Let the fields and everything in them celebrate! Then let the trees of the forest shout with joy

but when the hot wind blows by, it disappears, and one can no longer even spot the place where it once grew.

You make it dark and night comes, during which all the beasts of the forest prowl around.

Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox where there is hatred.

Wine is a mocker and strong drink is a brawler; whoever goes astray by them is not wise.

The father of a righteous person will rejoice greatly; whoever fathers a wise child will have joy in him.

When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations within him.

The one who is tormented by the murder of another will flee to the pit; let no one support him.

I have observed the burden that God has given to people to keep them occupied.

Oppressors treat my people cruelly; creditors rule over them. My people’s leaders mislead them; they give you confusing directions.

Look, I will take control of his mind; he will receive a report and return to his own land. I will cut him down with a sword in his own land.”’”

The grass dries up, the flowers wither, when the wind sent by the Lord blows on them. Surely humanity is like grass.

they will say about me, “Yes, the Lord is a powerful deliverer.”’” All who are angry at him will cower before him.

All of us had wandered off like sheep; each of us had strayed off on his own path, but the Lord caused the sin of all of us to attack him.

You must be truthful, honest and upright when you take an oath saying, ‘As surely as the Lord lives!’ If you do, the nations will pray to be as blessed by him as you are and will make him the object of their boasting.”

Cursed be the day I was born! May that day not be blessed when my mother gave birth to me.

Then I looked and realized a hand was stretched out to me, and in it was a written scroll.

Yet I will appoint them to keep charge of the temple, all of its service and all that will be done in it.

Israel will be swallowed up among the nations; they will be like a worthless piece of pottery.

The Lord responded: “Write down this message! Record it legibly on tablets, so the one who announces it may read it easily.