The burdenof the wordof the LORDconcerningIsrael.[Thus] declaresthe LORDwho stretchesout the heavens,laysthe foundationof the earth,and formsthe spiritof manwithinhim,
Godcalledthe expanseheaven.And there was eveningand there was morning,a secondday.
Then the LORDGodformedmanof dustfrom the ground,and breathedinto his nostrilsthe breathof life;and manbecamea livingbeing.
"He stretchesout the northoveremptyspaceAnd hangsthe earthon nothing.
"Can you, with Him, spreadout the skies,Strongas a moltenmirror?
CoveringYourself with lightas with a cloak,Stretchingout heavenlike a [tent] curtain.
May the LORDblessyou from Zion,He who madeheavenand earth.
then the dustwill returnto the earthas it was, and the spiritwill returnto Godwhogaveit.
Whohas measuredthe watersin the hollowof His hand,And markedoffthe heavensby the span,And calculatedthe dustof the earthby the measure,And weighedthe mountainsin a balanceAnd the hillsin a pair of scales?
It is He who sitsabovethe circleof the earth,And its inhabitantsare like grasshoppers,Who stretchesout the heavenslike a curtainAnd spreadsthem out like a tentto dwellin.
ThussaysGodthe LORD,Who createdthe heavensand stretchedthem out, Who spreadout the earthand its offspring,Who givesbreathto the peopleon it And spiritto those who walkin it,
Thussaysthe LORD,your Redeemer,and the one who formedyou from the womb,"I, the LORD,am the makerof allthings,Stretchingout the heavensby MyselfAnd spreadingout the earthallalone,
"It is I who madethe earth,and createdmanupon it. I stretchedout the heavenswith My handsAnd I ordainedalltheir host.
For thussaysthe LORD,who createdthe heavens(He is the Godwho formedthe earthand madeit, He establishedit [and] did not createit a wasteplace,[but] formedit to be inhabited),"I am the LORD,and thereis noneelse.
"SurelyMy handfoundedthe earth,And My righthandspreadout the heavens;When I callto them, they standtogether.
That you have forgottenthe LORDyour Maker,Who stretchedout the heavensAnd laidthe foundationsof the earth,That you fearcontinuallyalldaylong becauseof the furyof the oppressor,As he makesreadyto destroy?But whereis the furyof the oppressor?
"For I will not contendforever,Norwill I alwaysbe angry;For the spiritwould growfaintbeforeMe, And the breath[of those whom] I have made.
[It is] He who madethe earthby His power,Who establishedthe worldby His wisdom;And by His understandingHe has stretchedout the heavens.
Fearnot, O JacobMy servant,'declaresthe LORD,'And do not be dismayed,O Israel;For behold,I will saveyou from afarAnd your offspringfrom the landof their captivity.And Jacobwill returnand will be quietand at ease,And noonewill makehim afraid.
Thereforeallwho devouryou will be devoured;And allyour adversaries,everyoneof them, will gointo captivity;And those who plunderyou will be for plunder,And allwho preyupon you I will givefor prey.
But KingZedekiahsworeto Jeremiahin secretsaying,"As the LORDlives,whomadethislifefor us, surelyI will not putyou to deathnorwill I giveyou over to the handof thesemenwhoare seekingyour life."
"Their Redeemeris strong,the LORDof hostsis His name;He will vigorouslypleadtheir caseSothat He may bringrestto the earth,But turmoilto the inhabitantsof Babylon.
[It is] He who madethe earthby His power,Who establishedthe worldby His wisdom,And by His understandingHe stretchedout the heavens.
Your prophetshave seenfor you false and foolish[visions]; And they have not exposedyour iniquitySo as to restoreyou from captivity,But they have seenfor you false and misleadingoracles.
"Behold,allsoulsare Mine; the soulof the fatheras well as the soulof the sonis Mine. The soulwho sinswill die.
Egyptwill becomea waste,And Edomwill becomea desolatewilderness,Becauseof the violencedone to the sonsof Judah,In whoselandthey have shedinnocentblood.
And I will avengetheir bloodwhich I have not avenged,For the LORDdwellsin Zion.
The burdenof the wordof the LORDis against the landof Hadrach,with Damascusas its restingplace(for the eyesof men,especially of allthe tribesof Israel,are toward the LORD),
The oracleof the wordof the LORDto IsraelthroughMalachi.
But they fellon their facesand said,"O God,Godof the spiritsof allflesh,when onemansins,will You be angrywith the entirecongregation?"
Furthermore,we hadearthlyfathersto disciplineus, and we respectedthem; shall we not muchratherbe subjectto the Fatherof spirits,and live?
