Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Following » The reward for following vanity
The wrath (intense anger) of Jehovah came on Israel because they had done evil against Jehovah their God, who took them out of the land of Egypt from under the yoke of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. They worshipped other gods. They lived by the rules of the nations whom Jehovah sent out from before the children of Israel. The children of Israel secretly did things that were not right according to Jehovah their God. They built high places for themselves in all their towns, from the watchtower to the walled towns. read more.
They erected pillars of stone and wood on every high hill and under every green tree. They burned their offerings in all the high places, as those nations did whom Jehovah sent away from them. They did evil things, moving Jehovah to anger. They made themselves servants of disgusting things. Even though Jehovah said: You should not do this. Jehovah sent his messengers and prophets to warn Israel and Judah: Abandon your evil ways and obey my commands. The commandments contained in the Law I gave to your ancestors. I handed them on to you through my servants the prophets. They would not obey. They were stubborn like their ancestors. They did not trust in Jehovah their God. They refused to obey his instructions. They did not keep the covenant he made with their ancestors. They disregarded his warnings. They worshiped worthless idols and became worthless themselves. They followed the customs of the surrounding nations, disobeying Jehovah's command not to imitate them. They broke all the laws of Jehovah their God. They made two metal bull-calves to worship. They also made an image of the goddess Asherah. Also they worshiped the stars and served the god Baal. They caused their sons and their daughters to go through the fire to be sacrificed. They made use of secret arts and unnatural powers, and gave themselves up to doing evil in the eyes of Jehovah, till they provoked him to anger. Jehovah was very angry with Israel. He removed them from his sight. Only the tribe of Judah kept its place. But even Judah did not obey the commands of Jehovah their God. They were guided by the rules Israel made. So Jehovah would have nothing to do with all the offspring of Israel. He caused trouble for them. He gave them up into the hands of their attackers, till he had sent them away from before his face. He tore Israel from the house of David and made Jeroboam son of Nebat king. Jeroboam drove them away from the laws of Jehovah and made them do a great sin. The children of Israel walked in all the sins Jeroboam committed. They did not depart from these sins. Jehovah removed Israel from his sight as he said he would through all his servants the prophets. Israel was taken away from their land to Assyria, to this day.
They erected pillars of stone and wood on every high hill and under every green tree. They burned their offerings in all the high places, as those nations did whom Jehovah sent away from them. They did evil things, moving Jehovah to anger. They made themselves servants of disgusting things. Even though Jehovah said: You should not do this. Jehovah sent his messengers and prophets to warn Israel and Judah: Abandon your evil ways and obey my commands. The commandments contained in the Law I gave to your ancestors. I handed them on to you through my servants the prophets. They would not obey. They were stubborn like their ancestors. They did not trust in Jehovah their God. They refused to obey his instructions. They did not keep the covenant he made with their ancestors. They disregarded his warnings. They worshiped worthless idols and became worthless themselves. They followed the customs of the surrounding nations, disobeying Jehovah's command not to imitate them. They broke all the laws of Jehovah their God. They made two metal bull-calves to worship. They also made an image of the goddess Asherah. Also they worshiped the stars and served the god Baal. They caused their sons and their daughters to go through the fire to be sacrificed. They made use of secret arts and unnatural powers, and gave themselves up to doing evil in the eyes of Jehovah, till they provoked him to anger. Jehovah was very angry with Israel. He removed them from his sight. Only the tribe of Judah kept its place. But even Judah did not obey the commands of Jehovah their God. They were guided by the rules Israel made. So Jehovah would have nothing to do with all the offspring of Israel. He caused trouble for them. He gave them up into the hands of their attackers, till he had sent them away from before his face. He tore Israel from the house of David and made Jeroboam son of Nebat king. Jeroboam drove them away from the laws of Jehovah and made them do a great sin. The children of Israel walked in all the sins Jeroboam committed. They did not depart from these sins. Jehovah removed Israel from his sight as he said he would through all his servants the prophets. Israel was taken away from their land to Assyria, to this day.
Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless. He will get nothing in return.
Verse Concepts
This is what Jehovah says: 'Ask among the nations if anyone has ever heard anything like this. The people of Israel have done a very horrible thing. Does the snow of Lebanon forsake the rock of the open country? Or is the cold flowing water from a foreign land ever snatched away? My people have forgotten me. They burn incense to worthless gods and they have stumbled from their ways. They stray from the ancient paths to walk in pathways and not on a highway. read more.
