40
"O My people, hear My word: Make you ready for thy battle, and in those evils be even as pilgrims upon the earth.
41
He that selleth, let him be as he that fleeth away; and he that buyeth, as one that will lose;
42
he that tradeth in merchandise, as he that hath no profit by it; and he that buildeth, as he that shall not dwell therein;
43
he that soweth, as if he should not reap; so also he that planteth the vineyard, as he that shall not gather the grapes;
44
they that marry, as they that shall get no children; and they that marry not, as the widowers.
45
And therefore they that labor, labor in vain;
46
for strangers shall reap their fruits and despoil their goods, overthrow their houses and take their children captives, for in captivity and famine shall they get children.
47
And they that trade in their merchandise with robbery, the more they deck their cities, their houses, their possessions and their own persons,Œ
48
the more will I be angry with them for their sin," saith the Lord.
49
As a whore envieth a right honest and virtuous woman,
50
so shall righteousness hate iniquity when she decketh herself, and shall accuse her to her face, when He cometh that shall defend him that diligently searcheth out every sin upon earth.