The World English Bible (WEB) Part 72

10:17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord?

for as for me, immediately there remained no strength in me, neither was there breath left in me. 10:18 Then there touched me again one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me. 10:19 He said, "Greatly beloved man, don't be afraid: peace be to you, be strong, yes, be strong."

When he spoke to me, I was strengthened, and said, "Let my lord speak; for you have strengthened me."

10:20 Then he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? Now I will return to fight with the prince of Persia. When I go forth, behold, the prince of Greece shall come. 10:21 But I will tell you that which is inscribed in the writing of truth: and there is none who holds with me against these, but Michael your prince."

11:1 "As for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him. 11:2 Now will I show you the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and when he has grown strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece. 11:3 A mighty king shall stand up, who shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. 11:4 When he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of the sky, but not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others besides these. 11:5 The king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion. 11:6 At the end of years they shall join themselves together; and the daughter of the king of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the strength of her arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm; but she shall be given up, and those who brought her, and he who became the father of her, and he who strengthened her in those times. 11:7 But out of a shoot from her roots shall one stand up in his place, who shall come to the army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail. 11:8 Also their G.o.ds, with their molten images, and with their goodly vessels of silver and of gold, shall he carry captive into Egypt; and he shall refrain some years from the king of the north. 11:9 He shall come into the realm of the king of the south, but he shall return into his own land. 11:10 His sons shall war, and shall a.s.semble a mult.i.tude of great forces, which shall come on, and overflow, and pa.s.s through; and they shall return and war, even to his fortress.

11:11 The king of the south shall be moved with anger, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north; and he shall set forth a great mult.i.tude, and the mult.i.tude shall be given into his hand. 11:12 The mult.i.tude shall be lifted up, and his heart shall be exalted; and he shall cast down tens of thousands, but he shall not prevail. 11:13 The king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a mult.i.tude greater than the former; and he shall come on at the end of the times, even of years, with a great army and with much substance.

11:14 In those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the children of the violent among your people shall lift themselves up to establish the vision; but they shall fall. 11:15 So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mound, and take a well- fortified city: and the forces of the south shall not stand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to stand. 11:16 But he who comes against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him; and he shall stand in the glorious land, and in his hand shall be destruction. 11:17 He shall set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and with him equitable conditions; and he shall perform them: and he shall give him the daughter of women, to corrupt her; but she shall not stand, neither be for him. 11:18 After this shall he turn his face to the islands, and shall take many: but a prince shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; yes, moreover, he shall cause his reproach to turn on him. 11:19 Then he shall turn his face toward the fortresses of his own land; but he shall stumble and fall, and shall not be found. 11:20 Then shall stand up in his place one who shall cause a tax collector to pa.s.s through the kingdom to maintain its glory; but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle. 11:21 In his place shall stand up a contemptible person, to whom they had not given the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in time of security, and shall obtain the kingdom by flatteries. 11:22 The overwhelming forces shall be overwhelmed from before him, and shall be broken; yes, also the prince of the covenant. 11:23 After the league made with him he shall work deceitfully; for he shall come up, and shall become strong, with a small people. 11:24 In time of security shall he come even on the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them prey, and spoil, and substance: yes, he shall devise his devices against the strongholds, even for a time. 11:25 He shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall war in battle with an exceeding great and mighty army; but he shall not stand; for they shall devise devices against him. 11:26 Yes, they who eat of his dainties shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow; and many shall fall down slain. 11:27 As for both these kings, their hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table: but it shall not prosper; for yet the end shall be at the time appointed. 11:28 Then shall he return into his land with great substance; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do his pleasure, and return to his own land. 11:29 At the time appointed he shall return, and come into the south; but it shall not be in the latter time as it was in the former. 11:30 For ships of Kittim shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and shall return, and have indignation against the holy covenant, and shall do his pleasure: he shall even return, and have regard to those who forsake the holy covenant. 11:31 Forces shall stand on his part, and they shall profane the sanctuary, even the fortress, and shall take away the continual burnt offering, and they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate. 11:32 Such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he pervert by flatteries; but the people who know their G.o.d shall be strong, and do exploits. 11:33 Those who are wise among the people shall instruct many; yet they shall fall by the sword and by flame, by captivity and by spoil, many days. 11:34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help; but many shall join themselves to them with flatteries. 11:35 Some of those who are wise shall fall, to refine them, and to purify, and to make them white, even to the time of the end; because it is yet for the time appointed. 11:36 The king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every G.o.d, and shall speak marvelous things against the G.o.d of G.o.ds; and he shall prosper until the indignation be accomplished; for that which is determined shall be done. 11:37 Neither shall he regard the G.o.ds of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any G.o.d; for he shall magnify himself above all. 11:38 But in his place shall he honor the G.o.d of fortresses; and a G.o.d whom his fathers didn't know shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. 11:39 He shall deal with the strongest fortresses by the help of a foreign G.o.d: whoever acknowledges him he will increase with glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for a price. 11:40 At the time of the end shall the king of the south contend with him; and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with hors.e.m.e.n, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pa.s.s through. 11:41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. 11:42 He shall stretch forth his hand also on the countries; and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 11:43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. 11:44 But news out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him; and he shall go forth with great fury to destroy and utterly to sweep away many. 11:45 He shall plant the tents of his palace between the sea and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.

