Woe To Jerusalem
1 You will have trouble Ariel. The years go by, year after year in Ariel the city where David camped! (Jerusalem) You celebrate your festivals on schedule.
1 Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! add ye year to year; let them kill sacrifices.
1 Woe, O (a)Ariel, (b)Ariel the city where David once (A)camped!Add year to year, (c)(B)observe your feasts on schedule.
1 Woe to Ariel,(a) Ariel,the city where David camped!(A)Continue year after year;let the festivals recur.
1 "How terrible it will be for you, Aruel, Aruel, the city where David encamped! Year after year, let your festivals run their cycle.
2 I will still make you suffer Ariel. Your people will cry and mourn when I make you like the lion of God, Jerusalem. (Ariel is symbolic name for Jerusalem.)
2 Yet I will distress Ariel, and there shall be heaviness and sorrow: and it shall be unto me as Ariel.
2 I will bring distress to Ariel,And she will be a city of lamenting and (C)mourning;And she will be like an Ariel to me.
2 I will oppress Ariel,and there will be mourning and crying,and she will be to Me like an Ariel.(b)
2 Then I'll besiege Aruel, and there will be sorrow and mourning; she will become to me like an altar fireplace.
3 I will surround you with a military blockade and attack you from all sides.
3 And I will camp against thee round about, and will lay siege against thee with a mount, and I will raise forts against thee.
3 I will (D)camp against you (d)encircling you,And I will set siegeworks against you,And I will raise up battle towers against you.
3 I will camp in a circle around you;I will besiege you with earth ramps,and I will set up my siege towers against you.
3 Then I'll encamp against you like David, and I'll lay siege to you with towers, raise siege works against you,
4 From deep in the earth, you will call out for help. Your voice will sound like a mumble (indistinct voice) from out of the dust. It will be faint like a whisper.
4 And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.
4 Then you will (E)be brought low;From the earth you will speak,And from the dust where you are prostrateYour words will come.Your voice will also be like that of a (e)spirit from the ground,And your speech will whisper from the dust.
4 You will be brought down;you will speak from the ground,and your words will come from low in the dust.Your voice will be like that of a spirit from the ground;(B)your speech will whisper from the dust.
4 and you will be brought down. You will speak from the ground, and your speech will mumble from the dust. Your voice will come ghostlike from the ground, and your speech will whisper from the dust.
5 Your cruel enemies will be swept away like dust in a windstorm. It will be sudden and unexpected like chaff in the wind.
5 Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly.
5 But the multitude of your (f)enemies will become like fine (F)dust,And the multitude of the (G)ruthless ones like the chaff which (g)blows away;And it will happen (H)instantly, suddenly.
5 Your many foes(c) will be like fine dust,(C)and many of the ruthless, like blowing chaff.Then suddenly, in an instant,(D)
5 "But the hordes of your enemies will become like fine dust, and the hordes of tyrants like flying chaff. Then suddenly, in an instant,
6 Jehovah of Hosts will visit you with a thundering earthquake. A huge whirlwind will bring loud noise and a devouring fire.
6 Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.
6 From the Lord of hosts you will be (I)punished with (J)thunder and earthquake and loud noise,With whirlwind and tempest and the flame of a consuming fire.
6 you will be visited by the Lord of Hostswith thunder, earthquake, and loud noise,storm, tempest, and a flame of consuming fire.(E)
6 you will be visited by the LORD of the Heavenly Armies with thunder, an earthquake, and great noise, with a windstorm, a tempest, and flames from a devouring fire.
7 The multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel (Jerusalem) will be like a bad dream, a vision in the night. Many will fight against her and bring distress to her.
7 And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her munition, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision.
7 And the (K)multitude of all the nations who wage war against (h)Ariel,Even all who wage war against her and her stronghold, and who distress her,Will be like a dream, a (L)vision of the night.
7 All the many nations(F)going out to battle against Ariel—all the attackers, the siege works against her,and those who oppress her—will then be like a dream, a vision in the night.(G)
7 Then the hordes of all the nations that fight against Aruel, all that attack her and her fortification and besiege her, will become like a dream, with its visions in the night
8 It will be like a hungry man who dreams that he eats. But when he awakes he is empty and still hungry! It will also be like a thirsty man who dreams that he drinks. When he awakes he is thirsty and weak and hungry. The multitude of nations that fight against Mount Zion will be like this.
8 It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion.
8 It will be as when a hungry man dreams—And behold, he is eating;But when he awakens, his (i)hunger is not satisfied,Or as when a thirsty man dreams—And behold, he is drinking,But when he awakens, behold, he is faintAnd his (j)thirst is not quenched.(M)Thus the multitude of all the nations will beWho wage war against Mount Zion.
