A song of lament
1 Hear this word—a funeral song—that I am lifting up against you, house of Israel:
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Fallen, no more to rise, is virgin Israel, deserted on her land, with no one to raise her up.
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The LORD God proclaims: The city that marched out one thousand people will have one hundred left, and the city that marched out one hundred will have ten left in the house of Israel.
Words of encouragement
4 The LORD proclaims to the house of Israel: Seek me and live.
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But don't seek Bethel, don't enter into Gilgal, or cross over to Beer-sheba; for Gilgal will go into exile, and Bethel will come to nothing.
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Seek the LORD and live, or else God might rush like a fire against the house of Joseph. The fire will burn up Bethel, with no one to put it out.
Words of doom
7 Doom to you who turn justice into poison, and throw righteousness to the ground!
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The one who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns deep darkness into the morning, and darkens the day into night; who summons the waters of the sea, and pours them out on the surface of the earth— this one's name is the LORD—
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who causes destruction to flash out against the strong, so that destruction comes upon the fortress.
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They hate the one who judges at the city gate, and they reject the one who speaks the truth.
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Truly, because you crush the weak, and because you tax their grain, you have built houses of carved stone, but you won't live in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you won't drink their wine.
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I know how many are your crimes, and how numerous are your sins— afflicting the righteous, taking money on the side, turning away the poor who seek help.
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Therefore, the one who is wise will keep silent in that time; it is an evil time.
Words of inspiration
14 Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and so the LORD, the God of heavenly forces, will be with you just as you have said.
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Hate evil, love good, and establish justice at the city gate. Perhaps the LORD God of heavenly forces will be gracious to what is left of Joseph.
Divine wrath anticipated
16 Truly, the LORD proclaims, the God of heavenly forces, the Lord: Crying will be heard in all the squares. In all the streets they will say, "Oh no! Oh no!" They will call upon the farmers to wail, and those skilled in mourning to lament.
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In all the vineyards there will be bitter crying because I will pass through your midst,