12:1 "At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who shall be found written in the book. 12:2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 12:3 Those who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the expanse; and those who turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. 12:4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run back and forth, and knowledge shall be increased."

12:5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, there stood other two, the one on the brink of the river on this side, and the other on the brink of the river on that side. 12:6 One said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? 12:7 I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by him who lives forever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. 12:8 I heard, but I didn't understand: then said I, my lord, what shall be the issue of these things? 12:9 He said, Go your way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 12:10 Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but those who are wise shall understand. 12:11 From the time that the continual burnt offering shall be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred ninety days. 12:12 Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred thirty-five days. 12:13 But go you your way until the end be; for you shall rest, and shall stand in your lot, at the end of the days.

Notes:

[1] back to 9:25 "Anointed One" can also be translated "Messiah" (same as "Christ").

[2] back to 9:26 "Anointed One" can also be translated "Messiah" (same as "Christ").

Hosea

1:1 The word of Yahweh that came to Hosea the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel. 1:2 When Yahweh spoke at the first by Hosea, Yahweh said to Hosea, "Go, take for yourself a wife of prost.i.tution and children of unfaithfulness; for the land commits great adultery, forsaking Yahweh."

1:3 So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; and she conceived, and bore him a son.

1:4 Yahweh said to him, "Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel on the house of Jehu, and will cause the kingdom of the house of Israel to cease. 1:5 It will happen in that day that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel."

1:6 She conceived again, and bore a daughter.

Then he said to him, "Call her name Lo-Ruhamah; for I will no longer have mercy on the house of Israel, that I should in any way pardon them.

1:7 But I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and will save them by Yahweh their G.o.d, and will not save them by bow, sword, battle, horses, or hors.e.m.e.n."

1:8 Now when she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, she conceived, and bore a son.

1:9 He said, "Call his name Lo-Ammi; for you are not my people, and I will not be yours. 1:10 Yet the number of the children of Israel will be as the sand of the sea, which can't be measured nor numbered; and it will come to pa.s.s that, in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' they will be called 'sons of the living G.o.d.' 1:11 The children of Judah and the children of Israel will be gathered together, and they will appoint themselves one head, and will go up from the land; for great will be the day of Jezreel.