They make their land desolation. It becomes an object of perpetual hissing. Everyone who passes by it will be astonished and shake his head. Like an east wind I will scatter them before the enemy. I will show them my back and not my face in the day of their calamity.'
They make their land desolation. It becomes an object of perpetual hissing. Everyone who passes by it will be astonished and shake his head. Like an east wind I will scatter them before the enemy. I will show them my back and not my face in the day of their calamity.'
Profit and loss » Loss » The wages of sin do not profit
To the man who is good, God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy. But to the sinner he gives the work of getting goods together and storing up wealth, to give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
Verse Concepts
They suffer wrong as their reward for wrongdoing. They are men that count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions while they feast with you.
Verse Concepts
If the word spoken through angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward (penalty).
Verse Concepts
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift from God is everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Verse Concepts
Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless. He will get nothing in return.
Verse Concepts
Here is the fate God accords the wicked. This is the heritage a ruthless man receives from the Almighty:
Verse Concepts
Sin » Unpardonable, the » Wages of
To the man who is good, God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy. But to the sinner he gives the work of getting goods together and storing up wealth, to give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
Verse Concepts
They suffer wrong as their reward for wrongdoing. They are men that count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions while they feast with you.
Verse Concepts
If the word spoken through angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward (penalty).
Verse Concepts
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift from God is everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Verse Concepts
Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless. He will get nothing in return.
Verse Concepts
Here is the fate God accords the wicked. This is the heritage a ruthless man receives from the Almighty:
Verse Concepts
Trust » What not to trust in
Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless. He will get nothing in return.
Verse Concepts
Command those who are rich in this present system not to be high-minded (arrogant), not to have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
Verse Concepts
Do not count on extortion to make you rich. Do not hope to gain anything through robbery. When riches increase, do not depend on them.
Verse Concepts
Trust » Of the wicked » Is in vanity
No one calls for justice and no one pleads his case truthfully. People trust pointless arguments and speak lies. They conceive trouble and give birth to evil.
Verse Concepts
Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless. He will get nothing in return.
Verse Concepts
Vanity » The reward for following vanity
The wrath (intense anger) of Jehovah came on Israel because they had done evil against Jehovah their God, who took them out of the land of Egypt from under the yoke of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. They worshipped other gods. They lived by the rules of the nations whom Jehovah sent out from before the children of Israel. The children of Israel secretly did things that were not right according to Jehovah their God. They built high places for themselves in all their towns, from the watchtower to the walled towns. read more.
They erected pillars of stone and wood on every high hill and under every green tree. They burned their offerings in all the high places, as those nations did whom Jehovah sent away from them. They did evil things, moving Jehovah to anger. They made themselves servants of disgusting things. Even though Jehovah said: You should not do this. Jehovah sent his messengers and prophets to warn Israel and Judah: Abandon your evil ways and obey my commands. The commandments contained in the Law I gave to your ancestors. I handed them on to you through my servants the prophets. They would not obey. They were stubborn like their ancestors. They did not trust in Jehovah their God. They refused to obey his instructions. They did not keep the covenant he made with their ancestors. They disregarded his warnings. They worshiped worthless idols and became worthless themselves. They followed the customs of the surrounding nations, disobeying Jehovah's command not to imitate them. They broke all the laws of Jehovah their God. They made two metal bull-calves to worship. They also made an image of the goddess Asherah. Also they worshiped the stars and served the god Baal. They caused their sons and their daughters to go through the fire to be sacrificed. They made use of secret arts and unnatural powers, and gave themselves up to doing evil in the eyes of Jehovah, till they provoked him to anger. Jehovah was very angry with Israel. He removed them from his sight. Only the tribe of Judah kept its place. But even Judah did not obey the commands of Jehovah their God. They were guided by the rules Israel made. So Jehovah would have nothing to do with all the offspring of Israel. He caused trouble for them. He gave them up into the hands of their attackers, till he had sent them away from before his face. He tore Israel from the house of David and made Jeroboam son of Nebat king. Jeroboam drove them away from the laws of Jehovah and made them do a great sin. The children of Israel walked in all the sins Jeroboam committed. They did not depart from these sins. Jehovah removed Israel from his sight as he said he would through all his servants the prophets. Israel was taken away from their land to Assyria, to this day.
