Water flowing over stones\par wears them down.\par Floods wash away the soil on the ground.\par In the same way, God,\par you destroy a person’s hope.\par
Judah, stop chasing after idols!\par Stop being thirsty for those other gods.\par But you say, ‘It is no use! I can’t quit!\par I love those other gods.\par I want to worship them.’\par
Remember that in the past you were without Christ. You were not citizens of Israel. {\cf2\super [11]} And you did not have the agreements {\cf2\super [12]} with the promise \{that God made to his people\}. You had no hope, and you did not know God.
The sun rises and becomes hotter and hotter. The sun’s heat makes the plants very dry. The flowers fall off. The flowers were beautiful, but now they are dead. It is the same with rich people. While they are still making plans for their business, they will die.
So prepare your minds for service, and have self-control. All your hope should be for the gift of grace (kindness) that will be yours when Jesus Christ appears (comes).