2:1 "Say to your brothers, 'My people!' and to your sisters, 'My loved one!' 2:2 Contend with your mother! Contend, for she is not my wife, neither am I her husband; and let her put away her prost.i.tution from her face, and her adulteries from between her b.r.e.a.s.t.s; 2:3 Lest I strip her naked, and make her bare as in the day that she was born, and make her like a wilderness, and set her like a dry land, and kill her with thirst. 2:4 Indeed, on her children I will have no mercy; for they are children of unfaithfulness; 2:5 For their mother has played the prost.i.tute. She who conceived them has done shamefully; for she said, 'I will go after my lovers, who give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, my oil and my drink.' 2:6 Therefore, behold, I will hedge up your way with thorns, and I will build a wall against her, that she can't find her way. 2:7 She will follow after her lovers, but she won't overtake them; and she will seek them, but won't find them. Then she will say, 'I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now.' 2:8 For she did not know that I gave her the grain, the new wine, and the oil, and multiplied to her silver and gold, which they used for Baal. 2:9 Therefore I will take back my grain in its time, and my new wine in its season, and will pluck away my wool and my flax which should have covered her nakedness. 2:10 Now I will uncover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and no one will deliver her out of my hand. 2:11 I will also cause all her celebrations to cease: her feasts, her new moons, her Sabbaths, and all her solemn a.s.semblies. 2:12 I will lay waste her vines and her fig trees, about which she has said, 'These are my wages that my lovers have given me; and I will make them a forest,' and the animals of the field shall eat them. 2:13 I will visit on her the days of the Baals, to which she burned incense, when she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and went after her lovers, and forgot me," says Yahweh. 2:14 "Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. 2:15 I will give her vineyards from there, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope; and she will respond there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. 2:16 It will be in that day," says Yahweh, "that you will call me 'my husband,' and no longer call me 'my master.' 2:17 For I will take away the names of the Baals out of her mouth, and they will no longer be mentioned by name. 2:18 In that day I will make a covenant for them with the animals of the field, and with the birds of the sky, and with the creeping things of the ground. I will break the bow, the sword, and the battle out of the land, and will make them lie down safely. 2:19 I will betroth you to me forever. Yes, I will betroth you to me in righteousness, in justice, in loving kindness, and in compa.s.sion. 2:20 I will even betroth you to me in faithfulness; and you shall know Yahweh.

2:21 It will happen in that day, I will respond," says Yahweh, "I will respond to the heavens, and they will respond to the earth; 2:22 and the earth will respond to the grain, and the new wine, and the oil; and they will respond to Jezreel. 2:23 I will sow her to me in the earth; and I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy; and I will tell those who were not my people, 'You are my people;' and they will say, 'My G.o.d!'" 3:1 Yahweh said to me, "Go again, love a woman loved by another, and an adulteress, even as Yahweh loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other G.o.ds, and love cakes of raisins."

3:2 So I bought her for myself for fifteen pieces of silver and a homer and a half of barley. 3:3 I said to her, "You shall stay with me many days. You shall not play the prost.i.tute, and you shall not be with any other man. I will also be so toward you."

3:4 For the children of Israel shall abide many days without king, and without prince, and without sacrifice, and without sacred stone, and without ephod or idols. 3:5 Afterward the children of Israel shall return, and seek Yahweh their G.o.d, and David their king, and shall come with trembling to Yahweh and to his blessings in the last days.

4:1 Hear the word of Yahweh, you children of Israel; for Yahweh has a charge against the inhabitants of the land: "Indeed there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge of G.o.d in the land. 4:2 There is cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break boundaries, and bloodshed causes bloodshed. 4:3 Therefore the land will mourn, and everyone who dwells therein will waste away. all living things in her, even the animals of the field and the birds of the sky; yes, the fish of the sea also die. 4:4 "Yet let no man bring a charge, neither let any man accuse; For your people are like those who bring charges against a priest. 4:5 You will stumble in the day, and the prophet will also stumble with you in the night; and I will destroy your mother. 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you may be no priest to me.

Because you have forgotten your G.o.d's law, I will also forget your children. 4:7 As they were multiplied, so they sinned against me. I will change their glory into shame. 4:8 They feed on the sin of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity. 4:9 It will be, like people, like priest; and I will punish them for their ways, and will repay them for their deeds. 4:10 They will eat, and not have enough. They will play the prost.i.tute, and will not increase; because they have abandoned giving to Yahweh. 4:11 Prost.i.tution, wine, and new wine take away understanding.

