<p class="bodytext">&#8220;&#8216;Therefore this is what the sovereign <sc>Lordsc> says: As surely as I live, I will certainly repay him<n id="1" /> for despising my oath and breaking my covenant!

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;As surely as I live, declares the sovereign <sc>Lordsc>,<n id="1" /> you will not quote this proverb in Israel anymore!

As surely as I live, declares the sovereign <sc>Lordsc>, with a powerful hand and an outstretched arm,<n id="1" /> and with an outpouring of rage, I will be king over you.

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;&#8216;For testing will come, and what will happen when the scepter, which the sword despises, is no more?<n id="1" /> declares the sovereign <sc>Lordsc>.&#8217;p>

Can your heart endure,<n id="1" /> or can your hands be strong when I deal with you?<n id="2" /> I, the <sc>Lord,sc> have spoken, and I will do it!

Therefore, as surely as I live, declares the sovereign <sc>Lordsc>, I will subject you to bloodshed, and bloodshed will pursue you. Since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you.

So this is what the sovereign <sc>Lordsc> says: I vow<n id="1" /> that the nations around you will endure insults as well.p>

In my zeal, in the fire of my fury,<n id="1" /> I declare that on that day there will be a great earthquake<n id="2" /> in the land of Israel.

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;&#8216;But the Levites who went far from me, straying off from me after their idols when Israel went astray, will be responsible for<n id="1" /> their sin.

They must not marry a widow or a divorcee, but they may marry a virgin from the house of Israel<n id="1" /> or a widow who is a priest&#8217;s widow.

However, I will first tell you what is written in a dependable book.<n id="1" /> (There is no one who strengthens me against these princes,<n id="2" /> except Michael your<n id="3" /> prince.

<t /><p class="poetry">Although you, O Israel, commit adultery,p> <p class="poetry">do not let Judah become guilty!p> <p class="poetry">Do not journey to Gilgal!p> <p class="poetry">Do not go up to Beth Aven!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Do not swear, &#8220;As surely as the <sc>Lordsc> lives!&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">Even if they raise their children,p> <p class="poetry">I will take away every last one of them.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Woe to them!p> <p class="poetry">For I will turn away from them.p>

<t /><p class="poetry">The roar of battle will rise against your people;p> <p class="poetry">all your fortresses will be devastated,p> <p class="poetry">just as Shalman devastated<n id="1" /> Beth Arbel on the day of battle,p> <p class="poetry">when mothers were dashed to the ground with their children.p>

<p class="poetry">Is there idolatry<n id="1" /> in Gilead?<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Certainly its inhabitants<n id="3" /> will come to nothing!<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal?p> <p class="poetry">Surely their altars will be like stones heaped up on a plowed field!p>

<p class="poetry">Does a lion roar in the woods if he has not cornered his prey?<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Does a young lion bellow from his den if he has not caught something?p>

<p class="poetry">Certainly the sovereign <sc>Lordsc> does nothing without first revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.p>

<p class="poetry">They say to the people:<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Journey over to Calneh and look at it!p> <p class="poetry">Then go from there to Hamath-Rabbah!<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Then go down to Gath of the Philistines!p> <p class="poetry">Are they superior to our two<n id="3" /> kingdoms?p> <p class="poetry">Is their territory larger than yours?&#8221;<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">Can horses run on rocky cliffs?p> <p class="poetry">Can one plow the sea with oxen?<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Yet you have turned justice into a poisonous plant,p> <p class="poetry">and the fruit of righteous actions into a bitter plant.<n id="2" />p>

When they had completely consumed the earth&#8217;s vegetation, I said,p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Sovereign <sc>Lordsc>, forgive Israel!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">How can Jacob survive?<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">He is too weak!&#8221;<n id="3" />p>