. They will come riding in chariots and on horses, along with the people of Judah and Jerusalem. And ·the city of Jerusalem [this city] will have people living in it forever.


text:
People will come [to Jerusalem] from the villages around it, from the towns of Judah, from the land of Benjamin, from the ·western hills [Shephelah], from the mountains, and from ·southern Judah [the Negev]. They will all bring to the ·Temple [house] of the Lord burnt offerings [], sacrifices, ·grain [gift; tribute] offerings [], incense, and ·offerings to show thanks to God [thank offerings].


text:
But you must obey me and keep the Sabbath day as a holy day. You must not carry any loads into Jerusalem on the Sabbath. If you don’t ·obey [listen to] me, to keep the Sabbath day as a holy day, I will ·start [kindle] a fire at its gates [of Jerusalem], and it will ·burn until it burns even [consume; devour] the ·strong towers [palaces]. And it will not be put out.’”


text:
“Get up and go down to the potter’s house, and I will ·give you my message there [make you hear my words].”


text:
He was using his hands to make a pot from clay, but something went wrong with it. So he used that clay to make another pot the way he wanted it to be.


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“·Family [House] of Israel, can’t I do the same thing with you?” says the Lord. “You are in my hands like the clay in the potter’s hands.


text:
There may come a time when I will ·speak about [declare concerning] a nation or a kingdom that I will ·pull [pluck] up by its roots or that I will ·pull [tear] down to destroy it [].


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But if the people of that nation ·stop doing the evil they have done [turn back/repent from its evil concerning which I have spoken], I will ·change my mind [repent] and not carry out my plans to bring ·disaster to [evil on] them.


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There may come another time when I will ·speak about a [declare concerning that] nation that I will build up and plant.


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But if ·I see it doing evil [it does evil in my eyes] by not ·obeying [listening to] me, I will ·change my mind [repent] and not carry out my plans to do good for them.


text:
“·So [Now], say this to the people of Judah and those who live in Jerusalem: ‘This is what the Lord says: I am ·preparing [shaping] ·disaster [evil] for you and making plans against you. ·So stop doing evil [Turn away from your evil way/path]. ·Change [Improve/Amend] your ·ways [paths] and ·do what is right [your actions].’


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But they [the people of Judah] will answer, ‘It won’t do any good to try! We will ·continue to do what we want [go after our plans]. Each of us will do what his stubborn, evil heart wants!’”


text:
So this is what the Lord says: “Ask ·the people in other nations this question [among the nations]: ‘·Have you ever [Who has] heard anything like this?’ The ·people [virgin daughter] of Israel have done a horrible thing.


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·The [Does the…?] snow of Lebanon ·never melts from [ever leave the] the rocks of ·the fields [or Sirion; another name for Mount Hermon]. Its cool, ·flowing [foreign; strange] streams do not ·dry up [get plucked up].


text:
But my people have forgotten me. They burn incense to ·worthless [useless; meaningless] idols and ·have stumbled [they make them stumble] in ·what they do [their ways/paths] and in the ·old ways of their ancestors [ancient ways]. They walk along back roads ·and on poor [ways/paths that are not] highways.


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So ·Judah’s country [their land] will become an ·empty desert [wasteland; desolation]. People will not stop ·making fun of [hissing at] it. They will shake their heads as they pass by; they will be shocked at how the country was destroyed.


text:
Like a strong east wind, I will scatter them [the people of Judah] before their enemies. ·At that awful time [In the day of their calamity] ·they will not see me coming to help them; they will see me leaving [I will show them my back and not my face].”


text:
Jeremiah’s Fourth Complaint Then the people said, “Come, let’s make plans against Jeremiah. Surely the ·teaching of the law [instruction] by the priest will not ·be lost [perish]. We will still have the ·advice [counsel] from the wise teachers and the words of the prophets. So let’s ·ruin him by telling lies about him [bring charges against him; strike him with the tongue]. We won’t pay attention to ·anything he says [his words].”


text:
·Good should not [Should good…?] be paid back with evil, but they have dug a pit ·in order to kill me [for my life]. Remember that I stood before you and asked you to do good things for these people and to turn your anger away from them.


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So now, ·let their children starve [give their children to starvation], and ·let their enemies kill them with swords [give them over to the power of the sword]. Let their wives ·lose their children and husbands [be childless and widows]. Let the men [from Judah] be ·put to death [slain by pestilence] and the young men be killed with swords in battle.


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Let them cry out in their houses when you bring ·an enemy [plunderers; marauders] against them suddenly. Let all this happen, because my enemies have dug a pit to capture me and have hidden traps for my feet.


