Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Afflictions of the The Wicked » Are multiplied
And {my anger shall flare up against them} on that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall become as prey, and disasters and troubles shall find them, and they shall say on that day, '[Is it] not because our God is not in our midst [that] these disasters have found us?'
"Though wickedness tastes sweet in his mouth, [and] he hides it under his tongue, [though] he spares it and does not let it go [and] holds it back in the midst of his palate, in his bowels his food is turned, [the] venom of horned vipers [is] {within him}. read more.
He swallows riches, but he vomits them [up]; God drives them out from his stomach. He will suck [the] poison of horned vipers; [the] viper's tongue will kill him. {He will not enjoy the streams}, [the] torrents of honey and curds. Returning [the] products of [his] toil, he will not swallow; according to the profit of his trade, {he will not enjoy},
He swallows riches, but he vomits them [up]; God drives them out from his stomach. He will suck [the] poison of horned vipers; [the] viper's tongue will kill him. {He will not enjoy the streams}, [the] torrents of honey and curds. Returning [the] products of [his] toil, he will not swallow; according to the profit of his trade, {he will not enjoy},
Many are [the] pains of the wicked, but [for] the one who trusts Yahweh loyal love surrounds him.
Creditor » Oppressions of
"Indeed, you have required a pledge from your family for nothing, and you have stripped off [the] clothes of [the] naked.
They drive away [the] donkey of orphans; they take [the] widow's ox as a pledge.
A certain woman from the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, "Your servant my husband is dead. Now you know that your servant was a fearer of Yahweh, but the creditor came to take two of my children for himself as slaves.
"They snatch [the] orphan from [the] breast, and they take a pledge against [the] needy.
{Settle the case quickly with your accuser} while you are with him on the way, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Truly I say to you, you will never come out of there until you have paid back the last penny!
For as you are going with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to come to a settlement with him on the way, so that he will not drag you to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the bailiff, and the bailiff will throw you into prison. I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid back even the last cent!"
Now there was a great cry of distress of the people and of their wives [against] their Jewish brothers. There were those who were saying, "Our sons and daughters, we are many. We must get grain so that we may eat and live." There were also those saying, "We have pledged our fields and our vineyards and our houses so that we can get grain in the famine." read more.
And there were those who were saying, "We have borrowed money on our fields and our vineyards for the tax of the king. Now our flesh is like the flesh of our brothers, our sons are like their sons. Look, we are subduing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and there are some from our daughters being molested. {We are powerless}, and our fields and vineyards [belong] to others." I was very angry when I heard their shouts and these words. I thought over this in my heart, and then I quarreled with the nobles and the prefects. I said to them, "You yourselves are taking interest from your own brother!" So I called the great assembly against them, and I said to them: "We ourselves have bought back our brothers the Jews who were sold to the nations as we were able. But now you yourselves have sold your brothers so they may be sold to us!" They were silent and could not find a word [to say]. So I said, "The thing that you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God [to prevent] the disgrace from the nations, our enemies? Also, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Please stop [taking] this interest. Please restore to them this day their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, their houses, and the interest on the money, the grain, the grape juice, and the olive oil that you have been taking from them." So they said, "We will restore it and will not request [anything more]. So we will do as you say." Then I called the priests and made them take an oath to do this promise. I also shook out my garment and said, "This is how God will shake out everyone from his house who will not keep this promise. So this is how his possessions will be shaken out and emptied." And all the assembly said, "Amen!" And they praised Yahweh, and the people kept this promise.
