"You have sownmuch,but harvestlittle;[you] eat,but [there is] not [enough] to be satisfied;[you] drink,but [there is] not [enough] to becomedrunk;[you] puton clothing,but nooneis warm[enough]; and he who earns,earnswages[to put] into a pursewith holes."
Now there was a faminein the daysof Davidfor threeyears,yearafteryear;and Davidsoughtthe presenceof the LORD.And the LORDsaid,"It is for Sauland his bloodyhouse,becausehe putthe Gibeonitesto death."
But she said,"As the LORDyour Godlives,I havenobread,onlya handfulof flourin the bowland a littleoilin the jar;and behold,I am gatheringa fewsticksthat I may goin and preparefor me and my son,that we may eatit and die."
For therewere those whosaid,"We, our sonsand our daughtersare many;therefore let us getgrainthat we may eatand live."
"In the fullnessof his plentyhe will be cramped;The handof everyonewhosufferswill come[against] him.
"The increaseof his housewill depart;[His possessions] will flowaway in the dayof His anger.
A fruitfullandinto a saltwaste,Becauseof the wickednessof those who dwellin it.
Thereis one who scatters,and [yet] increasesallthe more,And there is one who withholdswhatis justlydue,[and yet it results] onlyin want.
"For tenacresof vineyardwill yield[only] onebath[of wine], And a homerof seedwill yield[but] an ephahof grain."
"They have sownwheatand have reapedthorns,They have strainedthemselves to noprofit.But be ashamedof your harvestBecauseof the fierceangerof the LORD."
"Becausethe groundis cracked,For there has beennorainon the land;The farmershave beenputto shame,They have coveredtheir heads.
"But sincewe stoppedburningsacrificesto the queenof heavenand pouringout drinkofferingsto her, we have lackedeverythingand have metour endby the swordand by famine."
They will eat,but not haveenough;They will playthe harlot,but not increase,Becausethey have stoppedgivingheedto the LORD.
For they sowthe windAnd they reapthe whirlwind.The standinggrainhasnoheads;It yieldsnograin.Shouldit yield,strangerswould swallowit up.
Your strengthwill be spentuselessly,for your landwill not yieldits produceand the treesof the landwill not yieldtheir fruit.
When I breakyour staffof bread,tenwomenwill bakeyour breadin oneoven,and they will bringbackyour breadin rationedamounts,so that you will eatand not be satisfied.
"Therefore,becauseof you the skyhas withheldits dewand the earthhas withheldits produce.
Nowtherefore, thussaysthe LORDof hosts,"Consideryour ways!
Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,"Consideryour ways!
"[You] lookfor much,but behold,[it comes] to little;when you bring[it] home,I blowit [away]. Why?"declaresthe LORDof hosts,"Becauseof My housewhich[lies] desolate,while eachof you runsto his own house.
from that time[when] one cameto a [grain] heapof twenty[measures], there would be only ten;and [when] one cameto the winevatto drawfiftymeasures,there would be [only] twenty.
I smoteyou [and] everyworkof your handswith blastingwind,mildewand hail;yet you [did] not [come] [back] to Me,' declaresthe LORD.
"I will make it goforth,"declaresthe LORDof hosts,"and it will enterthe houseof the thiefand the houseof the one who swearsfalselyby My name;and it will spendthe nightwithinthat houseand consumeit with its timberand stones."
For beforethosedaysthere was nowagefor manor any wagefor animal;and for him who wentout or camein therewas nopeacebecauseof his enemies,and I setallmenoneagainst another.
"Ifyou do not listen,and ifyou do not takeit to heartto givehonorto My name,"saysthe LORDof hosts,"then I will sendthe curseupon you and I will curseyour blessings;and indeed,I have cursedthem [already], becauseyou are not taking[it] to heart.
"Cursed[shall be] your basketand your kneadingbowl.
