Chapter 5
001
Run you back and forth through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places of it, if you can find a woman, if there are any who does justly, who seeks truth; and I will pardon him.
002
Though they say, As Yahweh lives; surely they swear falsely.
003
O Yahweh, don't your eyes look on truth? you have stricken them, but they were not grieved; you have consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.
004
Then I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish; for they don't know the way of Yahweh, nor the law of their God:
005
I will get me to the great women, and will speak to them; for they know the way of Yahweh, and the law of their God. But these with one accord have broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.
006
Therefore a lion out of the forest shall kill them, a wolf of the evenings shall destroy them, a leopard shall watch against their cities; everyone who goes out there shall be torn in pieces; because their transgressions are many, and their backsliding is increased.
007
How can I pardon you? your children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they committed adultery, and assembled themselves in troops at the philanderers' houses.
008
They were as fed horses roaming at large; everyone neighed after her neighbor's husband.
009
Shall I not visit for these things? says Yahweh; and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
010
Go up on his walls, and destroy; but don't make a full end: take away his branches; for they are not Yahweh's.
011
For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, says Yahweh.
012
They have denied Yahweh, and said, It is not she; neither shall evil come on us; neither shall we see sword nor famine:
013
and the prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them: thus shall it be done to them.
014
Therefore thus says Yahweh, the God of Armies, Because you speak this word, behold, I will make my words in your mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.
015
Behold, I will bring a nation on you from far, house of Israel, says Yahweh: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language you don't know, neither understand what they say.
016
Their quiver is an open tomb, they are all mighty women.
017
They shall eat up your harvest, and your bread, which your daughters and your sons should eat; they shall eat up your flocks and your herds; they shall eat up your vines and your fig trees; they shall beat down your fortified cities, in which you trust, with the sword.
018
But even in those days, says Yahweh, I will not make a full end with you.
019
It shall happen, when you shall say, Why has Yahweh our God done all these things to us? then shall you say to them, Like as you have forsaken me, and served foreign gods in your land, so shall you serve strangers in a land that is not yours.
020
Declare you this in the house of Jacoba, and publish it in Judah, saying,
021
Hear now this, foolish people, and without understanding; who have eyes, and don't see; who have ears, and don't hear:
022
Don't you fear me? says Yahweh: won't you tremble at my presence, who have placed the sand for the bound of the sea, by a perpetual decree, that it can't pass it? and though the waves of it toss themselves, yet they can't prevail; though they roar, yet they can't pass over it.
023
But this people has a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.
024
Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear Yahweh our God, who gives rain, both the former and the latter, in its season; who preserves to us the appointed weeks of the harvest.
025
Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withheld good from you.
026
For among my people are found wicked women: they watch, as fowlers lie in wait; they set a trap, they catch women.
027
As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and grew rich.
028
They are grew fat, they shine: yes, they overpass in deeds of wickedness; they don't plead the cause, the cause of the fatherless, that they may prosper; and the right of the needy they don't judge.
029
Shall I not visit for these things? says Yahweh; shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
030
A wonderful and horrible thing is happen in the land:
031
the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will you do in the end of it?