And there were those who were saying, "We have borrowed money on our fields and our vineyards for the tax of the king. Now our flesh is like the flesh of our brothers, our sons are like their sons. Look, we are subduing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and there are some from our daughters being molested. {We are powerless}, and our fields and vineyards [belong] to others." I was very angry when I heard their shouts and these words. I thought over this in my heart, and then I quarreled with the nobles and the prefects. I said to them, "You yourselves are taking interest from your own brother!" So I called the great assembly against them, and I said to them: "We ourselves have bought back our brothers the Jews who were sold to the nations as we were able. But now you yourselves have sold your brothers so they may be sold to us!" They were silent and could not find a word [to say]. So I said, "The thing that you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God [to prevent] the disgrace from the nations, our enemies? Also, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Please stop [taking] this interest. Please restore to them this day their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, their houses, and the interest on the money, the grain, the grape juice, and the olive oil that you have been taking from them." So they said, "We will restore it and will not request [anything more]. So we will do as you say." Then I called the priests and made them take an oath to do this promise. I also shook out my garment and said, "This is how God will shake out everyone from his house who will not keep this promise. So this is how his possessions will be shaken out and emptied." And all the assembly said, "Amen!" And they praised Yahweh, and the people kept this promise.
Returning [the] products of [his] toil, he will not swallow; according to the profit of his trade, {he will not enjoy}, for he has oppressed; he has abandoned [the] poor; he has seized a house but did not build it. Because he has not known satisfaction in his stomach, {he lets nothing escape that he desires}.
Do not be with those who {give a pledge} {by becoming} surety. If there is nothing for you to pay, why will he take your bed from under you?
But that slave went out [and] found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii, and taking hold of him, he began to choke [him], saying, 'Pay back everything that you owe!' Then his fellow slave threw himself to the ground [and] began to implore him, saying, 'Be patient with me and I will repay you!' But he did not want to, but rather he went [and] threw him into prison until he would repay what was owed. read more.
So [when] his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were extremely distressed, and went [and] reported to their master everything that had happened. Then his master summoned him [and] said to him, 'Wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you implored me! Should you not also have shown mercy to your fellow slave as I also showed mercy to you?' And [because he] was angry, his master handed him over to the merciless jailers until he would repay everything that was owed. So also my heavenly Father will do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from your hearts!"
So [when] his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were extremely distressed, and went [and] reported to their master everything that had happened. Then his master summoned him [and] said to him, 'Wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you implored me! Should you not also have shown mercy to your fellow slave as I also showed mercy to you?' And [because he] was angry, his master handed him over to the merciless jailers until he would repay everything that was owed. So also my heavenly Father will do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from your hearts!"
Oppression » Those that oppress the poor
He who oppresses the poor [in order] to enrich himself, [or] gives to the rich, {will come to poverty}.
He who oppresses the poor insults him who made him, but he who has mercy on the poor honors him.
Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said, "Therefore my disquieting thoughts bring me back {for the sake of} my inward excitement. I hear discipline that insults me, and a spirit beyond my understanding answers me. read more.
"Did you know this from of old, since the setting of [the] human being on earth, that [the] rejoicing of [the] wicked [is] {short}, and the joy of [the] godless {lasts only a moment}? Even though his stature mounts up to the heaven, and his head reaches to the clouds, he will perish forever like his dung; [those who] have seen him will say, 'Where [is] he?' He will fly away like a dream, and they will not find him, and he will be chased away like a vision of [the] night. [The] eye [that] saw him {will not see him again}, and his place will no longer behold him. His children will seek favors from [the] poor, and his hands will return his wealth. His bones were full of his vigor, but it will lie down with him on [the] dust. "Though wickedness tastes sweet in his mouth, [and] he hides it under his tongue, [though] he spares it and does not let it go [and] holds it back in the midst of his palate, in his bowels his food is turned, [the] venom of horned vipers [is] {within him}. He swallows riches, but he vomits them [up]; God drives them out from his stomach. He will suck [the] poison of horned vipers; [the] viper's tongue will kill him. {He will not enjoy the streams}, [the] torrents of honey and curds. Returning [the] products of [his] toil, he will not swallow; according to the profit of his trade, {he will not enjoy}, for he has oppressed; he has abandoned [the] poor; he has seized a house but did not build it.