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Lord, you know about all their plans to kill me. Don’t forgive their ·crimes [iniquity] or ·erase [wipe away; blot out] their sins from ·your mind [before you]. Make them ·fall [stumble] ·from their places [before you]; ·punish [deal with] them while you are angry.


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Judah Is like a Broken Jar This is what the Lord said to me: “Go and buy a clay ·jar [jug] from a potter.


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Take some of the elders of the people and the ·priests [elders of the priests], and go out to the Valley of Ben Hinnom, near the front of the Potsherd Gate. There speak [proclaim] the words I tell you.


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Say, ‘Kings of Judah and ·people [inhabitants] of Jerusalem, listen to this ·message [word] from the Lord. This is what the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts], the God of Israel, says: I will soon bring ·a disaster [evil; trouble] on this place [Judah and Jerusalem] that will ·amaze and frighten [tingle the ears of] everyone who hears about it.


text:
They [the people of Judah] have ·quit following [abandoned; forsaken] me. They have made this a place for foreign gods. They have burned sacrifices to other gods that neither they, nor their ·ancestors [fathers], nor the kings of Judah had ever known before. They filled this place with the blood of innocent people.


text:
They have built ·places on hilltops to worship [high places to; sites associated with pagan worship or inappropriate worship of God] Baal [God of the Canaanites], where they burn their children in the fire to Baal. That is something I did not command or speak about; it never even ·entered my mind [came up in my heart; ; ; ].


text:
Now people call this place the Valley of Ben Hinnom [] or Topheth [“Spit”], but the days are coming, says the Lord, when people will call it the Valley of Killing [Slaughter; ].


text:
“‘At this place I will ·ruin [make void] the plans of the people of Judah and Jerusalem. The enemy will chase them, and I will ·have them killed with swords [make them fall by the sword before their enemies and by the hand of those who seek their life]. I will make their ·dead bodies [corpses] food for the birds of the ·sky [heavens] and ·wild animals [beasts of the land/country].


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I will ·completely destroy this city [make this city a desolation]. People will ·make fun of [hiss at] it and shake their heads when they pass by. They will ·be shocked [hiss] when they see how the city was destroyed.


text:
An enemy army will ·surround [besiege] the city and will not let anyone go out to get food. I will make the people so hungry that they will eat the ·bodies [flesh] of their own sons and daughters, and then they will begin to eat ·each other [their neighbors].’


text:
Then say this: ‘The Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] says: I will break this ·nation [people] and this city just as someone breaks a clay ·jar [jug] that cannot be ·put back together [mended; repaired] again. The dead people will be buried here in Topheth [“Spit”; ; ], because there is no other place for them.


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This is what I will do to these ·people [inhabitants] and to this place, says the Lord. I will make this city like Topheth.


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The houses in Jerusalem and the king’s palaces will become as unclean [in a ritual sense] as this place, Topheth, because the people worshiped gods on the roofs of their houses [flat roofs were living space]. They ·worshiped the stars and burned incense to honor them [burned incense to the whole host of heaven] and gave drink offerings to gods.’”


text:
When Jeremiah left Topheth [] where the Lord had sent him to prophesy, he went to the Lord’s ·Temple [house], stood in the courtyard, and said to all the people:


text:
“This is what the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts], the God of Israel, says: ‘I will soon bring ·disaster [evil; trouble] to ·Jerusalem [this city] and the villages around it, as I said I would. This will happen because ·the people are very stubborn [they stiffened their necks] and do not listen at all to ·what I say [my words].’”


text:
Pashhur Will Be Captured Pashhur son of Immer was a priest and the ·highest [chief] officer in the ·Temple [house] of the Lord. When he heard Jeremiah prophesying these things,


text:
he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten. And he ·locked [put] Jeremiah in stocks [wooden restraints] at the Upper Gate of Benjamin of the Lord’s Temple.


text:
The next day when Pashhur ·took [released] Jeremiah ·out of the blocks of wood [from the stocks], Jeremiah said to him, “The Lord’s name for you is not Pashhur. Now his name for you is Magor-Missabib [“Terror on Every Side”].


text:
This is what the Lord says: ‘I will soon make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends. You will watch enemies ·killing [make fall] your friends with swords. And I will give all the people of Judah to the king of Babylon, who will ·take them away as captives [exile them] to Babylon and then will ·kill [strike] them with swords.


text:
I will give all the wealth of this city to its enemies—its goods, its valuables, and the treasures of the kings of Judah. ·The enemies will carry all those valuables off to Babylon […into the hands of their enemies who will plunder them, take them and bring them to Babylon].


text:
And Pashhur, you and everyone in your house will ·be taken captive [go into exile]. You will be forced to go to Babylon, where you will die and be buried, you and your friends to whom you have prophesied lies.’”


