For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel,
“Seek Me [search diligently for Me and regard Me as more essential than food] so that you may live. [2 Chr 15:2; Jer 29:13]
“But do not resort to Bethel [to worship the golden calf]
Nor enter [idolatrous] Gilgal,
Nor cross over to Beersheba [and its idols];
For Gilgal will certainly go into captivity and exile,
And Bethel will come to nothing.
“Seek the LORD [search diligently for Him and long for Him as your most essential need] so that you may live,
Or He will rush down like a [devouring] fire, O house of Joseph,
And there will be no one to quench the flame for [idolatrous] Bethel,
For those [shall be consumed] who turn justice into wormwood (bitterness)
And cast righteousness down to the earth.”
¶He who made the [cluster of stars called] Pleiades and [the constellation] Orion,
Who turns deep darkness into the morning
And darkens the day into night,
Who calls for the waters of the sea
And pours them out on the surface of the earth,
The LORD is His name.
It is He who causes [sudden] destruction to flash forth on the strong
So that destruction comes on the fortress.
¶They hate the one who reprimands [the unrighteous] in the [court held at the city] gate [regarding him as unreasonable and rejecting his reprimand],
And they detest him who speaks [the truth] with integrity and honesty.
Therefore, because you impose heavy rent on the poor
And demand a tribute (food-tax) of grain from them,
Though you have built [luxurious] houses of square stone,
You will not live in them;
You have planted beautiful vineyards, but you will not drink their wine.
For I know your transgressions are many and your sins are great (shocking, innumerable),
You who distress the righteous and take bribes,
And turn away from the poor in the [court of the city] gate [depriving them of justice].
Therefore, he who is prudent and has insight will keep silent at such a [corrupt and evil] time, for it is an evil time [when people will not listen to truth and will disregard those of good character].
¶Seek (long for, require) good and not evil, that you may live;
And so may the LORD God of hosts be with you,
Just as you have said!
Hate evil and love good,
And establish justice in the [court of the city] gate.
Perhaps the LORD God of hosts
Will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph [that is, those who remain after God’s judgment].
Therefore, thus says the LORD God of hosts, the Lord,
“There is wailing in all the public plazas,
And in all the streets they say, ‘Alas! Alas!’
And they call the farmers to mourning [for those who have died]
And professional mourners to wailing.
“And in all vineyards there is wailing,
For I will pass through your midst [in judgment],” says the LORD. [Ex 12:12]
Bible App
Bible App for Kids