"Did you know this from of old, since the setting of [the] human being on earth, that [the] rejoicing of [the] wicked [is] {short}, and the joy of [the] godless {lasts only a moment}? Even though his stature mounts up to the heaven, and his head reaches to the clouds, he will perish forever like his dung; [those who] have seen him will say, 'Where [is] he?' He will fly away like a dream, and they will not find him, and he will be chased away like a vision of [the] night. [The] eye [that] saw him {will not see him again}, and his place will no longer behold him. His children will seek favors from [the] poor, and his hands will return his wealth. His bones were full of his vigor, but it will lie down with him on [the] dust. "Though wickedness tastes sweet in his mouth, [and] he hides it under his tongue, [though] he spares it and does not let it go [and] holds it back in the midst of his palate, in his bowels his food is turned, [the] venom of horned vipers [is] {within him}. He swallows riches, but he vomits them [up]; God drives them out from his stomach. He will suck [the] poison of horned vipers; [the] viper's tongue will kill him. {He will not enjoy the streams}, [the] torrents of honey and curds. Returning [the] products of [his] toil, he will not swallow; according to the profit of his trade, {he will not enjoy}, for he has oppressed; he has abandoned [the] poor; he has seized a house but did not build it.
A man [who is] poor and oppresses the impoverished [is] a beating rain {that leaves} no food.
Restitution » To be made for dishonesty
And Zacchaeus stopped [and] said to the Lord, "Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I am giving to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone, I am paying [it] back four times [as much]!"
they will confess their sin that they did and will make restitution [for] their guilt by adding a fifth {to it} and giving [it] {to whomever was wronged}.
[for example], [the] wicked returns a pledge for a loan, he restores {stolen property}, he goes in the statutes of life [so as] not to do injustice--certainly he will live; he will not die.
"When a person {displays infidelity} against Yahweh and he deceives his fellow citizen regarding something entrusted or {a pledge} or stealing or he exploits his fellow citizen, or he finds lost property and lies about it and swears {falsely} {in regard to} any one of these things by which {a person} might commit sin, {and when} he sins and is guilty, then he shall bring back {the things he had stolen} or {what he had extorted} or {something with which he had been entrusted} or the lost property that he had found, read more.
or {regarding} anything about which he has sworn {falsely}, then he shall repay it {according to} its value and shall add one-fifth of its value to it--he must give it {to whom it belongs} on the day of his guilt offering.
or {regarding} anything about which he has sworn {falsely}, then he shall repay it {according to} its value and shall add one-fifth of its value to it--he must give it {to whom it belongs} on the day of his guilt offering.
Returning [the] products of [his] toil, he will not swallow; according to the profit of his trade, {he will not enjoy},
Wicked people » Temporal punishment of
Furthermore, the light of [the] wicked is put out, and the flame of his fire will not shine. The light becomes dark in his tent, and his lamp above him is put out. "{His strong steps} are shortened, and his [own] schemes throw him down, read more.
for he is thrust into a net by his feet, and he walks into a pitfall. A trap seizes [him] by [the] heel; a snare takes hold of him. His rope is hidden in the ground, and his trap on [the] path. "Sudden terrors terrify him all around, and they chase him at his heels. His wealth will become hunger, and disaster is ready for his stumbling. It consumes parts of his skin; the firstborn of death consumes his limbs. He is torn from his tent {in which he trusted}, and it brought him to the king of terrors. "{Nothing} remains for him in his tent; sulfur is scattered upon his dwelling place. His roots dry up {below}, and its branches wither away above. His remembrance perishes from [the] earth, and [there is] not a name for him on [the] street. "They thrust him from light into darkness, and they drive him out from [the] world. [There is] no offspring for him nor a descendant among his people, and there is not a survivor in his abode. [Those of the] west are appalled over {his fate}, and [those of the] east {are seized with horror}. Surely these [are] the dwellings of [the] godless, and this [is] the dwelling place of him [who] knows not God."
for he is thrust into a net by his feet, and he walks into a pitfall. A trap seizes [him] by [the] heel; a snare takes hold of him. His rope is hidden in the ground, and his trap on [the] path. "Sudden terrors terrify him all around, and they chase him at his heels. His wealth will become hunger, and disaster is ready for his stumbling. It consumes parts of his skin; the firstborn of death consumes his limbs. He is torn from his tent {in which he trusted}, and it brought him to the king of terrors. "{Nothing} remains for him in his tent; sulfur is scattered upon his dwelling place. His roots dry up {below}, and its branches wither away above. His remembrance perishes from [the] earth, and [there is] not a name for him on [the] street. "They thrust him from light into darkness, and they drive him out from [the] world. [There is] no offspring for him nor a descendant among his people, and there is not a survivor in his abode. [Those of the] west are appalled over {his fate}, and [those of the] east {are seized with horror}. Surely these [are] the dwellings of [the] godless, and this [is] the dwelling place of him [who] knows not God."