8 It will be like a hungry one who dreams he is eating,then wakes and is still hungry;and like a thirsty one who dreams he is drinking,then wakes and is still thirsty, longing for water.So it will be for all the many nationswho go to battle against Mount Zion.
8 as when a hungry man dreams he eats, but wakes up still hungry; or when a thirsty man dreams he drinks, but wakes up faint, with his thirst unquenched. So will it be with the hordes of all the nations that fight against Mount Zion.
Disregarded Warnings
9 Stand still and wonder. Refuse to see and be blind. Get drunk and stagger, but not from wine.
9 Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.
9 (N)Be delayed and wait,Blind yourselves and be blind;They (O)become drunk, but not with wine,They stagger, but not with strong drink.
9 Stop and be astonished;blind yourselves and be blind!They are drunk,(d) but not with wine;they stagger,(e) but not with beer.(H)
9 "Act stupid! Be astonished! Act blind, and be blind! Be drunk, but not from wine; stagger around, but not from strong drink.
10 Jehovah has made you drowsy. He shut your eyes in a deep sleep you prophets and visionaries. He overwhelmed your leaders.
10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.
10 For the Lord has poured over you a spirit of deep (P)sleep,He has (Q)shut your eyes, the prophets;And He has covered your heads, the seers.
10 For the Lord has poured out on youan overwhelming urge to(f) sleep;(I)He has shut your eyes—the prophets,and covered your heads—the seers.(J)
10 For the LORD has poured out upon you a spirit of deep sleep he has closed your eyes, you prophets, he has covered your heads, you seers!"
11 His message is like a sealed book to you. You say to someone read this out loud. And they respond, We cannot read it, because it is sealed.
11 And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:
11 The entire vision will be to you like the words of a sealed (k)(R)book, which when they give it to the one who (l)is literate, saying, “Please read this,” he will say, “I cannot, for it is sealed.”
11 For you the entire vision will be like the words of a sealed document.(K) If it is given to one who can read and he is asked to read it,(g) he will say, “I can’t read it, because it is sealed.”
11 "And this entire vision has become for you like the words of a sealed book. When people give it to someone who can read, and say, "Read this, please,' he answers, "I cannot, because it is sealed.'
12 The illiterate say: We cannot read it because we do not know how to read.
12 And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.
12 Then the (m)book will be given to the one who (n)is illiterate, saying, “Please read this.” And he will say, “I (o)cannot read.”
12 And if the document is given to one who cannot read and he is asked to read it,(h) he will say, “I can’t read.”
12 Or when they give the book to someone who cannot read, and say, "Read this, please,' he answers, "I don't know how to read.'"
13 These people praise me with their words, said Jehovah, but they never draw near to me in their hearts (deepest thoughts). Their reverence for me comes from the repetitious tradition of men.
13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
13 Then the Lord said,“Because (S)this people draw near with their (p)wordsAnd honor Me with their (q)lip service,But they remove their hearts far from Me,And their (r)reverence for Me (s)consists of (t)tradition learned by rote,
13 The Lord said:Because these people approach Me with their mouths(L)to honor Me with lip-service(i)—yet their hearts are far from Me,and their worship consists of man-made ruleslearned by rote—
13 Then the Lord said: "Because these people draw near with their mouths and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, worship of me has become merely like rules taught by human beings.
14 I will do things that shock and amaze them. I will destroy the wisdom of those who claim to know and understand (discern).
14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
14 Therefore behold, I will once again deal (T)marvelously with this people, wondrously marvelous;And (U)the wisdom of their wise men will perish,And the discernment of their discerning men will be concealed.”
14 therefore I will again confound these peoplewith wonder after wonder.(M)The wisdom of their wise men will vanish,(N)and the understanding of the perceptive will be hidden.
14 Therefore, watch out! "As for me, I will once again do amazing things with this people, wonder upon wonder. The wisdom of their wise men will perish, and the insights of their discerning men will stay hidden."
Warnings About Other Nations
15 You are in for trouble, if you try to hide your plans from Jehovah! You think what you do in the dark cannot be seen. So you ask: Who sees us, who knows us?
15 Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?
15 Woe to those who deeply (V)hide their (u)plans from the Lord,And whose (W)deeds are done in a dark place,And they say, “(X)Who sees us?” or “Who knows us?”
15 Woe to those who go to great lengthsto hide their plans from the Lord.(O)They do their works in darkness,and say, “Who sees us? Who knows us?”(P)
15 "How terrible it will be for you who go to great depths to hide your plans from the LORD, you whose deeds have been done in the dark, and who say, "Who can see us? Who has recognized us?'