4:12 My people consult with their wooden idol, and answer to a stick of wood. Indeed the spirit of prost.i.tution has led them astray, and they have been unfaithful to their G.o.d. 4:13 They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because its shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the prost.i.tute, and your brides commit adultery. 4:14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the prost.i.tute, nor your brides when they commit adultery; because the men consort with prost.i.tutes, and they sacrifice with the shrine prost.i.tutes; so the people without understanding will come to ruin. 4:15 "Though you, Israel, play the prost.i.tute, yet don't let Judah offend; and don't come to Gilgal, neither go up to Beth Aven, nor swear, 'As Yahweh lives.' 4:16 For Israel has behaved extremely stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer. Then how will Yahweh feed them like a lamb in a meadow. 4:17 Ephraim is joined to idols. Leave him alone! 4:18 Their drink has become sour. They play the prost.i.tute continually. Her rulers dearly love their shameful way. 4:19 The wind has wrapped her up in its wings; and they shall be disappointed because of their sacrifices. 5:1 "Listen to this, you priests! Listen, house of Israel, and give ear, house of the king! For the judgment is against you; for you have been a snare at Mizpah, and a net spread on Tabor. 5:2 The rebels are deep in slaughter; but I discipline all of them. 5:3 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from me; for now, Ephraim, you have played the prost.i.tute. Israel is defiled. 5:4 Their deeds won't allow them to turn to their G.o.d; for the spirit of prost.i.tution is within them, and they don't know Yahweh. 5:5 The pride of Israel testifies to his face. Therefore Israel and Ephraim will stumble in their iniquity. Judah also will stumble with them. 5:6 They will go with their flocks and with their herds to seek Yahweh; but they won't find him. He has withdrawn himself from them. 5:7 They are unfaithful to Yahweh; for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the new moon will devour them with their fields. 5:8 "Blow the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah! Sound a battle cry at Beth Aven, behind you, Benjamin! 5:9 Ephraim will become a desolation in the day of rebuke. Among the tribes of Israel, I have made known that which will surely be. 5:10 The princes of Judah are like those who remove a landmark. I will pour out my wrath on them like water. 5:11 Ephraim is oppressed, he is crushed in judgment; Because he is intent in his pursuit of idols. 5:12 Therefore I am to Ephraim like a moth, and to the house of Judah like rottenness. 5:13 "When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his wound, Then Ephraim went to a.s.syria, and sent to king Jareb: but he is not able to heal you, neither will he cure you of your wound.

5:14 For I will be to Ephraim like a lion, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I myself will tear in pieces and go away. I will carry off, and there will be no one to deliver. 5:15 I will go and return to my place, until they acknowledge their offense, and seek my face. In their affliction they will seek me earnestly." 6:1 "Come, and let us return to Yahweh; for he has torn us to pieces, and he will heal us; he has injured us, and he will bind up our wounds. 6:2 After two days he will revive us. On the third day he will raise us up, and we will live before him. 6:3 Let us acknowledge Yahweh. Let us press on to know Yahweh. As surely as the sun rises, Yahweh will appear. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain that waters the earth." 6:4 "Ephraim, what shall I do to you? Judah, what shall I do to you? For your love is like a morning cloud, and like the dew that disappears early. 6:5 Therefore I have cut them to pieces with the prophets; I killed them with the words of my mouth. Your judgments are like a flash of lightning. 6:6 For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of G.o.d more than burnt offerings. 6:7 But they, like Adam, have broken the covenant. They were unfaithful to me, there. 6:8 Gilead is a city of those who work iniquity; it is stained with blood. 6:9 As gangs of robbers wait to ambush a man, so the company of priests murder in the way toward Shechem, committing shameful crimes. 6:10 In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing. There is prost.i.tution in Ephraim. Israel is defiled. 6:11 "Also, Judah, there is a harvest appointed for you, when I restore the fortunes of my people. 7:1 When I would heal Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim is uncovered, also the wickedness of Samaria; for they commit falsehood, and the thief enters in, and the gang of robbers ravages outside. 7:2 They don't consider in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness. Now their own deeds have engulfed them. They are before my face. 7:3 They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies. 7:4 They are all adulterers. They are burning like an oven that the baker stops stirring, from the kneading of the dough, until it is leavened. 7:5 On the day of our king, the princes made themselves sick with the heat of wine. He joined his hand with mockers. 7:6 For they have made ready their heart like an oven, while they lie in wait. Their baker sleeps all the night.

