The Lord should cut off those lips\par that tell lies.\par The Lord should cut out those tongues\par that tell their big stories.\par
Hosea 7:16 - Easy To Read Version But they were like a boomerang. {\cf2\super [74]} \par They changed directions,\par but they did not come back to me. {\cf2\super [75]} \par Their leaders bragged \{about their strength\}.\par But they will be killed with swords.\par And the people in Egypt will laugh at them.\par Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition They turn back, shift, or change, but not upwards [to the Most High]. They are like a deceitful bow; their princes shall fall by the sword for the insolence and rage of their tongue. This shall be [cause for] their derision and scorning in the land of Egypt. American Standard Version (1901) They return, but not to him that is on high; they are like a deceitful bow; their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt. Common English Bible They return, but not to the Most High; they have become like a worthless bow; their officials will fall by the sword because of the rage of their tongues; in Egypt they will make fun of them. Catholic Public Domain Version They returned so that they might be without a yoke. They have become like a deceitful bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword because of the madness of their words. This is their derision in the land of Egypt. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version They returned, that they might be without yoke: they became like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword, for the rage of their tongue. This is their derision in the land of Egypt. |
The Lord should cut off those lips\par that tell lies.\par The Lord should cut out those tongues\par that tell their big stories.\par
Those people say,\par “We will say the right lies\par and become very important.\par We know what to say,\par so that no one will be our master.”\par
But the Lord says:\par “Bad people stole from the poor people.\par They took things from helpless people.\par But now I will stand and defend those weary (tired) people.”\par
Those bad people have become too proud \{to listen to God\}.\par And they brag about themselves.\par
You make foolish plans\par and your tongue is as dangerous\par as a sharp razor.\par You are always lying\par and trying to cheat people!\par
My life is in danger.\par My enemies are all around me.\par They are like man-eating lions,\par with teeth as sharp as spears\par and arrows,\par and tongues as sharp as a sword.\par
Those proud people think they are gods!\par They think they are the rulers of earth.\par
Their hearts were not really with God.\par They were not faithful to the Agreement. {\cf2\super [449]} \par
The people of Israel turned away from God.\par They turned against him\par just like their fathers did.\par They changed directions like a boomerang. {\cf2\super [452]} \par
This will happen because Jerusalem has stumbled \{and has done wrong\}. Judah has fallen \{and has stopped following God\}. The things they say and do are against the Lord. The Lord’s glorious eyes clearly see all these things.
Then the enemies of Jeremiah said, “Come, let us make plans against Jeremiah. Surely the teaching of the law by the priest will not be lost. And the advice from the wise men will still be with us. We will still have the words of the prophets. So let us tell lies about him. That will ruin him. We will not pay attention to anything he says.”
Israel’s unfaithful sister (Judah) did not come back to me with her whole heart. She only pretended that she came back to me.” This message was from the Lord.
“The Lord All-Powerful, the God of the people of Israel, says: ‘I showed my anger against Jerusalem. I punished the people that lived in Jerusalem. In the same way, I will show my anger against every person that goes to Egypt. People will use you as an example when they ask for bad things to happen to other people. You will become like a curse word. People will be ashamed of you. People will insult you. And you will never see Judah again.’
But even in those other nations they ruined my good name. How? Those nations said, ‘These are the Lord’s people, but they left his land. \{So there must be something wrong with the Lord!\}’
This special king will say things against God Most High. And that king will hurt and kill God’s special people. That king will try to change the times and laws that have already been set. God’s special people will be in that king’s power for 3 1/2 years. {\cf2\super [82]}
“The Israelites refuse to turn back \{to God\}. So they will go to Egypt! \{The king of\} Assyria will become their king.
“My people expect me to come back. They will call to God above. But God will not help them.”
“Ephraim, {\cf2\super [63]} what should I do with you?\par Judah, what should I do with you?\par Your faithfulness is like a morning mist,\par Your faithfulness is like the dew\par that goes away early in the morning.\par
It will be bad for them.\par They left me.\par They refused to obey me.\par So they will be destroyed.\par I saved those people.\par But they speak lies against me.\par
The Israelites will not stay in the Lord’s land. Ephraim will return to Egypt. In Assyria they will eat food that they should not eat.
The Israelites will not give offerings of wine to the Lord. They will not offer sacrifices to him. Their sacrifices will be like food eaten at a funeral {\cf2\super [87]} —whoever eats it will become unclean. Their bread will not go into the Lord’s temple—they will have to eat that bread by themselves.
The people of Israel left because the enemy took everything from them. But Egypt will take the people themselves. Memphis {\cf2\super [89]} will bury them. Weeds will grow over their silver treasures. Thorns will grow where the Israelites lived.
You said, “It is useless to worship the Lord. We did the things the Lord told us— but we didn’t gain anything. We were sad \{for our sins\} like people crying at a funeral. But it didn’t help.
And I tell you that people will have to explain about every careless thing they have said. This will happen on the day of judgment.
What is the seed that fell on rock? That is like the people that hear God’s teaching and accept it gladly. But these people don’t have deep roots. They believe for a while. But when trouble comes, they turn away from God.
It is the same with our tongue. It is a small part of the body, but it boasts about doing great things.
(Lot was a good man, but he lived with those evil people every day. Lot’s good heart was hurt by the evil things that he saw and heard.)
The animal was allowed to say proud words and very evil things. The animal was allowed to use his power for 42 months.