text:
Jeremiah’s Fifth Complaint Lord, you ·tricked [enticed; seduced] me, and I was ·fooled [tricked; enticed; seduced]. You ·are stronger than I am [overpowered me], so you won. I have become a ·joke [laughing-stock]; everyone ·makes fun of [ridicules] me all day long.


text:
Every time I speak, I shout. ·I am always shouting about violence and destruction [I call out “Violence” and “Destruction”]. ·I tell the people about the message I received from the Lord […for the word of the Lord is with me], ·but this only brings me insults and mockery [for reproach and derision are with me] all day long.


text:
Sometimes I say to myself, “I will ·forget about the Lord [not remember him], I will not speak anymore in his name.” But then his message becomes like a burning fire ·inside me [in my heart], ·deep within [shut in] my bones. I get tired of trying to hold it inside of me, and finally, I cannot hold it in.


text:
I hear many people whispering about me: “Terror on every side! Tell on him! Let’s tell [the rulers] about him.” My friends are all just waiting for me to make ·some mistake [a false step]. They are saying, “Maybe we can ·trick [entice; seduce] him so we can defeat him and ·pay him back [take revenge against him].”


text:
But the Lord is with me like a ·strong [or fearful] warrior, so those who are ·chasing [persecuting] me will trip and ·fall [stumble]; they will not defeat me. They will be ·ashamed [humiliated] because they have failed, and their shame will never be forgotten.


text:
Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts], you test ·good [righteous] people; you look deeply into the ·heart [kidneys] and ·mind [heart] of a person. I have ·told [committed/revealed to] you my ·arguments [case] against these people, so let me see ·you give them the punishment they deserve [your vengeance against them].


text:
Sing to the Lord! Praise the Lord! He ·saves [protects; rescues] the life of the ·poor [needy] from the ·power [hand] of the wicked.


text:
Jeremiah’s Sixth Complaint ·Let there be a curse on [Cursed be] the day I was born; let there be no blessing on the day when my mother gave birth to me.


text:
·Let there be a curse on [Cursed be] the man who brought my father the news: “You have a son!” This made my father very glad.


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Let that man be like the towns the Lord ·destroyed [overturned] without ·pity [mercy; ]. Let him hear loud crying in the morning and battle cries at noon,


text:
because he did not kill me ·before I was born [in the womb; ]. Then my mother would have been my grave; she would have stayed pregnant forever.


text:
Why did I have to come out of ·my mother’s body [the womb]? All I have known is trouble and sorrow, and my ·life [days] will end in ·shame [humiliation; ].


text:
God Rejects King Zedekiah’s Request This is the word that the Lord spoke to Jeremiah. It came when Zedekiah king of Judah [ruled 597–586 bc] sent Pashhur son of Malkijah [not the same man as in ; ; ] and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah [, ; ; ; ] to Jeremiah.


text:
They said, “·Ask [Inquire of; Seek] the Lord for us what will happen, because Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is ·attacking [fighting against] us. Maybe the Lord will do ·miracles [wonderful works] for us as he did in the past so ·Nebuchadnezzar will stop attacking us and leave [he will go up from us].”


text:
‘Here is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: You have weapons of war in your hands to defend yourselves against the king of Babylon and the ·Babylonians [Chaldeans], who are all around the city wall. But I will ·make those weapons useless [turn them against you]. Soon I will ·bring [assemble] them [the weapons] into the center of this city.


text:
In my anger, my ·very great anger [fury and great wrath], I myself will fight against you with my ·great power [outstretched hand] and ·strength [strong arm].


text:
I will ·kill [strike] ·everything living in Jerusalem [the inhabitants of this city]—both people and animals. They will die from ·terrible diseases [plagues; pestilence].


text:
Then, says the Lord, I’ll hand over Zedekiah king of Judah, his officers, and the people in Jerusalem who do not die from the ·terrible diseases [plagues; pestilence] or ·battle [sword] or ·hunger [famine], ·to [into the hands of] Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon [and into the hands of their enemies]. ·I will let those win who want to kill the people of Judah […and into the hands of those who seek their lives], so ·the people of Judah and Jerusalem will be killed in war [he will strike them with the edge of the sword]. Nebuchadnezzar will not show any mercy or pity or ·feel sorry [compassion] for them!’


text:
“Also tell this to this people [of Jerusalem]: ‘This is what the Lord says: I ·will let you choose to live or die [place before you the way of life and the way of death; ].


text:
Anyone who ·stays [resides] in Jerusalem will die ·in war [by sword] or from ·hunger [famine] or from a ·terrible disease [plague; pestilence]. But anyone who goes out [of Jerusalem] and ·surrenders to [falls before] the ·Babylonians [Chaldeans] who are ·attacking [besieging] you will live. Anyone who leaves the city will save his life as if it were ·a prize won [plunder] in war.