They erected pillars of stone and wood on every high hill and under every green tree. They burned their offerings in all the high places, as those nations did whom Jehovah sent away from them. They did evil things, moving Jehovah to anger. They made themselves servants of disgusting things. Even though Jehovah said: You should not do this. Jehovah sent his messengers and prophets to warn Israel and Judah: Abandon your evil ways and obey my commands. The commandments contained in the Law I gave to your ancestors. I handed them on to you through my servants the prophets. They would not obey. They were stubborn like their ancestors. They did not trust in Jehovah their God. They refused to obey his instructions. They did not keep the covenant he made with their ancestors. They disregarded his warnings. They worshiped worthless idols and became worthless themselves. They followed the customs of the surrounding nations, disobeying Jehovah's command not to imitate them. They broke all the laws of Jehovah their God. They made two metal bull-calves to worship. They also made an image of the goddess Asherah. Also they worshiped the stars and served the god Baal. They caused their sons and their daughters to go through the fire to be sacrificed. They made use of secret arts and unnatural powers, and gave themselves up to doing evil in the eyes of Jehovah, till they provoked him to anger. Jehovah was very angry with Israel. He removed them from his sight. Only the tribe of Judah kept its place. But even Judah did not obey the commands of Jehovah their God. They were guided by the rules Israel made. So Jehovah would have nothing to do with all the offspring of Israel. He caused trouble for them. He gave them up into the hands of their attackers, till he had sent them away from before his face. He tore Israel from the house of David and made Jeroboam son of Nebat king. Jeroboam drove them away from the laws of Jehovah and made them do a great sin. The children of Israel walked in all the sins Jeroboam committed. They did not depart from these sins. Jehovah removed Israel from his sight as he said he would through all his servants the prophets. Israel was taken away from their land to Assyria, to this day.
Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless. He will get nothing in return.
Verse Concepts
This is what Jehovah says: 'Ask among the nations if anyone has ever heard anything like this. The people of Israel have done a very horrible thing. Does the snow of Lebanon forsake the rock of the open country? Or is the cold flowing water from a foreign land ever snatched away? My people have forgotten me. They burn incense to worthless gods and they have stumbled from their ways. They stray from the ancient paths to walk in pathways and not on a highway. read more.
They make their land desolation. It becomes an object of perpetual hissing. Everyone who passes by it will be astonished and shake his head. Like an east wind I will scatter them before the enemy. I will show them my back and not my face in the day of their calamity.'
They make their land desolation. It becomes an object of perpetual hissing. Everyone who passes by it will be astonished and shake his head. Like an east wind I will scatter them before the enemy. I will show them my back and not my face in the day of their calamity.'
Vanity » They who trust in, rewarded with
Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless. He will get nothing in return.
Verse Concepts
Wicked people » Temporal punishment of
The lamp of the wicked is snuffed out. The flame of his fire shall not shine. The light in his tent becomes dark. The lamp beside him will be put out. The vigor of his step is weakened. His own schemes will bring his downfall. read more.
His feet cast him into a net and he wanders into its mesh. A trap seizes him by the heel and a snare holds him fast. A noose is hidden for him on the ground and a trap lies in his path. Terrors startle him on every side and chase him at his heels. Calamity hungers for him and disaster catch him when he falls. It eats away parts of his skin. Death's firstborn devours his limbs. He is torn from the security of his tent and marched off to the king of terrors. Fire resides in his tent; burning sulfur is scattered over his dwelling. His roots dry up below and his branches wither above. The memory of him perishes from the earth. He has no name in the street. He is driven from light into darkness and is banished from the world. He has no offspring or descendants among his people, no survivor where once he lived. Men of the west are appalled at him. Men of the east are seized with horror. This is the dwelling of an evil man! This is the place of one who does not know God!
His feet cast him into a net and he wanders into its mesh. A trap seizes him by the heel and a snare holds him fast. A noose is hidden for him on the ground and a trap lies in his path. Terrors startle him on every side and chase him at his heels. Calamity hungers for him and disaster catch him when he falls. It eats away parts of his skin. Death's firstborn devours his limbs. He is torn from the security of his tent and marched off to the king of terrors. Fire resides in his tent; burning sulfur is scattered over his dwelling. His roots dry up below and his branches wither above. The memory of him perishes from the earth. He has no name in the street. He is driven from light into darkness and is banished from the world. He has no offspring or descendants among his people, no survivor where once he lived. Men of the west are appalled at him. Men of the east are seized with horror. This is the dwelling of an evil man! This is the place of one who does not know God!
