"Behold,you fastfor contentionand strifeand to strikewith a wickedfist.You do not fastlike [you do] todayto makeyour voiceheardon high.
The sacrificeof the wickedis an abomination,Howmuchmorewhenhe bringsit with evilintent!
"So when you spreadout your hands[in prayer], I will hideMy eyesfrom you; Yes,eventhoughyou multiplyprayers,I will not listen.Your handsare coveredwith blood.
The LORDentersinto judgmentwith the eldersand princesof His people,"It is you who have devouredthe vineyard;The plunderof the pooris in your houses.
"Whatdo you mean by crushingMy peopleAnd grindingthe faceof the poor?"Declaresthe LordGODof hosts.
But your iniquitieshave madea separationbetweenyou and your God,And your sinshave hidden[His] facefrom you sothat He does not hear.
Their webswill not becomeclothing,Norwill they coverthemselves with their works;Their worksare worksof iniquity,And an actof violenceis in their hands.
"Yet evennow,"declaresthe LORD,"Returnto Me with allyour heart,And with fasting,weepingand mourning;
He issueda proclamationand it said,"In Ninevehby the decreeof the kingand his nobles:Do not let man,beast,herd,or flocktastea thing.Do not let them eator drinkwater.
"But woeto you, scribesand Pharisees,hypocrites,becauseyou shutoff the kingdomof heavenfrom people;for you do not enterin yourselves,nordo you allowthosewho are enteringto goin.
whodevourwidows'houses,and for appearance's sakeofferlongprayers.Thesewill receivegreatercondemnation."
Thenthey ledJesusfrom Caiaphasinto the Praetorium,and it was early;and they themselvesdid not enterinto the Praetoriumsothat they would not be defiled,but might eatthe Passover.