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I have ·decided to make trouble for [set my face against] this city and not ·to help it [for good], says the Lord. I will give it to the king of Babylon, and he will burn it with fire.’


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·Family [House] of David, this is what the Lord says: You must judge people ·fairly [with justice] every morning. ·Save [Protect; Rescue] the person who has been robbed from the ·power [hand] of his ·attacker [oppressor]. If you don’t, ·I will become very angry [my wrath will come out like fire]. ·My anger will be like a fire that no one can put out [It will burn and no one can extinguish; ], because you have done evil things.


text:
“‘I am against you [Jerusalem], you who live ·on top of the mountain over this valley [in the valley, the rock of the plain], says the Lord. You say, “·No one can attack [Who can come down against…?] us or come into our ·strong city [refuge].”


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But I will give you the punishment you deserve, says the Lord. I will ·start [kindle] a fire in your forests that will ·burn up [devour] everything around you!’”


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Judgment Against Evil Kings This is what the Lord says: “Go down to the ·palace [house] of the king of Judah and ·prophesy this message [say this word] there:


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‘Hear the word of the Lord, king of Judah, who ·rules from [sits on] David’s throne. You and your officers, and your people who come through these gates, listen!


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This is what the Lord says: Do ·what is fair and right [justice and righteousness]. ·Save [Protect; Rescue] the one who has been robbed from the ·power [hand] of his ·attacker [oppressor]. Don’t mistreat or ·hurt [do violence to] the ·foreigners [resident aliens; ; ], orphans, or widows [; ; ]. Don’t ·kill innocent people [spill innocent blood; ; ] here.


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If you carefully ·obey these commands [perform this word], kings who sit on David’s throne will come through the gates of this ·palace [house] with their officers and people, riding in chariots and on horses.


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But if you don’t ·obey these commands [listen to these words], says the Lord, I swear by my ·own name [myself] that this ·king’s palace [house] will become a ruin.’”


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This is what the Lord says about the ·palace where the king of Judah lives [house of the king of Judah]: “You are like Gilead to me, like the ·mountaintops [summit] of ·Lebanon [lush; the palace was built with the cedars of Lebanon; ]. But I will truly make you into a ·desert [wilderness], into towns where no one lives.


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I will ·send [consecrate; set apart] ·men to destroy the palace [destroyers], each with his weapons. They will cut up your ·strong, beautiful cedar beams [choice cedars] and throw them into the fire.


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“People from many nations will pass by this city and ask each other, ‘Why has the Lord done such a terrible thing to Jerusalem, this great city?’


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And the answer will be: ‘Because they [the people of Judah] ·quit following [abandoned; forsook] the ·agreement [covenant; treaty] with the Lord their God. They ·worshiped [bowed down to] and served other gods.’”


text:
Judgment Against Jehoahaz Don’t cry for the dead one [the king] or ·be sad about [bemoan] him. But cry ·painfully for the king who is being taken [for the one who goes] away [into exile], because he will never return or see ·his homeland [the land of his birth] again.


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This is what the Lord says about Jehoahaz [Shallum; ruled 597 bc; ] son of Josiah who became king of Judah after his father left this place [died]: “He will never return.


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Judgment Against Jehoiakim “·How terrible it will be for one [Woe to the one; King Jehoiakim (605–597 bc), placed on the throne by the Egyptian pharaoh to replace his brother Jehoahaz; ] who builds his ·palace [house] by ·doing evil [unrighteousness], ·who cheats people so he can build its upper rooms [his upper rooms without justice]. He makes his ·own people [neighbors] work for nothing and does not pay them.


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He says, ‘I will build a ·great palace [spacious house] for myself with large upper rooms.’ So he ·builds it with [cuts out] large windows and uses cedar wood for the ·walls [panels], which he paints ·red [vermilion].


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“Does having a lot of cedar [in your house] make you a great king? ·Your father was satisfied to [Did not your father…?; Josiah, a godly king] have food and drink. He did what was right and fair, so everything went well for him.


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He ·helped [judged the cause of] those who were poor and needy, so everything went well for him. ·That is what it [Is this not what it…?] means to know ·God [me],” says the Lord.


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“But ·you only look for and think about [your eyes and your heart are on] what you can get dishonestly. You are even willing to ·kill innocent people [pour out innocent blood] to get it. You feel free to ·hurt [oppress] people and to steal from them.”


text:
So this is what the Lord says to Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: “They [the people of Judah] will not cry [mourn] ·when Jehoiakim dies [for him], saying: ‘·Oh [Woe], my brother,’ or ‘·Oh [Woe], my sister.’ They will not ·cry [mourn] for him, saying: ‘·Oh [Woe], master,’ or ‘·Oh [Woe], my king.’