16 You have it all backwards. A clay dish does not say to the potter, You did not make me. And should the one made say to the maker, You do not understand?
16 Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?
16 You turn things around!Shall the potter be considered (v)as equal with the clay,That (Y)what is made would say to its maker, “He did not make me”;Or what is formed say to him who formed it, “He has no understanding”?
16 You have turned things around,as if the potter were the same as the clay.How can what is made say about its maker,“He didn’t make me”?(Q)How can what is formedsay about the one who formed it,“He doesn’t understand what he’s doing”?
16 He has turned the tables on you as if the potter were thought to be like heat. Can what is made say of the one who made it, "He did not make me?' Or can what is formed say of the ones who formed it, "He has no skill?'
Blessing After Punishment
17 Soon the forest of Lebanon will become a fertile field thick with trees.
17 Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?
17 Is it not yet just a little while(w)Before Lebanon will be turned into a (Z)fertile field,And the fertile field will be considered as a forest?
17 Isn’t it true that in just a little whileLebanon will become an orchard,and the orchard will seem like a forest?(R)
17 "In a very little while, will not Lebanon be turned into a garden of fruit, and the garden of fruit seem like a forest?
18 The deaf will be able to hear the words of the book read to them. The blind will be freed from gloom and darkness.
18 And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.
18 On that day the (AA)deaf will hear (AB)words of a book,And out of their gloom and darkness the (AC)eyes of the blind will see.
18 On that day the deaf will hear(S)the words of a document,and out of a deep darknessthe eyes of the blind will see.
18 On that day the deaf will hear the words of a scroll, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see.
19 The meek, the poor, and the needy will celebrate and shout because of Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel.
19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
19 The (AD)afflicted also will increase their gladness in the Lord,And the (AE)needy of mankind will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
19 The humble will have joyafter joy in the Lord,and the poor people will rejoice(T)in the Holy One of Israel.(U)
19 The humble will again experience joy in the LORD, and the poorest people will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
20 All who are cruel and arrogant will be extinguished. Those who live by crime will be removed.
20 For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off:
20 For the (AF)ruthless will come to an end and the (AG)scorner will be finished,Indeed (AH)all who (x)are intent on doing evil will be cut off;
20 For the ruthless one will vanish,the scorner will disappear,(V)and all those who lie in wait with evil intentwill be killed—
20 For the ruthless will vanish, and mockers will disappear, and all who have an eye for evil will be cut down
21 God will destroy those who slander others. He will destroy those who prevent the punishment of criminals and those who tell lies to keep honest people from getting justice.
21 That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought.
21 Who (y)cause a person to be indicted by a word,And (AI)ensnare him who adjudicates at the gate,And (z)(AJ)defraud the one in the right with (aa)meaningless arguments.
21 those who, with their speech,accuse a person of wrongdoing,who set a trap at the gate for the mediator,and without cause deprive the righteous of justice.(W)
21 those who make a person appear to be the offender in a lawsuit, who set a trap for someone who is making his defense in court, and push aside the innocent with specious arguments.
22 Jehovah said to the house of Jacob: I am the God of Israel, who rescued Abraham from trouble. My people will not be disgraced any longer. You will no longer be filled with shame.
22 Therefore thus saith the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale.
22 Therefore thus says the Lord, who redeemed (AK)Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob:“Jacob (AL)shall not now be ashamed, nor shall his face now turn pale;
22 Therefore, the Lord who redeemed Abraham(X) says this about the house of Jacob:Jacob will no longer be ashamedand his face will no longer be pale.
22 "Therefore, this is what the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, says concerning the house of Jacob: "No longer will Jacob be ashamed; no longer will his face grow pale.
23 When you see the children that I will give you, then you will acknowledge and sanctify my name. I am the Holy God of Israel! You will honor me and stand in awe of me.
23 But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.
23 But when (ab)he sees his (AM)children, the (AN)work of My hands, in his midst,They will sanctify My name;Indeed, they will (AO)sanctify the Holy One of JacobAnd will stand in awe of the God of Israel.
23 For when he sees his children,the work of My hands within his nation,they will honor My name,they will honor the Holy One of Jacob(Y)and stand in awe of the God of Israel.(Z)
23 For when he sees in his midst his children, the work of my hands, they will keep my name holy; they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob and stand in awe of the God of Israel.
24 People who stray will learn to understand. Those who always grumble will be glad to be taught.
24 They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.
24 “Those who (AP)err in (ac)mind will (AQ)know (ad)the truth,And those who (ae)criticize will (af)(AR)accept instruction.
24 Those who are confused will gain understanding,and those who grumble will accept instruction.
24 Moreover, those who go astray in spirit will gain understanding, and those who complain will accept instruction.'"