O LORD,do not Your eyes[look] for truth?You have smittenthem, [But] they did not weaken;You have consumedthem, But they refusedto takecorrection.They have madetheir facesharderthanrock;They have refusedto repent.
On the followingday,the firstbornsaidto the younger,"Behold,I laylastnightwith my father;let us make him drinkwinetonightalso;then you goin and liewith him, that we may preserveour familythroughour father."
AfterthiseventJeroboamdid not returnfrom his evilway,but againhe madepriestsof the highplacesfrom among allthe people;any who would,he ordained,to be priestsof the highplaces.
So he againsentthe captainof a thirdfiftywith his fifty.When the thirdcaptainof fiftywentup, he cameand boweddownon his kneesbeforeElijah,and beggedhim and saidto him, "O manof God,pleaselet my lifeand the livesof thesefiftyservantsof yours be preciousin your sight.
"For the eyesof the LORDmoveto and frothroughoutthe earththat He may stronglysupportthose whose heartis completelyHis. You have actedfoolishlyin this.Indeed,from nowon you will surely havewars."
Now in the timeof his distressthissameKingAhazbecameyetmoreunfaithfulto the LORD.
Behold,You desiretruthin the innermostbeing,And in the hiddenpartYou will make me knowwisdom.
Make me to hearjoyand gladness,Let the boneswhich You have brokenrejoice.
He has putforthhis handsagainst those whowere at peacewith him; He has violatedhis covenant.
A wickedmandisplaysa boldface,But as for the upright,he makeshis waysure.
The eyesof the LORDpreserveknowledge,But He overthrowsthe wordsof the treacherousman.
"They struckme, [but] I did not becomeill;They beatme, [but] I did not know[it]. Whenshall I awake?I will seekanotherdrink."
Thoughyou pounda foolin a mortarwith a pestlealongwith crushedgrain,[Yet] his foolishnesswill not departfrom him.
O LORD,Your handis liftedup [yet] they do not seeit. They see[Your] zealfor the peopleand are putto shame;Indeed,firewill devourYour enemies.
So He pouredout on him the heatof His angerAnd the fiercenessof battle;And it sethim aflameallaround,Yet he did not recognize[it]; And it burnedhim, but he paidnoattention.
"BecauseI knowthat you are obstinate,And your neckis an ironsinewAnd your foreheadbronze,
Yet the peopledo not turnbackto Him who struckthem, Nordo they seekthe LORDof hosts.
"I will winnowthem with a winnowingforkAt the gatesof the land;I will bereave[them] of children,I will destroyMy people;They did not repentof their ways.
"Yet they did not listenor inclinetheir ears,but stiffenedtheir necksin order not to listenor takecorrection.
"Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,the Godof Israel,'Behold,I am about to bringon thiscityand allits townsthe entirecalamitythat I have declaredagainstit, becausethey have stiffenedtheir necksso as not to heedMy words.'"
"In vainI have struckyour sons;They acceptednochastening.Your swordhas devouredyour prophetsLike a destroyinglion.
"Therefore the showershave been withheld,And there has beennospringrain.Yet you hada harlot'sforehead;You refusedto be ashamed.
greatin counseland mightyin deed,whoseeyesare opento allthe waysof the sonsof men,givingto everyoneaccording to his waysand according to the fruitof his deeds;
"Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,the Godof Israel,'Goand sayto the menof Judahand the inhabitantsof Jerusalem,"Will you not receiveinstructionby listeningto My words?"declaresthe LORD.
"But they have not becomecontriteeven to thisday,norhave they fearednorwalkedin My lawor My statutes,whichI have setbeforeyou and beforeyour fathers."'
"Yet they did not listento Me or inclinetheir ear,but stiffenedtheir neck;they did moreevilthantheir fathers.
"You shall sayto them, 'Thisis the nationthat did not obeythe voiceof the LORDtheir Godor acceptcorrection;truthhas perishedand has been cutofffrom their mouth.
"Whythen has thispeople,Jerusalem,Turnedawayin continualapostasy?They holdfastto deceit,They refuseto return.
"I am sendingyou to them who are stubbornand obstinatechildren,and you shall sayto them, 'Thussaysthe LordGOD.'
"In your filthinessis lewdness.BecauseI [would] have cleansedyou, Yet you are not clean,You will not be cleansedfrom your filthinessagainUntilI have spentMy wrathon you.
"As it is writtenin the lawof Moses,allthiscalamityhas comeon us; yet we have not soughtthe favorof the LORDour Godby turningfrom our iniquityand givingattentionto Your truth.
And ifby thesethingsyou are not turnedto Me, but actwith hostilityagainstMe,
"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.
"I overthrewyou, as GodoverthrewSodomand Gomorrah,And you were like a firebrandsnatchedfrom a blaze;Yet you have not returnedto Me," declaresthe LORD.
"But I gaveyou alsocleannessof teethin allyour citiesAnd lackof breadin allyour places,Yet you have not returnedto Me," declaresthe LORD.
"So twoor threecitieswould staggerto anothercityto drinkwater,But would not be satisfied;Yet you have not returnedto Me," declaresthe LORD.
"I smoteyou with scorching[wind] and mildew;And the caterpillarwas devouringYour manygardensand vineyards,figtreesand olivetrees;Yet you have not returnedto Me," declaresthe LORD.
"I said,'Surelyyou will revereMe, Acceptinstruction.'So her dwellingwill not be cutoff[According to] allthat I have appointedconcerningher. But they were eagerto corruptalltheir deeds.
And we knowthat the judgmentof Godrightlyfallsupon thosewho practicesuch things.
Furthermore,we hadearthlyfathersto disciplineus, and we respectedthem; shall we not muchratherbe subjectto the Fatherof spirits,and live?