Your iniquities have disturbed these, and your sins have kept away the good from you.
"This [is the] portion of [the] wicked human being with God, and they receive from Shaddai [the] inheritance of [the] ruthless. If their children multiply, [it is] for [the] sword, and his offspring {do not have enough to eat}. Their survivors are buried through the plague, and their widows do not weep. read more.
If he heaps up silver like the dust and fashions clothing like the clay, he makes [it] ready, and [the] righteous will wear [it], and [the] innocent will divide [the] silver. "He builds his house like the moth, and like a booth [that] a watchman has made. He goes to bed [with] wealth, but {he will do so no more}; he opens his eyes, and {it is gone}. Terrors overtake him like the water; a storm wind carries him off [in the] night. [The] east wind lifts him up, and he is gone, and it sweeps him away from his place. And it hurls at him, and it has no compassion; he will quickly flee from its power. It claps its hands over him, and it hisses at him from its place.
If he heaps up silver like the dust and fashions clothing like the clay, he makes [it] ready, and [the] righteous will wear [it], and [the] innocent will divide [the] silver. "He builds his house like the moth, and like a booth [that] a watchman has made. He goes to bed [with] wealth, but {he will do so no more}; he opens his eyes, and {it is gone}. Terrors overtake him like the water; a storm wind carries him off [in the] night. [The] east wind lifts him up, and he is gone, and it sweeps him away from his place. And it hurls at him, and it has no compassion; he will quickly flee from its power. It claps its hands over him, and it hisses at him from its place.
"All of the wicked [one's] days he is writhing, even [through] the number of years that are laid up for the tyrant. Sounds of terror [are] in his ears; in prosperity [the] destroyer will come [against] him. {He cannot trust that he will return} from darkness, and he himself is destined for [the] sword. read more.
"He is wandering for bread, [saying], 'Where [is it]?' He knows that a day of darkness [is] ready {at hand}. Anguish and distress terrify him; they overpower him like a king ready for the battle. Because he stretched out his hand against God, and he was arrogant to Shaddai; he {stubbornly} runs against him {with his thick-bossed shield}. "Because he has covered his face with his fat and has gathered fat upon [his] loins, {he will dwell} [in] desolate cities, in houses that they should not inhabit, which are destined for rubble. He will not become rich, and his wealth will not endure, and their possessions will not stretch across the earth. "He will not escape from darkness; a flame will dry up his new shoot, and by the wind of his mouth he shall be removed. Let him not trust in emptiness--he will be deceiving himself-- for worthlessness will be his recompense. It will be paid in full {before his time}, and his branch will not flourish. "He will shake off his unripe fruit like the vine, and he will cast off his blossom like the olive tree; for [the] company of [the] godless [is] barren, and fire consumes the tents of those who accept bribes. [They] conceive trouble and bring forth mischief, and their womb prepares deceit."
"He is wandering for bread, [saying], 'Where [is it]?' He knows that a day of darkness [is] ready {at hand}. Anguish and distress terrify him; they overpower him like a king ready for the battle. Because he stretched out his hand against God, and he was arrogant to Shaddai; he {stubbornly} runs against him {with his thick-bossed shield}. "Because he has covered his face with his fat and has gathered fat upon [his] loins, {he will dwell} [in] desolate cities, in houses that they should not inhabit, which are destined for rubble. He will not become rich, and his wealth will not endure, and their possessions will not stretch across the earth. "He will not escape from darkness; a flame will dry up his new shoot, and by the wind of his mouth he shall be removed. Let him not trust in emptiness--he will be deceiving himself-- for worthlessness will be his recompense. It will be paid in full {before his time}, and his branch will not flourish. "He will shake off his unripe fruit like the vine, and he will cast off his blossom like the olive tree; for [the] company of [the] godless [is] barren, and fire consumes the tents of those who accept bribes. [They] conceive trouble and bring forth mischief, and their womb prepares deceit."
that [the] rejoicing of [the] wicked [is] {short}, and the joy of [the] godless {lasts only a moment}? Even though his stature mounts up to the heaven, and his head reaches to the clouds, he will perish forever like his dung; [those who] have seen him will say, 'Where [is] he?' read more.