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They will bury him like a donkey, dragging and throwing his body away outside the gates of Jerusalem.


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“Judah, go up to Lebanon and cry out. Let your voice be heard in Bashan. Cry out from Abarim, because all your friends are destroyed!


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When you [Judah] were ·successful [prosperous], I warned you, but you said, ‘I won’t listen.’ ·You have acted like this [This is your way/path] since you were young; you have not ·obeyed me [listened to my voice].


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·Like a storm, my punishment will blow all your shepherds away [The wind will shepherd all your shepherds away] and send your ·friends [or lovers] into ·captivity [exile; ]. Then you will really be ashamed and ·disgraced [humiliated] because of all the ·wicked things [evil] you did.


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You [King Jehoiakim] live in Lebanon [the palace was made of cedar from Lebanon], ·cozy [nestled] in your rooms of cedar. But when your ·punishment [pangs] comes, how you will groan like a woman ·giving birth to a baby [in labor]!


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Judgment upon Jehoiachin “As surely as I live,” says the Lord, “·Jehoiachin [Coniah; ruled 597 bc; ; ] son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, even if you were a signet ring on my right hand, I would still ·pull [tear] you off.


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I will ·hand you over to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to the ·Babylonians [Chaldeans]—those people you fear because they ·want to kill you [seek your life].


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I will ·throw [hurl] you and your mother who bore you into another country [Babylon]. Neither of you was born there, but both of you will die there.


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·Jehoiachin is like a broken pot someone threw away [Is this man Jehoiachin a despised broken pot…?]; ·he is like something [a vessel…?] no one wants. Why will Jehoiachin and his children be ·thrown out [hurled away] and ·sent [thrown] into a ·foreign land [country they do not know; exiled to Babylon]?


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This is what the Lord says: “Write this down ·in the record about [about this man; Jehoiachin]: He is a man without children, a man who will not be successful in his ·lifetime [days]. And none of his descendants will be successful; none will sit on the throne of David or rule in Judah.”


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The Evil Leaders of Judah “·How terrible it will be for [Woe to] ·those [the shepherds; the leaders of Judah] who are scattering and destroying ·my people [the sheep of my pasture],” says the Lord.


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They are ·responsible for the people [the shepherds who shepherd my people; ; ; ], so the Lord, the God of Israel, says to them: “You have scattered my ·people [flock] and forced them away and not taken care of them. So I will ·punish [take care of] you for the evil things you have done,” says the Lord.


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“But I will gather ·those who are left alive [the remnant of my flock] from all the lands where I have driven them and bring them back to their own ·country [flock]. Then they will ·have many children and grow in number [be fruitful and multiply].


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I will ·place [raise up] ·new leaders over my people, who will take care of them [shepherds who will shepherd them]. And my people will not be afraid or terrified again, and none of them will be lost,” says the Lord.


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The Good Branch Will Come “The days are coming,” says the Lord, “when I will raise up a ·good [righteous] branch ·in David’s family [for David; ; ; ]. He will be a king who will rule in a wise way; he will do ·what is fair and right [justice and righteousness] in the land.


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In his time Judah will be ·saved [rescued], and Israel will live ·in safety [with confidence]. This will be his name: The Lord ·Does What Is Right [Our Righteousness].


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“So the days are coming,” says the Lord, “when people will not say again: ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought Israel out of Egypt….’


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But people will say something new: ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the ·descendants of Israel [seed of the house of Israel] from the land of the north [Babylon] and from all the countries where he had ·sent [driven] them away….’ Then the people of Israel will live in their own land [].”


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False Prophets Will Be Punished A message to the prophets: My heart is ·broken [shattered within me]. All my bones shake. I’m like someone who is drunk, like someone who has been ·overcome [inebriated] with wine. This is because of the Lord and his holy words.


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The land [of Judah] is full of people who are guilty of adultery. Because of the curse the land ·is sad [mourns], and the pastures of the ·desert [wilderness] have dried up. The people [Their lives/courses] are evil and ·they use their power in the wrong way [their power is not right].


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“Both the prophets and the priests are ungodly. I have found even in my own ·Temple [house],” says the Lord.


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“So their ·lives [ways; paths] will be slippery and dark [they will be in danger]. They will ·be defeated [fall]. I will bring ·disaster [evil; trouble] on them in the year I punish them,” says the Lord.


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“I saw the prophets of Samaria [capital of the northern kingdom destroyed in 722 bc] do something ·wrong [disgusting]. Those prophets prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel away [].


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And I have seen the prophets of Jerusalem do ·terrible [shocking] things. They are guilty of adultery and ·live [walk] by lies. They ·encourage [strengthen] ·evil people to keep on doing evil [the hands of evildoers], so the people don’t ·stop sinning [turn back from their evil]. All of those people are like the city of Sodom. The people of Jerusalem are like the city of Gomorrah to me [sinful and soon to be punished; ]!”


