For eachtimeI speak,I cryaloud;I proclaimviolenceand destruction,Becausefor me the wordof the LORDhas resultedIn reproachand derisionalldaylong.
Then he wentup from thereto Bethel;and as he was goingup by the way,youngladscameout from the cityand mockedhim and saidto him, "Goup, you baldhead;goup, you baldhead!"
but they [continually] mockedthe messengersof God,despisedHis wordsand scoffedat His prophets,untilthe wrathof the LORDaroseagainst His people,untiltherewas noremedy.
"Againstwhomdo you jest?Againstwhomdo you openwideyour mouthAnd stickout your tongue?Are you not childrenof rebellion,Offspringof deceit,
Woeto me, my mother,that you have borneme [As] a manof strifeand a manof contentionto allthe land!I have not lent,norhave men lentmoney to me, [Yet] everyonecursesme.
You who know,O LORD,Rememberme, takenoticeof me, And takevengeancefor me on my persecutors.Do not, in view of Your patience,takeme away; Knowthat for Your sakeI endurereproach.
"But ifyou do not listento Me to keepthe sabbathdayholyby not carryinga loadand comingin through the gatesof Jerusalemon the sabbathday,then I will kindlea firein its gatesand it will devourthe palacesof Jerusalemand not be quenched."'"
O LORD,You have deceivedme and I was deceived;You have overcomeme and prevailed.I have becomea laughingstockalldaylong; Everyonemocksme.
"The prophetswhowere beforeme and beforeyou from ancienttimesprophesiedagainstmanylandsand againstgreatkingdoms,of warand of calamityand of pestilence.
"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.
Thereforea lionfrom the forestwill slaythem, A wolfof the desertswill destroythem, A leopardis watchingtheir cities.Everyonewho goesout of them will be tornin pieces,Becausetheir transgressionsare many,Their apostasiesare numerous.
To whomshall I speakand givewarningThat they may hear?Behold,their earsare closedAnd they cannotlisten.Behold,the wordof the LORDhas becomea reproachto them; They havenodelightin it.
"Will you steal,murder,and commitadulteryand swearfalsely,and offersacrificesto Baaland walkafterothergodsthat you have not known,
Whydo You makeme seeiniquity,And cause [me] to lookon wickedness?Yes, destructionand violenceare beforeme; Strifeexistsand contentionarises.
Oneof the lawyerssaidto Him in reply,"Teacher,when You saythis,You insultus too."
consideringthe reproachof Christgreaterrichesthan the treasuresof Egypt;for he was lookingto the reward.
So,let us goout to Him outsidethe camp,bearingHis reproach.
Ifyou are reviledfor the nameof Christ,you are blessed,becausethe Spiritof gloryand of Godrestson you.
