They will passthrough the land hard-pressedand famished,and it will turnout that whenthey are hungry,they will be enragedand cursetheir kingand their Godas they faceupward.
On the ninthday of the [fourth] monththe faminewas so severein the citythat there was nofoodfor the peopleof the land.
While he was stilltalkingwith them, behold,the messengercamedownto him and he said,"Behold,thisevilis from the LORD;whyshould I waitfor the LORDanylonger?"
"But putforthYour handnowand touchallthat he has; he will surelycurseYou to Your face."
"His strengthis famished,And calamityis readyat his side.
"However,putforthYour handnow,and touchhis boneand his flesh;he will curseYou to Your face."
Then his wifesaidto him, "Do you stillholdfastyour integrity?CurseGodand die!"
"You shall not curseGod,norcursea rulerof your people.
The foolishnessof manruinshis way,And his heartragesagainstthe LORD.
"Those who are mosthelplesswill eat,And the needywill liedownin security;I will destroyyour rootwith famine,And it will killoff your survivors.
Thesetwothingshave befallenyou; Whowill mournfor you? The devastationand destruction,famineand sword;Howshall I comfortyou?
Thereforejusticeis farfrom us, And righteousnessdoes not overtakeus; We hopefor light,but behold,darkness,For brightness,but we walkin gloom.
Therefore,thussaysthe LordGOD,"Behold,My servantswill eat,but you will be hungry.Behold,My servantswill drink,but you will be thirsty.Behold,My servantswill rejoice,but you will be putto shame.
They sliceoff[what is] on the righthandbut [still] are hungry,And they eat[what is] on the lefthandbut they are not satisfied;Eachof them eatsthe fleshof his own arm.
Manasseh[devours] Ephraim,and EphraimManasseh,[And] togetherthey are againstJudah.In [spite of] allthis,His angerdoes not turnawayAnd His handis stillstretchedout.
IfI goout to the country,Behold,those slainwith the sword!Or ifI enterthe city,Behold,diseasesof famine!For bothprophetand priestHave gone rovingaboutin the landthat they do not know.'"
On the ninth[day] of the fourthmonththe faminewas so severein the citythat there was nofoodfor the peopleof the land.
The sonof the Israelitewomanblasphemedthe Nameand cursed.So they broughthim to Moses.(Now his mother'snamewas Shelomith,the daughterof Dibri,of the tribeof Dan.)
"Then you will cryout in that daybecauseof your kingwhomyou have chosenfor yourselves, but the LORDwill not answeryou in that day."