In the morning it burns as a flaming fire. 7:7 They are all hot as an oven, and devour their judges. All their kings have fallen. There is no one among them who calls to me. 7:8 Ephraim, he mixes himself among the nations. Ephraim is a pancake not turned over. 7:9 Strangers have devoured his strength, and he doesn't realize it. Indeed, gray hairs are here and there on him, and he doesn't realize it. 7:10 The pride of Israel testifies to his face; yet they haven't returned to Yahweh their G.o.d, nor sought him, for all this. 7:11 "Ephraim is like an easily deceived dove, without understanding. They call to Egypt. They go to a.s.syria. 7:12 When they go, I will spread my net on them. I will bring them down like the birds of the sky. I will chastise them, as their congregation has heard. 7:13 Woe to them! For they have wandered from me. Destruction to them! For they have trespa.s.sed against me. Though I would redeem them, yet they have spoken lies against me. 7:14 They haven't cried to me with their heart, but they howl on their beds. They a.s.semble themselves for grain and new wine. They turn away from me. 7:15 Though I have taught and strengthened their arms, yet they plot evil against me. 7:16 They return, but not to the Most High. They are like a faulty bow. Their princes will fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue. This will be their derision in the land of Egypt. 8:1 "Put the trumpet to your lips! Something like an eagle is over Yahweh's house, because they have broken my covenant, and rebelled against my law. 8:2 They cry to me, 'My G.o.d, we Israel acknowledge you!' 8:3 Israel has cast off that which is good. The enemy will pursue him. 8:4 They have set up kings, but not by me. They have made princes, and I didn't approve. Of their silver and their gold they have made themselves idols, that they may be cut off. 8:5 Let Samaria throw out his calf idol! My anger burns against them! How long will it be until they are capable of purity? 8:6 For this is even from Israel! The workman made it, and it is no G.o.d; indeed, the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces. 8:7 For they sow the wind, and they will reap the whirlwind. He has no standing grain.

The stalk will yield no head. If it does yield, strangers will swallow it up. 8:8 Israel is swallowed up. Now they are among the nations like a worthless thing. 8:9 For they have gone up to a.s.syria, like a wild donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has hired lovers for himself. 8:10 But although they sold themselves among the nations, I will now gather them; and they begin to waste away because of the oppression of the king of mighty ones. 8:11 Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning, they became for him altars for sinning. 8:12 I wrote for him the many things of my law; but they were regarded as a strange thing. 8:13 As for the sacrifices of my offerings, they sacrifice flesh and eat it; But Yahweh doesn't accept them. Now he will remember their iniquity, and punish their sins. They will return to Egypt. 8:14 For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces; and Judah has multiplied fortified cities; but I will send a fire on his cities, and it will devour its fortresses." 9:1 Don't rejoice, Israel, to jubilation like the nations; for you were unfaithful to your G.o.d. You love the wages of a prost.i.tute at every grain threshing floor. 9:2 The threshing floor and the winepress won't feed them, and the new wine will fail her. 9:3 They won't dwell in Yahweh's land; but Ephraim will return to Egypt, and they will eat unclean food in a.s.syria. 9:4 They won't pour out wine offerings to Yahweh, neither will they be pleasing to him. Their sacrifices will be to them like the bread of mourners; all who eat of it will be polluted; for their bread will be for their appet.i.te. It will not come into the house of Yahweh. 9:5 What will you do in the day of solemn a.s.sembly, and in the day of the feast of Yahweh? 9:6 For, behold, they have gone away from destruction. Egypt will gather them up. Memphis will bury them. Nettles will possess their pleasant things of silver. Thorns will be in their tents. 9:7 The days of visitation have come. The days of reckoning have come. Israel will consider the prophet to be a fool, and the man who is inspired to be insane, because of the abundance of your sins, and because your hostility is great. 9:8 A prophet watches over Ephraim with my G.o.d. A fowler's snare is on all of his paths, and hostility in the house of his G.o.d. 9:9 They have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah. He will remember their iniquity.

He will punish them for their sins. 9:10 I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your fathers as the first ripe in the fig tree at its first season; but they came to Baal Peor, and consecrated themselves to the shameful thing, and became abominable like that which they loved.