Your wickedness has turned these things away. Your sins have kept good things away from you.
Verse Concepts
Here is the fate God accords the wicked. This is the heritage a ruthless man receives from the Almighty: No mater how many his children, their fate is the sword. His offspring will never have enough to eat. The plague will bury those who survive him. Their widows will not weep for them. read more.
Though he heaps up silver like dust and clothes like piles of clay, what he lays up the righteous will wear, and the innocent will divide his silver. The house he builds is like a moth's cocoon, like a hut made by a watchman. He lies down wealthy and wakes up and all is gone. Terrors overtake him like a flood; a tempest snatches him away in the night. The east wind carries him off. He is gone and it sweeps him out of his place. It hurls itself against him without mercy as he flees headlong from its power. Men will clap their hands in derision (ridicule) and hiss him out of his place.
Though he heaps up silver like dust and clothes like piles of clay, what he lays up the righteous will wear, and the innocent will divide his silver. The house he builds is like a moth's cocoon, like a hut made by a watchman. He lies down wealthy and wakes up and all is gone. Terrors overtake him like a flood; a tempest snatches him away in the night. The east wind carries him off. He is gone and it sweeps him out of his place. It hurls itself against him without mercy as he flees headlong from its power. Men will clap their hands in derision (ridicule) and hiss him out of his place.
All his days the wicked man suffers torment and the ruthless through all the years stored up for him. Terrifying sounds fill his ears. When all seems well, marauders attack him. He despairs of escaping the darkness; he is marked for the sword. read more.
He wanders about as food for vultures and he knows the day of darkness is at hand. Distress and anguish fill him with terror. They overwhelm him, like a king poised to attack. He shakes his fist at God and vaunts (brags) (shows off) himself against the Almighty, He defiantly charges against him with a thick, strong shield. His face is covered with fat and his waist bulges with flesh. He will inhabit ruined towns and houses where no one lives, houses crumbling to rubble. He will no longer be rich and his wealth will not endure, nor will his possessions spread over the land. He will not escape the darkness; a flame will wither his shoots, and the breath of God's mouth will carry him away. Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless. He will get nothing in return. Before his time he will be paid in full, and his branches will not flourish. He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes, like an olive tree shedding its blossoms. The company of the godless will be barren. And fire will consume the tents of those who love bribes. They conceive trouble and give birth to evil. Their womb fashions deceit.
He wanders about as food for vultures and he knows the day of darkness is at hand. Distress and anguish fill him with terror. They overwhelm him, like a king poised to attack. He shakes his fist at God and vaunts (brags) (shows off) himself against the Almighty, He defiantly charges against him with a thick, strong shield. His face is covered with fat and his waist bulges with flesh. He will inhabit ruined towns and houses where no one lives, houses crumbling to rubble. He will no longer be rich and his wealth will not endure, nor will his possessions spread over the land. He will not escape the darkness; a flame will wither his shoots, and the breath of God's mouth will carry him away. Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless. He will get nothing in return. Before his time he will be paid in full, and his branches will not flourish. He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes, like an olive tree shedding its blossoms. The company of the godless will be barren. And fire will consume the tents of those who love bribes. They conceive trouble and give birth to evil. Their womb fashions deceit.
The success of the wicked is brief and the joy of the godless lasts but a moment. Though his pride reaches to the heavens and his head touches the clouds, he will perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him will say: Where is he? read more.
He flies away like a dream banished like a vision of the night. He cannot be found! The eye that saw him will not see him again. His place (home) will look on him no more. His children must make amends to the poor. He must give back his wealth. The youthful vigor that fills his bones will lie with him in the dust. Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue, though he cannot bear to let it go and keeps it in his mouth, yet his food will turn sour in his stomach; it will become the venom of serpents within him. He will spit out the riches he swallowed. God will make his stomach vomit them up. He will suck the poison of serpents. The fangs of an adder (cobra) will kill him. He will not look upon the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream. What he toiled for he must give back uneaten. He will not enjoy the profit from his trading. For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor and left them destitute. He has violently seized houses he did not build. He will have no respite from his craving; he cannot save himself by his treasure. There is nothing left for him to devour; his prosperity will not endure. Distress will overtake him in the midst of his plenty. The full force of misery will come upon him. With his belly full, God will vent his burning anger against him and rain down his blows upon him. Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow pierces him. He pulls it out of his back, the gleaming point out of his liver. Terrors will come over him. Total darkness lies in wait for his treasures. A fire will consume him and devour what is left in his tent. The heavens will expose his guilt. The earth will rise up against him! A flood will carry off his house. Rushing waters will wash away his possessions on the day of God's wrath. This is the fate God allots the wicked, the heritage appointed for them by God.