He will fly away like a dream, and they will not find him, and he will be chased away like a vision of [the] night. [The] eye [that] saw him {will not see him again}, and his place will no longer behold him. His children will seek favors from [the] poor, and his hands will return his wealth. His bones were full of his vigor, but it will lie down with him on [the] dust. "Though wickedness tastes sweet in his mouth, [and] he hides it under his tongue, [though] he spares it and does not let it go [and] holds it back in the midst of his palate, in his bowels his food is turned, [the] venom of horned vipers [is] {within him}. He swallows riches, but he vomits them [up]; God drives them out from his stomach. He will suck [the] poison of horned vipers; [the] viper's tongue will kill him. {He will not enjoy the streams}, [the] torrents of honey and curds. Returning [the] products of [his] toil, he will not swallow; according to the profit of his trade, {he will not enjoy}, for he has oppressed; he has abandoned [the] poor; he has seized a house but did not build it. Because he has not known satisfaction in his stomach, {he lets nothing escape that he desires}. {There is nothing left after he has eaten}; therefore his prosperity will not endure. In the fullness of his excess {he will be in distress}; all of misery's power will come [upon] him. {When his stomach fills up}, [God] will send {his burning anger} upon him, and he will let [it] rain down upon him as his food. "He will flee from an iron weapon, [but] an arrow of bronze will pierce him. He draws [it] forth, and it comes out from [his] body, and [the] glittering point comes from his gall-bladder; terrors come upon him. {Total darkness} is hidden for his treasures; {an unfanned fire} will devour him; [the] remnant {will be consumed} in his tent. [The] heavens will reveal his guilt, and [the] earth will rise up against him. The products of his house will be carried away [like] gushing waters on the day of his wrath. This [is] a wicked human being's portion from God and the inheritance of his decree from God."
He will fly away like a dream, and they will not find him, and he will be chased away like a vision of [the] night. [The] eye [that] saw him {will not see him again}, and his place will no longer behold him. His children will seek favors from [the] poor, and his hands will return his wealth. His bones were full of his vigor, but it will lie down with him on [the] dust. "Though wickedness tastes sweet in his mouth, [and] he hides it under his tongue, [though] he spares it and does not let it go [and] holds it back in the midst of his palate, in his bowels his food is turned, [the] venom of horned vipers [is] {within him}. He swallows riches, but he vomits them [up]; God drives them out from his stomach. He will suck [the] poison of horned vipers; [the] viper's tongue will kill him. {He will not enjoy the streams}, [the] torrents of honey and curds. Returning [the] products of [his] toil, he will not swallow; according to the profit of his trade, {he will not enjoy}, for he has oppressed; he has abandoned [the] poor; he has seized a house but did not build it. Because he has not known satisfaction in his stomach, {he lets nothing escape that he desires}. {There is nothing left after he has eaten}; therefore his prosperity will not endure. In the fullness of his excess {he will be in distress}; all of misery's power will come [upon] him. {When his stomach fills up}, [God] will send {his burning anger} upon him, and he will let [it] rain down upon him as his food. "He will flee from an iron weapon, [but] an arrow of bronze will pierce him. He draws [it] forth, and it comes out from [his] body, and [the] glittering point comes from his gall-bladder; terrors come upon him. {Total darkness} is hidden for his treasures; {an unfanned fire} will devour him; [the] remnant {will be consumed} in his tent. [The] heavens will reveal his guilt, and [the] earth will rise up against him. The products of his house will be carried away [like] gushing waters on the day of his wrath. This [is] a wicked human being's portion from God and the inheritance of his decree from God."
