The Hebrew Prophets

I am not angry. If only thorns and briers confronted Me, I would march and trample them, I would burn them to the ground.

Or let them lay claim to My protection; let them make peace with Me— yes, let them make peace with Me.”

In the days to come, Jacob will take root. Israel will bud and blossom and fill the whole world with fruit.

Has the LORD struck Israel as He struck her oppressors? Was she killed like those who slayed her?

By warfare and exile You contended with her and removed her with a fierce wind, as on the day the east wind blows.

Therefore Jacob’s guilt will be atoned for, and the full fruit of the removal of his sin will be this: When he makes all the altar stones like crushed bits of chalk, no Asherah poles or incense altars will remain standing.

For the fortified city lies deserted— a homestead abandoned, a wilderness forsaken. There the calves graze, and there they lie down; they strip its branches bare.

When its limbs are dry, they are broken off. Women come and use them for kindling; for this is a people without understanding. Therefore their Maker has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor.

In that day the LORD will thresh from the flowing Euphrates to the Wadi of Egypt, and you, O Israelites, will be gathered one by one.

And in that day a great ram’s horn will sound, and those who were perishing in Assyria will come forth with those who were exiles in Egypt. And they will worship the LORD on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.

Woe to the majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards, to the fading flower of his glorious splendor, set on the summit above the fertile valley, the pride of those overcome by wine.

Behold, the Lord has one who is strong and mighty. Like a hailstorm or destructive tempest, like a driving rain or flooding downpour, he will smash that crown to the ground.

The majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards will be trampled underfoot.

The fading flower of his beautiful splendor, set on the summit above the fertile valley, will be like a ripe fig before the summer harvest: Whoever sees it will take it in his hand and swallow it.

On that day the LORD of Hosts will be a crown of glory, a diadem of splendor to the remnant of His people,

a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and a strength to those who repel the onslaught at the gate.

These also stagger from wine and stumble from strong drink: Priests and prophets reel from strong drink and are befuddled by wine. They stumble because of strong drink, muddled in their visions and stumbling in their judgments.

For all their tables are covered with vomit; there is not a place without filth.

Whom is He trying to teach? To whom is He explaining His message? To infants just weaned from milk? To babies removed from the breast?

For they hear: “Order on order, order on order, line on line, line on line; a little here, a little there.”

Indeed, with mocking lips and foreign tongues, He will speak to this people

to whom He has said: “This is the place of rest, let the weary rest; this is the place of repose.” But they would not listen.

Then the word of the LORD to them will become: “Order on order, order on order, line on line, line on line; a little here, a little there,” so that they will go stumbling backward and will be injured, ensnared, and captured.

Therefore hear the word of the LORD, O scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem.

For you said, “We have made a covenant with death; we have fashioned an agreement with Sheol. When the overwhelming scourge passes through it will not touch us, because we have made lies our refuge and falsehood our hiding place.”