He flies away like a dream banished like a vision of the night. He cannot be found! The eye that saw him will not see him again. His place (home) will look on him no more. His children must make amends to the poor. He must give back his wealth. The youthful vigor that fills his bones will lie with him in the dust. Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue, though he cannot bear to let it go and keeps it in his mouth, yet his food will turn sour in his stomach; it will become the venom of serpents within him. He will spit out the riches he swallowed. God will make his stomach vomit them up. He will suck the poison of serpents. The fangs of an adder (cobra) will kill him. He will not look upon the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream. What he toiled for he must give back uneaten. He will not enjoy the profit from his trading. For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor and left them destitute. He has violently seized houses he did not build. He will have no respite from his craving; he cannot save himself by his treasure. There is nothing left for him to devour; his prosperity will not endure. Distress will overtake him in the midst of his plenty. The full force of misery will come upon him. With his belly full, God will vent his burning anger against him and rain down his blows upon him. Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow pierces him. He pulls it out of his back, the gleaming point out of his liver. Terrors will come over him. Total darkness lies in wait for his treasures. A fire will consume him and devour what is left in his tent. The heavens will expose his guilt. The earth will rise up against him! A flood will carry off his house. Rushing waters will wash away his possessions on the day of God's wrath. This is the fate God allots the wicked, the heritage appointed for them by God.
Why do the wicked live on, reach old age, and become mighty in power? Their children are established in their presence, and their offspring before their eyes. Their houses are safe and without fear, and no rod of God is upon them. read more.
Their bull breeds without fail and their cow calves and never miscarries. They send out their little ones like a flock, and their children dance around. They sing to the tambourine and the lyre, and rejoice to the sound of the pipe. They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to the grave. They say to God: 'Leave us alone! We do not desire to know your ways.' Who is the Almighty that we should serve him? And what do we gain if we pray to him? Is their prosperity indeed their own achievement? The plans of the wicked are repugnant to me. How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? How often does calamity come upon them? How often does God distribute pains and sorrow in his anger? How often are they like straw before the wind, and like chaff that the storm carries away? You say: 'God stores up their iniquity for their children.' Let God repay them so they may know. Let their own eyes see their destruction, and let them drink of the wrath of the Almighty. For what do they care for their household after them, when the number of their months is cut off in death? Will any teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those that are on high? One dies in full prosperity, being wholly at ease and secure. His loins are full of milk and the marrow of his bones is moist. Another dies an angry being, never having tasted of good. They lie down alike in the dust, and the worms cover them. Oh, I know your thoughts, and your schemes to wrong me. For you say: 'Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?' Have you not asked those who travel the roads, and do you not accept their testimony. They say the wicked are spared in the day of calamity, and are rescued in the day of wrath? Who declares their way to their face, and who repays them for what they have done? When they are carried to the grave, a watch is kept over their tomb. The clods of the valley are sweet to them; everyone will follow after, and those who went before are innumerable.
Their bull breeds without fail and their cow calves and never miscarries. They send out their little ones like a flock, and their children dance around. They sing to the tambourine and the lyre, and rejoice to the sound of the pipe. They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to the grave. They say to God: 'Leave us alone! We do not desire to know your ways.' Who is the Almighty that we should serve him? And what do we gain if we pray to him? Is their prosperity indeed their own achievement? The plans of the wicked are repugnant to me. How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? How often does calamity come upon them? How often does God distribute pains and sorrow in his anger? How often are they like straw before the wind, and like chaff that the storm carries away? You say: 'God stores up their iniquity for their children.' Let God repay them so they may know. Let their own eyes see their destruction, and let them drink of the wrath of the Almighty. For what do they care for their household after them, when the number of their months is cut off in death? Will any teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those that are on high? One dies in full prosperity, being wholly at ease and secure. His loins are full of milk and the marrow of his bones is moist. Another dies an angry being, never having tasted of good. They lie down alike in the dust, and the worms cover them. Oh, I know your thoughts, and your schemes to wrong me. For you say: 'Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?' Have you not asked those who travel the roads, and do you not accept their testimony. They say the wicked are spared in the day of calamity, and are rescued in the day of wrath? Who declares their way to their face, and who repays them for what they have done? When they are carried to the grave, a watch is kept over their tomb. The clods of the valley are sweet to them; everyone will follow after, and those who went before are innumerable.