"Why do [the] wicked live, grow old, even grow mighty [in] power? With them their offspring [are] established {before them}, and their descendants before their eyes. Their houses [are] safe without fear, and the rod of God [is] not upon them. read more.
His bull breeds and does not fail; his cow calves and does not miscarry. They send out their little ones like the flock, and their children dance around. They {sing} to [the] tambourine and lyre, and they rejoice to [the] sound of [the] long flute. They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol. And they say to God, 'Turn away from us, for we do not desire to know your ways. Who [is] Shaddai that we should serve him, or what would we benefit when we plead with him?' Look, their prosperity [is] not in their hands; the schemes of [the] wicked are repugnant to me. "How often is [the] lamp of [the] wicked put out, and their disaster comes upon them? He distributes pains in his anger. [How often] are they like straw {before} the wind, and like chaff that [the] storm carries away? 'God stores up his iniquity for his children'? [Then] let him repay [it] to him that he may know. Let his eyes see his decay, and let him drink from the wrath of Shaddai, for what {does he care for} his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off? Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since he himself judges high ones? This [one] dies {in full prosperity}, {completely} at ease and secure. His vats are full [with] milk and the marrow of his bones is moist. Yet another dies with a bitter inner self and has not tasted prosperity. They lie down together in [the] dust, and maggots cover them. "Look, I know your thoughts and [the] schemes you devise against me. For you say, 'Where is the nobleman's house, and where [are] {the tents in which the wicked dwell}?' Do you not ask [those] traveling [the] roads, and do you not take notice of their accounts? Indeed, [the] wicked is spared from [the] day of disaster; he is delivered from [the] day of wrath. Who denounces his way to his face? And who repays him [for what] he has done? When he is brought to [the] grave, then someone stands guard over [the] tomb. [The] clods of [the] valley are sweet to him; everyone will follow after him, and {before} him {they are innumerable}.
His bull breeds and does not fail; his cow calves and does not miscarry. They send out their little ones like the flock, and their children dance around. They {sing} to [the] tambourine and lyre, and they rejoice to [the] sound of [the] long flute. They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol. And they say to God, 'Turn away from us, for we do not desire to know your ways. Who [is] Shaddai that we should serve him, or what would we benefit when we plead with him?' Look, their prosperity [is] not in their hands; the schemes of [the] wicked are repugnant to me. "How often is [the] lamp of [the] wicked put out, and their disaster comes upon them? He distributes pains in his anger. [How often] are they like straw {before} the wind, and like chaff that [the] storm carries away? 'God stores up his iniquity for his children'? [Then] let him repay [it] to him that he may know. Let his eyes see his decay, and let him drink from the wrath of Shaddai, for what {does he care for} his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off? Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since he himself judges high ones? This [one] dies {in full prosperity}, {completely} at ease and secure. His vats are full [with] milk and the marrow of his bones is moist. Yet another dies with a bitter inner self and has not tasted prosperity. They lie down together in [the] dust, and maggots cover them. "Look, I know your thoughts and [the] schemes you devise against me. For you say, 'Where is the nobleman's house, and where [are] {the tents in which the wicked dwell}?' Do you not ask [those] traveling [the] roads, and do you not take notice of their accounts? Indeed, [the] wicked is spared from [the] day of disaster; he is delivered from [the] day of wrath. Who denounces his way to his face? And who repays him [for what] he has done? When he is brought to [the] grave, then someone stands guard over [the] tomb. [The] clods of [the] valley are sweet to him; everyone will follow after him, and {before} him {they are innumerable}.
They remove border [stones]; they seize flocks, and they pasture [them]. They drive away [the] donkey of orphans; they take [the] widow's ox as a pledge. They thrust [the] poor off the road; [the] needy of [the] earth hide themselves together. read more.