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So this is what the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] says about the prophets: “I will make those prophets eat ·bitter food [wormwood; the bitter tasting leaves of a shrub; ] and drink poisoned water, because the prophets of Jerusalem spread ·wickedness [godlessness] through the whole country.”


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This is what the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] says: “Don’t ·pay attention [listen] to what those prophets are ·saying [prophesying] to you. They are trying to ·fool [delude] you. They talk about visions their own ·minds [hearts] made up, not ·about visions from me [from the mouth of the Lord].


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They say to those who ·hate [despise] me: ‘The Lord says: You will have peace.’ They say to all those who ·are stubborn and do as they please [walk in the stubbornness of their heart]: ‘Nothing ·bad [evil; disastrous] will happen to you.’


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·But none of these prophets has stood in the meeting of angels [Who has stood in the assembly/council of the Lord…?; ; ; ; ; ] to see or hear the message of the Lord. ·None of them [Who…?] has paid close attention to his message.


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Look, the ·storm [whirlwind] of the Lord! His anger will pour forth like a ·hurricane [storm; whirlwind]. It will come swirling down on the heads of those wicked people [].


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The Lord’s anger will not ·stop [turn back] until he finishes what he plans to do. When that day is over, you will understand this clearly [].


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I did not send those prophets, but they ran [to tell their message]. I did not speak to them, but they prophesied anyway.


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But if they had stood in ·the meeting of angels [my assembly/council], they would have told my message to my people. They would have turned the people from their evil ways and from doing evil.


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“·I am [Am I only…?] a God who is near,” says the Lord. “·I am [And not…?] also a God who is far away.


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·No one [Who…?] can hide where I cannot see him,” says the Lord. “·I [Do I not…?] fill all of heaven and earth,” says the Lord.


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“I have heard the prophets who prophesy lies in my name. They say, ‘I have had a dream! I have had a dream!’


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How long will this continue in the ·minds [hearts] of these lying prophets? They prophesy from their own ·wishful thinking [deceitful hearts].


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They are trying to make the people of Judah forget ·me [my name] by telling each other these dreams. In the same way, their ·ancestors [fathers] forgot ·me [my name] ·and worshiped [for] Baal.


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·Is straw the same thing as [What has straw in common with] wheat?” says the Lord. “If a prophet wants to tell about his dreams, let him! But let the person who hears my message speak it truthfully!


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“So I am against the prophets [false prophets],” says the Lord. “They keep stealing words from each other [and say they are from God].


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I am against the prophets [false prophets],” says the Lord. “They use their own ·words [tongues] and ·pretend it is a message from me [say, ‘Says the Lord’].


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I am against the prophets who prophesy false dreams,” says the Lord. “They mislead my people with their lies and ·false teachings [recklessness]! I did not send them or command them to do anything for me. They can’t help the people of Judah at all,” says the Lord.


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The Sad Message from the Lord “Suppose this people [of Judah], a prophet, or a priest asks you [Jeremiah]: ‘What is the ·message [oracle; burden] from the Lord?’ You will answer them and say, ‘You are a heavy ·load [burden] to the Lord, and I will throw you down, says the Lord.’


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A prophet or a priest or one of the people might say, ‘This is a ·message [oracle; burden] from the Lord.’ I will punish him [for lying that he has a message from God] and his whole family.


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But you will never again ·say [mention; remember], ‘The ·message [oracle; burden] of the Lord,’ because the only ·message [oracle; burden] you speak is your own words. You have ·changed [overturned; perverted] the words of our God, the living God, the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts].


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This is how you should speak to the prophets: ‘What answer did the Lord give you?’ or ‘What did the Lord say?’


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But don’t say, ‘The ·message [oracle; burden] from the Lord.’ If you use these words, this is what the Lord says: Because you called it a ‘·message [oracle; burden] from the Lord,’ though I told you not to use those words,


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I will pick you up and ·throw [cast] you away from me, along with the city [Jerusalem], which I gave to your ·ancestors [fathers] and to you.


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The Good and Bad Figs Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon ·captured [exiled] ·Jehoiachin [Jeconiah] son of Jehoiakim and king of Judah, his officers, and all the craftsmen and metalworkers of Judah [597 bc]. He took them away from Jerusalem and brought them to Babylon. It was then that the Lord showed me two baskets of figs [a symbol of fruitfulness () and shelter (; )] arranged in front of the Temple of the Lord.


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One of the baskets had very good figs in it, like figs that ripen ·early in the season [first]. But the other basket had figs too rotten to eat.


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The Lord said to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I answered, “I see figs. The good figs are very good, but the rotten figs are too rotten to eat.”