9:11 As for Ephraim, their glory will fly away like a bird. There will be no birth, none with child, and no conception. 9:12 Though they bring up their children, yet I will bereave them, so that not a man shall be left. Indeed, woe also to them when I depart from them! 9:13 I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre, planted in a pleasant place; but Ephraim will bring out his children to the murderer. 9:14 Give them--Yahweh what will you give? Give them a miscarrying womb and dry b.r.e.a.s.t.s. 9:15 "All their wickedness is in Gilgal; for there I hated them. Because of the wickedness of their deeds I will drive them out of my house! I will love them no more. All their princes are rebels. 9:16 Ephraim is struck.

Their root has dried up. They will bear no fruit. Even though they bring forth, yet I will kill the beloved ones of their womb." 9:17 My G.o.d will cast them away, because they did not listen to him; and they will be wanderers among the nations. 10:1 Israel is a luxuriant vine that puts forth his fruit. According to the abundance of his fruit he has multiplied his altars. As their land has prospered, they have adorned their sacred stones. 10:2 Their heart is divided. Now they will be found guilty. He will demolish their altars. He will destroy their sacred stones. 10:3 Surely now they will say, "We have no king; for we don't fear Yahweh; and the king, what can he do for us?" 10:4 They make promises, swearing falsely in making covenants. Therefore judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field. 10:5 The inhabitants of Samaria will be in terror for the calves of Beth Aven; for its people will mourn over it, Along with its priests who rejoiced over it, for its glory, because it has departed from it. 10:6 It also will be carried to a.s.syria for a present to a great king. Ephraim will receive shame, and Israel will be ashamed of his own counsel. 10:7 Samaria and her king float away, like a twig on the water. 10:8 The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed. The thorn and the thistle will come up on their altars. They will tell the mountains, "Cover us!" and the hills, "Fall on us!" 10:9 "Israel, you have sinned from the days of Gibeah. There they remained. The battle against the children of iniquity doesn't overtake them in Gibeah. 10:10 When it is my desire, I will chastise them; and the nations will be gathered against them, when they are bound to their two transgressions. 10:11 Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh; so I will put a yoke on her beautiful neck. I will set a rider on Ephraim. Judah will plow.

Jacob will break his clods. 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to kindness. Break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek Yahweh, until he comes and rains righteousness on you. 10:13 You have plowed wickedness. You have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, for you trusted in your way, in the mult.i.tude of your mighty men. 10:14 Therefore a battle roar will arise among your people, and all your fortresses will be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth Arbel in the day of battle. The mother was dashed in pieces with her children. 10:15 So Bethel will do to you because of your great wickedness. At daybreak the king of Israel will be destroyed. 11:1 "When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

11:2 They called to them, so they went from them. They sacrificed to the Baals, and burned incense to engraved images. 11:3 Yet I taught Ephraim to walk. I took them by his arms; but they didn't know that I healed them. 11:4 I drew them with cords of a man, with ties of love; and I was to them like those who lift up the yoke on their necks; and I bent down to him and I fed him. 11:5 "They won't return into the land of Egypt; but the a.s.syrian will be their king, because they refused to repent.

11:6 The sword will fall on their cities, and will destroy the bars of their gates, and will put an end to their plans. 11:7 My people are determined to turn from me. Though they call to the Most High, he certainly won't exalt them. 11:8 "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within me, my compa.s.sion is aroused. 11:9 I will not execute the fierceness of my anger. I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am G.o.d, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of you; and I will not come in wrath. 11:10 They will walk after Yahweh, who will roar like a lion; for he will roar, and the children will come trembling from the west. 11:11 They will come trembling like a bird out of Egypt, and like a dove out of the land of a.s.syria; and I will settle them in their houses," says Yahweh. 11:12 Ephraim surrounds me with falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit. Judah still strays from G.o.d, and is unfaithful to the Holy One.