"Look, [like] wild donkeys in the desert they go out to their labor [as] searchers for the prey; [the] wilderness [is] {their} food for the young. They reap their fodder in the field, and they glean [in the] vineyard of [the] wicked. They spend the night naked, {without} clothing, and [they] have no garment in the cold. They are wet from the rainstorm of the mountains, and they cling to the rock {without} refuge. "They snatch [the] orphan from [the] breast, and they take a pledge against [the] needy. They go about naked, without clothing, and hungry, they carry [the] sheaves. Between their terraces they press out oil; they tread [the] presses, but they are thirsty. From [the] city people groan, and [the] throat of [the] wounded cries for help; yet God does not {regard it as unseemly}. "Those are among [the ones] rebelling [against the] light; they do not recognize his ways, and they do not stay in his paths. {At dusk} the murderer rises; he kills [the] needy and [the] poor, and in the night he is like a thief. And [the] eye of [the] adulterer waits for dusk, saying, {'No eye will see me,'} and he places a covering [on his] face. He digs through houses in the darkness; by day they shut themselves in-- they do not know [the] light because morning likewise is to them deep darkness; indeed, they know about [the] terrors of deep darkness. "He himself [is] swift on [the] water's surface; their portion is cursed in the land. {No one turns toward the path of their vineyards}. Drought and heat snatch away [the] snow waters, [like] Sheol [snatches away] those [who have] sinned. [The] womb forgets him. [The] maggot feasts on him [until] he is no longer remembered, and wickedness is broken like a tree. [He] feeds on [the] barren, [who] does not have a child, and does no good to [the] widow. Yet he carries off [the] tyrants by his strength; [if] he rises up, then he cannot be certain of life. He gives security to him, and he is supported, but his eyes [are] upon their ways. They are exalted a little while, then {they are gone}. And they are brought low; they are cut off like all [others], and like [the] heads of grain they wither away.
"Look, [like] wild donkeys in the desert they go out to their labor [as] searchers for the prey; [the] wilderness [is] {their} food for the young. They reap their fodder in the field, and they glean [in the] vineyard of [the] wicked. They spend the night naked, {without} clothing, and [they] have no garment in the cold. They are wet from the rainstorm of the mountains, and they cling to the rock {without} refuge. "They snatch [the] orphan from [the] breast, and they take a pledge against [the] needy. They go about naked, without clothing, and hungry, they carry [the] sheaves. Between their terraces they press out oil; they tread [the] presses, but they are thirsty. From [the] city people groan, and [the] throat of [the] wounded cries for help; yet God does not {regard it as unseemly}. "Those are among [the ones] rebelling [against the] light; they do not recognize his ways, and they do not stay in his paths. {At dusk} the murderer rises; he kills [the] needy and [the] poor, and in the night he is like a thief. And [the] eye of [the] adulterer waits for dusk, saying, {'No eye will see me,'} and he places a covering [on his] face. He digs through houses in the darkness; by day they shut themselves in-- they do not know [the] light because morning likewise is to them deep darkness; indeed, they know about [the] terrors of deep darkness. "He himself [is] swift on [the] water's surface; their portion is cursed in the land. {No one turns toward the path of their vineyards}. Drought and heat snatch away [the] snow waters, [like] Sheol [snatches away] those [who have] sinned. [The] womb forgets him. [The] maggot feasts on him [until] he is no longer remembered, and wickedness is broken like a tree. [He] feeds on [the] barren, [who] does not have a child, and does no good to [the] widow. Yet he carries off [the] tyrants by his strength; [if] he rises up, then he cannot be certain of life. He gives security to him, and he is supported, but his eyes [are] upon their ways. They are exalted a little while, then {they are gone}. And they are brought low; they are cut off like all [others], and like [the] heads of grain they wither away.
By the sword you will fall at the border of Israel; I will judge you, and you will know that I [am] Yahweh.
And you must say to the people of the land, 'Thus says the Lord Yahweh to the inhabitants of Jerusalem about the land of Israel: "They will eat their food with anxiety and their water they will drink with horror, because their land will be desolate from its fullness because of all the violence of {those who are dwelling in it}. And {the inhabited cites will be desolate}, and the land will be a desolation, and you will know that I [am] Yahweh." '"
{And then} whoever of the clans of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the king, Yahweh of hosts, it will not rain on them. And if the clan of Egypt will not go up and come in, on them will be that plague Yahweh inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths. This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths.