The Hebrew Prophets

Do you not fear Me?” declares the LORD. “Do you not tremble before Me, the One who set the sand as the boundary for the sea, an enduring barrier it cannot cross? The waves surge, but they cannot prevail. They roar but cannot cross it.

But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts. They have turned aside and gone away.

They have not said in their hearts, ‘Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives the rains, both autumn and spring, in season, who keeps for us the appointed weeks of harvest.’

Your iniquities have diverted these from you; your sins have deprived you of My bounty.

For among My people are wicked men; they watch like fowlers lying in wait; they set a trap to catch men.

Like cages full of birds, so their houses are full of deceit. Therefore they have become powerful and rich.

They have grown fat and sleek, and have excelled in the deeds of the wicked. They have not taken up the cause of the fatherless, that they might prosper; nor have they defended the rights of the needy.

Should I not punish them for these things?” declares the LORD. “Should I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?

A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land.

The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority. My people love it so, but what will you do in the end?

“Run for cover, O sons of Benjamin; flee from Jerusalem! Sound the ram’s horn in Tekoa; send up a signal over Beth-haccherem, for disaster looms from the north, even great destruction.

Though she is beautiful and delicate, I will destroy the Daughter of Zion.

Shepherds and their flocks will come against her; they will pitch their tents all around her, each tending his own portion:

‘Prepare for battle against her; rise up, let us attack at noon. Woe to us, for the daylight is fading; the evening shadows grow long.

Rise up, let us attack by night and destroy her fortresses!’”

For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Cut down the trees and raise a siege ramp against Jerusalem. This city must be punished; there is nothing but oppression in her midst.

As a well gushes its water, so she pours out her evil. Violence and destruction resound in her; sickness and wounds are ever before Me.

Be forewarned, O Jerusalem, or I will turn away from you; I will make you a desolation, a land without inhabitant.”

This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Glean the remnant of Israel as thoroughly as a vine. Pass your hand once more like a grape gatherer over the branches.”

To whom can I give this warning? Who will listen to me? Look, their ears are closed, so they cannot hear. See, the word of the LORD has become offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.

But I am full of the LORD’s wrath; I am tired of holding it back. “Pour it out on the children in the street, and on the young men gathered together. For both husband and wife will be captured, the old and the very old alike.

Their houses will be turned over to others, their fields and wives as well, for I will stretch out My hand against the inhabitants of the land,” declares the LORD.

“For from the least of them to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; from prophet to priest, all practice deceit.

They dress the wound of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace at all.

Are they ashamed of the abomination they have committed? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they will collapse,” says the LORD.