Whois the wisemanthat may understandthis?And [who is] he to whomthe mouthof the LORDhas spoken,that he may declareit? Whyis the landruined,laidwastelike a desert,sothat noonepassesthrough?
A fruitfullandinto a saltwaste,Becauseof the wickednessof those who dwellin it.
Whois wise?Let him giveheedto thesethings,And considerthe lovingkindnessesof the LORD.
Whoamong you will giveearto this?Who will giveheedand listenhereafter?
For the landis fullof adulterers;For the landmournsbecauseof the curse.The pasturesof the wildernesshave driedup. Their coursealso is evilAnd their mightis not right.
Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,"Do not listento the wordsof the prophetswho are prophesyingto you. They are leadingyou into futility;They speaka visionof their own imagination,Not from the mouthof the LORD.
"But ifthey had stoodin My council,Then they would have announcedMy wordsto My people,And would have turnedthem backfrom their evilwayAnd from the evilof their deeds.
"The prophetwhohasa dreammay relate[his] dream,but let him whohasMy wordspeakMy wordin truth.Whatdoes strawhave [in common] with grain?"declaresthe LORD.
Nowhearthe wordof the LORD,O you women,And let your earreceivethe wordof His mouth;Teachyour daughterswailing,And everyoneher neighbora dirge.
"Then they will comfortyou whenyou seetheir conductand actions,for you will knowthat I have not donein vainwhateverI didto it," declaresthe LordGOD.
Whoeveris wise,let him understandthesethings;[Whoever] is discerning,let him knowthem. For the waysof the LORDare right,And the righteouswill walkin them, But transgressorswill stumblein them.
They will eat,but not haveenough;They will playthe harlot,but not increase,Becausethey have stoppedgivingheedto the LORD.
Be ashamed,O farmers,Wail,O vinedressers,For the wheatand the barley;Becausethe harvestof the fieldis destroyed.
"I have cutoffnations;Their cornertowersare in ruins.I have madetheir streetsdesolate,With noonepassingby; Their citiesare laidwaste,Withouta man,withoutan inhabitant.
"Thereforewhenyou seethe ABOMINATIONOF DESOLATIONwhich was spokenof throughDanielthe prophet,standingin the holyplace(let the readerunderstand),
"Wouldthat they were wise,that they understoodthis,That they would discerntheir future!
Blessedis he who readsand thosewho hearthe wordsof the prophecy,and heedthe things which are writtenin it; for the timeis near.
