18
"Nevertheless in those days," says the Lord, "I will not make a complete end of you.
19
And it will be when you say, 'Why does the Lord our God do all these things to us?' then you shall answer them, 'Just as you have forsaken Me and served foreign gods in your land, so you shall serve aliens in a land that is not yours.'
20
"Declare this in the house of Jacob And proclaim it in Judah, saying,
21
'Hear this now, O foolish people, Without understanding, Who have eyes and see not, And who have ears and hear not:
22
Do you not fear Me?' says the Lord. 'Will you not tremble at My presence, Who have placed the sand as the bound of the sea, By a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass beyond it? And though its waves toss to and fro, Yet they cannot prevail; Though they roar, yet they cannot pass over it.
23
But this people has a defiant and rebellious heart; They have revolted and departed.
24
They do not say in their heart, "Let us now fear the Lord our God, Who gives rain, both the former and the latter, in its season. He reserves for us the appointed weeks of the harvest."
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Your iniquities have turned these things away, And your sins have withheld good from you.
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'For among My people are found wicked men; They lie in wait as one who sets snares; They set a trap; They catch men.
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As a cage is full of birds, So their houses are full of deceit. Therefore they have become great and grown rich.
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They have grown fat, they are sleek; Yes, they surpass the deeds of the wicked; They do not plead the cause, The cause of the fatherless; Yet they prosper, And the right of the needy they do not defend.
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Shall I not punish them for these things?' says the Lord. 'Shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?'
30
"An astonishing and horrible thing Has been committed in the land:
31
The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule by their own power; And My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?