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“This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I sent the people of Judah out of their country to live in the country of Babylon. I ·think of [regard] those people as good, like these good figs.


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I will ·look after them [set my eyes on them for good] and ·bring them back [return them] to this land [of Judah]. I will not tear them down, but I will build them up. I will not pull them up, but I will plant them [so they can grow].


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I will ·make them want [give them a heart] to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, because they will return to me with their whole hearts.


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“‘But the bad figs are too rotten to eat.’ So this is what the Lord says: ‘Zedekiah king of Judah [ruled 597–586 bc], his officers, and all the people from Jerusalem who are left alive, even those who live in Egypt, will be like those rotten figs.


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I will make those people ·hated [a horror; abhorrent] as an evil people by all the kingdoms of the earth. ·People will make fun of them and tell jokes about them and point fingers at them and curse them […a reproach, a proverb/byword, a taunt, a curse] everywhere I ·scatter [drive] them.


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I will send ·war [sword], ·hunger [famine], and ·disease [pestilence] against them. ·I will attack them until they have all been killed. Then they will no longer be in […until they have been annihilated from] the land I gave to them and their ·ancestors [fathers].’”


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A Summary of Jeremiah’s Preaching This is the message that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah. It came in the fourth year that Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah and the first year Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon.


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The Lord has spoken his word to me again and again for these past twenty-three years. I have been a prophet since the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah. I have spoken messages from the Lord to you from that time until today, but you have not listened.


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The Lord has sent all his servants the prophets [; ] to you over and over again, but you have not listened or ·paid any attention [inclined/bent your ear] to them.


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Those prophets have said, “·Stop [Turn from/Repent of] your evil ways. ·Stop doing [Turn from/Repent of] what is wrong so you can stay in the land that the Lord gave to you and your ·ancestors [fathers] to live in forever.


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Don’t ·follow [go after] other gods to serve them or to ·worship [bow down to] them. Don’t make me, the Lord, angry by the work of your own hands [idols], or I will ·punish [harm] you.”


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“But you [people of Judah] did not listen to me,” says the Lord. “You made me angry by the work of your own hands [idols], so I ·punished [harmed] you.”


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So this is what the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] says: “Since you have not listened to my messages,


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I will send for all the ·peoples [clans; families] of the north [Babylon],” says the Lord, “along with my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. I will bring them all against Judah, those who live there, and all the nations around you, too. I will ·completely destroy [annihilate] all those countries and leave them ·in ruins [desolate] forever. ·People will be shocked when they see how badly I have destroyed those countries [I will make them a horror and a hissing and an everlasting reproach].


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I will ·bring an end to [banish; cause to perish] the sounds of joy and happiness, the sounds of brides and bridegrooms [; ], and the sound of ·people grinding meal [the millstone]. And I will take away the light of the lamp.


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That whole ·area [land] will be an ·empty desert [ruin and desolate], and these nations will ·be slaves of [serve] the king of Babylon [Nebuchadnezzar] for seventy years [the exile].


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“But when the seventy years ·have passed [are completed], I will punish the king of Babylon and his entire nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their ·evil [iniquity],” says the Lord. “I will make that land a ·desert [desolation] forever.


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I will ·make happen [bring on this land] all the ·terrible things [words] I said about it [Babylonia]—everything Jeremiah prophesied about all those foreign nations, the warnings written in this book [].


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Even they [Babylonians] will have to serve many nations and many great kings. I will ·give them the punishment they deserve for all their own hands have done [repay them according to their deeds and according to the work of their hands].”


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Judgment on the Nations The Lord, the God of Israel, said this to me: “Take the cup of the wine of my wrath [; ] from my hand and make all the nations, to whom I am sending you, drink from this cup.


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They will drink and ·stumble about [stagger; or vomit] and act like madmen because of the ·war [sword] I am going to send among them.”


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So I took the cup from the Lord’s hand and went to those nations where he sent me and made them drink from it.


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I served this wine to the people of Jerusalem and the towns of Judah, and the kings and officers of Judah, so they would become a ruin. Then people would be shocked and would ·insult them [hiss] and ·speak evil of [curse] them. And so it has been to this day.


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I also made these people drink of the Lord’s anger: Pharaoh the king of Egypt, his servants, his officers, all his people,


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and all the ·foreigners there [mixed crowd]; all the kings of the land of Uz; all the kings of the Philistines (the kings of the cities of Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the people left at Ashdod);


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all the kings of Tyre and Sidon; all the kings of the coastal countries ·to the west [or across the sea];


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all the kings of Arabia; and the kings of the ·people [mixed crowd] who live in the ·desert [wilderness];


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and all the kings of the north, near and far, one after the other. I made all the kingdoms on earth drink [from the cup of wrath] of the Lord’s anger, but the king of ·Babylon [Sheshak; a coded reference to Babylon] will drink from this cup after all the others.