12:1 Ephraim feeds on wind, and chases the east wind. He continually multiplies lies and desolation. They make a covenant with a.s.syria, and oil is carried into Egypt. 12:2 Yahweh also has a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his deeds he will repay him. 12:3 In the womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he contended with G.o.d. 12:4 Indeed, he struggled with the angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication to him. He found him at Bethel, and there he spoke with us, 12:5 even Yahweh, the G.o.d of Armies; Yahweh is his name of renown! 12:6 Therefore turn to your G.o.d. Keep kindness and justice, and wait continually for your G.o.d. 12:7 A merchant has dishonest scales in his hand. He loves to defraud. 12:8 Ephraim said, "Surely I have become rich, I have found myself wealth. In all my wealth they won't find in me any iniquity that is sin." 12:9 "But I am Yahweh your G.o.d from the land of Egypt. I will yet again make you dwell in tents, as in the days of the solemn feast.

12:10 I have also spoken to the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and by the ministry of the prophets I have used parables. 12:11 If Gilead is wicked, surely they are worthless. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls. Indeed, their altars are like heaps in the furrows of the field.

12:12 Jacob fled into the country of Aram, and Israel served to get a wife, and for a wife he tended flocks and herds. 12:13 By a prophet Yahweh brought Israel up out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved. 12:14 Ephraim has bitterly provoked anger. Therefore his blood will be left on him, and his Lord will repay his contempt. 13:1 When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling. He exalted himself in Israel, but when he became guilty in Baal, he died. 13:2 Now they sin more and more, and have made themselves molten images of their silver, even idols according to their own understanding, all of them the work of the craftsmen. They say of them, 'They offer human sacrifice and kiss the calves.' 13:3 Therefore they will be like the morning mist, and like the dew that pa.s.ses away early, like the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing floor, and like the smoke out of the chimney. 13:4 "Yet I am Yahweh your G.o.d from the land of Egypt; and you shall acknowledge no G.o.d but me, and besides me there is no savior. 13:5 I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of great drought. 13:6 According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted. Therefore they have forgotten me. 13:7 Therefore I am like a lion to them. Like a leopard, I will lurk by the path. 13:8 I will meet them like a bear that is bereaved of her cubs, and will tear the covering of their heart. There I will devour them like a lioness. The wild animal will tear them. 13:9 You are destroyed, Israel, because you are against me, against your help. 13:10 Where is your king now, that he may save you in all your cities? And your judges, of whom you said, 'Give me a king and princes?' 13:11 I have given you a king in my anger, and have taken him away in my wrath. 13:12 The guilt of Ephraim is stored up. His sin is stored up. 13:13 The sorrows of a travailing woman will come on him. He is an unwise son; for when it is time, he doesn't come to the opening of the womb. 13:14 I will ransom them from the power of Sheol. I will redeem them from death! Death, where are your plagues? Sheol, where is your destruction? "Compa.s.sion will be hidden from my eyes. 13:15 Though he is fruitful among his brothers, an east wind will come, the breath of Yahweh coming up from the wilderness; and his spring will become dry, and his fountain will be dried up. He will plunder the storehouse of treasure. 13:16 Samaria will bear her guilt; for she has rebelled against her G.o.d. They will fall by the sword. Their infants will be dashed in pieces, and their pregnant women will be ripped open." 14:1 Israel, return to Yahweh your G.o.d; for you have fallen because of your sin. 14:2 Take words with you, and return to Yahweh. Tell him, "Forgive all our sins, and accept that which is good: so we offer our lips like bulls. 14:3 a.s.syria can't save us. We won't ride on horses; neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, 'Our G.o.ds!' for in you the fatherless finds mercy." 14:4 "I will heal their waywardness. I will love them freely; for my anger is turned away from him. 14:5 I will be like the dew to Israel. He will blossom like the lily, and send down his roots like Lebanon. 14:6 His branches will spread, and his beauty will be like the olive tree, and his fragrance like Lebanon. 14:7 Men will dwell in his shade. They will revive like the grain, and blossom like the vine. Their fragrance will be like the wine of Lebanon. 14:8 Ephraim, what have I to do any more with idols? I answer, and will take care of him. I am like a green fir tree; from me your fruit is found." 14:9 Who is wise, that he may understand these things? Who is prudent, that he may know them? For the ways of Yahweh are right, and the righteous walk in them; But the rebellious stumble in them.

Notes:

[1] back to 1:6 Lo-Ruhamah means "not loved."