The wicked remove landmarks. They seize flocks and pasture them. They drive away the donkey of the orphan. They take the widow's ox for a pledge. They force the needy to yield the road. The poor of the earth all hide themselves. read more.
Like wild donkeys in the desert they go out to their toil. They search in the wasteland food for their young. They reap in a field not their own and they glean in the vineyard of the wicked. They lie all night naked, without clothing, and have no covering in the cold. They are wet with the rain of the mountains. They cling to the rock in search of shelter. There are those who snatch the orphan child from the breast. They take as a pledge the infant of the poor. The needy go about naked, without clothing; though hungry, they carry the sheaves. Between their terraces they press out oil. They tread the wine presses, but suffer thirst. The dying groan from the city. The throat of the wounded cries for help. Yet God pays no attention to their prayer. There are those who rebel against the light. They are not acquainted with its ways, and do not stay in its paths. The murderer rises at dusk to kill the poor and needy, and in the night is like a thief. The eye of the adulterer also waits for the twilight. He says: 'No eye will see me.' Then he disguises his face. In the dark they dig through houses. By day they shut themselves up. They do not know the light. For deep darkness is morning to all of them. They are friends with the terrors of deep darkness. Swift are they on the face of the waters. Their portion in the land is cursed! No treader turns toward their vineyards. Drought and heat snatch away the snow waters! In the same way the grave takes those who have sinned. The womb forgets them. The worm finds them sweet. They are no longer remembered. Wickedness is broken like a tree. They harm the childless woman, and do no good to the widow. Yet God prolongs the life of the mighty by his power and they rise up when they despair of life. He gives them security and they are supported. His eyes are upon their ways. They are exalted a little while, and then are gone. They wither and fade like everything gathered up. They are cut off like the heads of grain.
Like wild donkeys in the desert they go out to their toil. They search in the wasteland food for their young. They reap in a field not their own and they glean in the vineyard of the wicked. They lie all night naked, without clothing, and have no covering in the cold. They are wet with the rain of the mountains. They cling to the rock in search of shelter. There are those who snatch the orphan child from the breast. They take as a pledge the infant of the poor. The needy go about naked, without clothing; though hungry, they carry the sheaves. Between their terraces they press out oil. They tread the wine presses, but suffer thirst. The dying groan from the city. The throat of the wounded cries for help. Yet God pays no attention to their prayer. There are those who rebel against the light. They are not acquainted with its ways, and do not stay in its paths. The murderer rises at dusk to kill the poor and needy, and in the night is like a thief. The eye of the adulterer also waits for the twilight. He says: 'No eye will see me.' Then he disguises his face. In the dark they dig through houses. By day they shut themselves up. They do not know the light. For deep darkness is morning to all of them. They are friends with the terrors of deep darkness. Swift are they on the face of the waters. Their portion in the land is cursed! No treader turns toward their vineyards. Drought and heat snatch away the snow waters! In the same way the grave takes those who have sinned. The womb forgets them. The worm finds them sweet. They are no longer remembered. Wickedness is broken like a tree. They harm the childless woman, and do no good to the widow. Yet God prolongs the life of the mighty by his power and they rise up when they despair of life. He gives them security and they are supported. His eyes are upon their ways. They are exalted a little while, and then are gone. They wither and fade like everything gathered up. They are cut off like the heads of grain.
You will be killed in battle in your own country. I will judge you on the border of Israel. Then everyone will know that I am Jehovah.
Verse Concepts
Then say to the people of the land: 'The Lord Jehovah says concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel, They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water with horror, because their land will be stripped of its fullness on account of the violence of all who live in it. The inhabited cities will be laid waste and the land will be a desolation. So you will know that I am Jehovah.'
There will be no rain on those who do not go to Jerusalem to worship the King, Jehovah of Hosts. If the family of Egypt does not go it will not be upon them. There will be the plague and Jehovah will strike the nations that do not go to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. This will be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all the nations that do not keep the Feast of Tabernacles.