Thereforethe Lorddoes not takepleasurein their youngmen,Nordoes He havepityon their orphansor their widows;For everyoneof them is godlessand an evildoer,And everymouthis speakingfoolishness.In [spite of] allthis,His angerdoes not turnawayAnd His handis stillstretchedout.
"For the companyof the godlessis barren,And fireconsumesthe tentsof the corrupt.
Let there be noneto extendlovingkindnessto him, Norany to be graciousto his fatherlesschildren.
He does not delightin the strengthof the horse;He does not takepleasurein the legsof a man.
Alas,sinfulnation,Peopleweigheddownwith iniquity,Offspringof evildoers,Sonswho actcorruptly!They have abandonedthe LORD,They have despisedthe HolyOneof Israel,They have turnedawayfrom Him.
So as to deprivethe needyof justiceAnd robthe poorof My peopleof [their] rights,So that widowsmay be their spoilAnd that they may plunderthe orphans.
Nothing[remains] but to crouchamongthe captivesOr fallamongthe slain.In [spite of] allthis,His angerdoes not turnawayAnd His handis stillstretchedout.
I sendit against a godlessnationAnd commissionit againstthe peopleof My furyTo capturebootyand to seizeplunder,And to tramplethem downlike mudin the streets.
And [their] bowswill mowdownthe youngmen,They will not even havecompassionon the fruitof the womb,[Nor] will their eyepitychildren.
"You will not be unitedwith them in burial,Becauseyou have ruinedyour country,You have slainyour people.May the offspringof evildoersnot be mentionedforever.
The earthis also pollutedby its inhabitants,for they transgressedlaws,violatedstatutes,brokethe everlastingcovenant.
When its limbsare dry,they are brokenoff; Womencome[and] makea firewith them, For they are not a peopleof discernment,Thereforetheir Makerwill not havecompassionon them. And their Creatorwill not be graciousto them.
For Jerusalemhas stumbledand Judahhas fallen,Becausetheir speechand their actionsare againstthe LORD,To rebelagainst His gloriouspresence.
Yet He alsois wiseand will bringdisasterAnd does not retractHis words,But will ariseagainstthe houseof evildoersAnd againstthe helpof the workersof iniquity.
Now the Egyptiansare menand not God,And their horsesare fleshand not spirit;So the LORDwill stretchout His hand,And he who helpswill stumbleAnd he who is helpedwill fall,And allof them will cometo an endtogether.
"You have conceivedchaff,you will givebirthto stubble;My breathwill consumeyou like a fire.
"The peopleswill be burnedto lime,Like cutthornswhich are burnedin the fire.
Though youthsgrowwearyand tired,And vigorousyoungmenstumblebadly,
Therefore,as a tongueof fireconsumesstubbleAnd drygrasscollapsesinto the flame,So their rootwill becomelike rotand their blossomblowawayas dust;For they have rejectedthe lawof the LORDof hostsAnd despisedthe wordof the HolyOneof Israel.
On thisaccountthe angerof the LORDhas burnedagainst His people,And He has stretchedout His handagainstthem and struckthem down.And the mountainsquaked,and their corpseslaylike refusein the middleof the streets.For allthisHis angeris not spent,But His handis stillstretchedout.
For [as] a youngmanmarriesa virgin,[So] your sonswill marryyou; And [as] the bridegroomrejoicesoverthe bride,[So] your Godwill rejoiceoveryou.
"I will also rejoicein Jerusalemand be gladin My people;And there will nolongerbe heardin her The voiceof weepingand the soundof crying.
The Arameanson the eastand the Philistineson the west;And they devourIsraelwith gapingjaws.In [spite of] allthis,His angerdoes not turnawayAnd His handis stillstretchedout.
Manasseh[devours] Ephraim,and EphraimManasseh,[And] togetherthey are againstJudah.In [spite of] allthis,His angerdoes not turnawayAnd His handis stillstretchedout.
Therefore,givetheir childrenover to famineAnd deliverthem up to the powerof the sword;And let their wivesbecomechildlessand widowed.Let their menalso be smittento death,Their youngmenstruckdownby the swordin battle.
"Roamto and frothrough the streetsof Jerusalem,And looknowand takenote.And seekin her opensquares,Ifyou can finda man,Ifthereis one who doesjustice,who seekstruth,Then I will pardonher.
"As I live,"declaresthe LordGOD,"surelywith a mightyhandand with an outstretchedarmand with wrathpouredout, I shall be kingoveryou.
"I senta plagueamong you after the mannerof Egypt;I slewyour youngmenby the swordalongwith your capturedhorses,And I made the stenchof your campriseup in your nostrils;Yet you have not returnedto Me," declaresthe LORD.
"In that daythe beautifulvirginsAnd the youngmenwill faintfrom thirst.
The godlypersonhas perishedfrom the land,And thereis noupright[person] among men.Allof them liein waitfor bloodshed;Eachof them huntsthe otherwith a net.
For whatcomelinessand beauty[will be] theirs! Grainwill make the youngmenflourish,and newwinethe virgins.
"You broodof vipers,howcanyou, beingevil,speakwhat is good?For the mouthspeaksout of that which fillsthe heart.
"And in the morning,'[There will be] a stormtoday,for the skyis redand threatening.'Do you know howto discernthe appearanceof the sky,but cannot[discern] the signsof the times?