[2] back to 1:9 Lo-Ammi means "not my people"

[3] back to 2:1 'Ammi' in Hebrew

[4] back to 2:1 'Ruhamah' in Hebrew

Joel

1:1 The Word of Yahweh that came to Joel, the son of Pethuel.

1:2 Hear this, you elders, And listen, all you inhabitants of the land.

Has this ever happened in your days, or in the days of your fathers? 1:3 Tell your children about it, and have your children tell their children, and their children, another generation. 1:4 What the swarming locust has left, the great locust has eaten. What the great locust has left, the gra.s.shopper has eaten. What the gra.s.shopper has left, the caterpillar has eaten. 1:5 Wake up, you drunkards, and weep! Wail, all you drinkers of wine, because of the sweet wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.

1:6 For a nation has come up on my land, strong, and without number. His teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he has the fangs of a lioness. 1:7 He has laid my vine waste, and stripped my fig tree. He has stripped its bark, and thrown it away. Its branches are made white. 1:8 Mourn like a virgin dressed in sackcloth for the husband of her youth! 1:9 The meal offering and the drink offering are cut off from Yahweh's house. The priests, Yahweh's ministers, mourn. 1:10 The field is laid waste. The land mourns, for the grain is destroyed, The new wine has dried up, and the oil languishes. 1:11 Be confounded, you farmers! Wail, you vineyard keepers; for the wheat and for the barley; for the harvest of the field has perished. 1:12 The vine has dried up, and the fig tree withered; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all of the trees of the field are withered; for joy has withered away from the sons of men. 1:13 Put on sackcloth and mourn, you priests! Wail, you ministers of the altar. Come, lie all night in sackcloth, you ministers of my G.o.d, for the meal offering and the drink offering are withheld from your G.o.d's house. 1:14 Sanctify a fast. Call a solemn a.s.sembly.

Gather the elders, and all the inhabitants of the land, to the house of Yahweh, your G.o.d, and cry to Yahweh. 1:15 Alas for the day! For the day of Yahweh is at hand, and it will come as destruction from the Almighty.

1:16 Isn't the food cut off before our eyes; joy and gladness from the house of our G.o.d? 1:17 The seeds rot under their clods. The granaries are laid desolate. The barns are broken down, for the grain has withered. 1:18 How the animals groan! The herds of livestock are perplexed, because they have no pasture. Yes, the flocks of sheep are made desolate. 1:19 Yahweh, I cry to you, For the fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame has burned all the trees of the field. 1:20 Yes, the animals of the field pant to you, for the water brooks have dried up, And the fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness. 2:1 Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of Yahweh comes, for it is close at hand: 2:2 A day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness. As the dawn spreading on the mountains, a great and strong people; there has never been the like, neither will there be any more after them, even to the years of many generations. 2:3 A fire devours before them, and behind them, a flame burns. The land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them, a desolate wilderness. Yes, and no one has escaped them. 2:4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses, and as hors.e.m.e.n, so do they run. 2:5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of the mountains do they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. 2:6 At their presence the peoples are in anguish. All faces have grown pale. 2:7 They run like mighty men. They climb the wall like warriors. They each march in his line, and they don't swerve off course. 2:8 Neither does one jostle another; they march everyone in his path, and they burst through the defenses, and don't break ranks. 2:9 They rush on the city. They run on the wall. They climb up into the houses. They enter in at the windows like thieves. 2:10 The earth quakes before them. The heavens tremble.

The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.

2:11 Yahweh thunders his voice before his army; for his forces are very great; for he is strong who obeys his command; for the day of Yahweh is great and very awesome, and who can endure it? 2:12 "Yet even now," says Yahweh, "turn to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning." 2:13 Tear your heart, and not your garments, and turn to Yahweh, your G.o.d; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and relents from sending calamity. 2:14 Who knows? He may turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, even a meal offering and a drink offering to Yahweh, your G.o.d. 2:15 Blow the trumpet in Zion! Sanctify a fast. Call a solemn a.s.sembly. 2:16 Gather the people. Sanctify the a.s.sembly. a.s.semble the elders. Gather the children, and those who suck the b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Let the bridegroom go forth from his room, and the bride out of her chamber.