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“Then say to them, ‘This is what the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts], the God of Israel, says: Drink ·this cup [of my anger]. Get drunk from it and vomit. Fall down and don’t get up because of the ·war [sword] I am sending among you!’


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“If they refuse to take the cup from your hand and drink, say to them, ‘The Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] says this: You must drink [from this cup].


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Look! I am ·already bringing [beginning to bring] ·disaster [harm; trouble] on this city that is called by my name [Jerusalem]. Do you think you will not be punished? You will ·be punished [not go unpunished]! I am ·sending [calling for] ·war [a sword] on all the people of the earth, says the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts].’


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“You [Jeremiah] will prophesy against them with all these words. Say to them: ‘The Lord will roar [like a lion] from heaven [] and will ·shout [give forth] from his holy lair [the Temple]. He will roar loudly against his ·land [sheepfold]. He will shout like people who walk on grapes [; ]; he will shout against all who live on the earth.


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The ·noise [clamor] will spread all over the earth, because the Lord will accuse all the nations. He will ·judge and tell what is wrong with [bring an indictment against] all ·people [flesh], and he will kill the evil people with a sword,’” says the Lord.


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This is what the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] says: “Disasters will soon ·spread [go out] from nation to nation. They will come like a powerful storm from the faraway places on earth.”


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At that time those killed by the Lord will reach from one end of the earth to the other. No one will ·cry [mourn] for them or gather up their bodies and bury them. They will be left lying on the ground like dung [; ; ].


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Cry, you ·leaders [shepherds]! Cry out loud! Roll around in the ·dust [ashes], ·leaders of the people [nobles of the flock]! ·It is now time for you to be killed [Your days are filled for slaughter]. You will fall and be scattered, like ·pieces of a broken [a choice/precious] jar.


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There will be no place for the ·leaders [shepherds] to ·hide [flee]; ·they [the nobles of the flock] will not escape.


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I hear the sound of the ·leaders [shepherds] shouting. I hear the ·leaders of the people [nobles of the flock] crying loudly, because the Lord is destroying their ·land [pastureland].


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Like a lion, he has left his den. Their land has been ·destroyed [desolated] because of the terrible ·war [sword] he brought, because of his fierce anger.


text:
Jeremiah’s Lesson at the Temple This message came from the Lord ·soon after Jehoiakim son of Josiah became [at the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim] king of Judah [ruled 605–597 bc].


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This is what the Lord said: “Jeremiah, stand in the courtyard of the ·Temple [house] of the Lord. ·Give this message [Say] to all the people of the towns of Judah who are coming to ·worship [bow down] at the ·Temple [house] of the Lord. Tell them everything I tell you to say; don’t leave out a word.


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Maybe they will listen and ·stop [return/repent from] their evil ways. If they will, I will ·change my mind [relent] about bringing on them the ·disaster [evil; trouble] that I am planning because of the evil they have done.


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Say to them: ‘This is what the Lord says: You must ·obey [listen to] me and follow my ·teachings [instructions; laws] that I gave you.


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You must listen to what my servants the prophets [] say to you. I have sent them to you again and again, but you did not ·listen [obey].


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If you don’t obey me, I will ·destroy my Temple in Jerusalem as I destroyed my Holy Tent at [make this house like] Shiloh [; ; ]. When I do, ·people all over the world will curse Jerusalem [I will make this city a curse].’”


text:
The priests, the prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the ·Temple [house] of the Lord.


text:
When Jeremiah finished speaking ·everything [all the words] the Lord had commanded him to say, the priests, prophets, and all the people ·grabbed [seized] Jeremiah. They said, “You must die!


text:
·How dare [Why do…?] you prophesy in the name of the Lord that this ·Temple [house] will be like the one at Shiloh [destroyed]! ·How dare [Why do…?] you say that this city [Jerusalem] will become a ·desert [ruin] without anyone to live in it!” And all the people ·crowded [assembled] around Jeremiah in the ·Temple [house] of the Lord.


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Now when the officers of Judah heard ·about what was happening [these things/words], they came out of the king’s ·palace [house] and went up to the ·Temple [house] of the Lord and took their places at the entrance of the New Gate.


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Then the priests and prophets said to the officers and all the other people, “·Jeremiah [This man] ·should be killed [deserves the death sentence]. He prophesied against this city [Jerusalem], and you heard him ·yourselves [with your ears].”


text:
Then Jeremiah spoke these words to all the officers of Judah and all the other people: “The Lord sent me to ·say [prophesy] ·everything [all these words] you have heard about this ·Temple [house] and this city.


