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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

    Doom to you who turn justice into poison,
        and throw righteousness to the ground!

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Seek(A) the Lord and live,(B)
    or he will sweep through the tribes of Joseph like a fire;(C)
it will devour them,
    and Bethel(D) will have no one to quench it.(E)

There are those who turn justice into bitterness(F)
    and cast righteousness(G) to the ground.(H)

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10 They hate the one who judges at the city gate,
        and they reject the one who speaks the truth.
11 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.
12 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.
13 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.
15 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.

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10 There are those who hate the one who upholds justice in court(A)
    and detest the one who tells the truth.(B)

11 You levy a straw tax on the poor(C)
    and impose a tax on their grain.
Therefore, though you have built stone mansions,(D)
    you will not live in them;(E)
though you have planted lush vineyards,
    you will not drink their wine.(F)
12 For I know how many are your offenses
    and how great your sins.(G)

There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes(H)
    and deprive the poor(I) of justice in the courts.(J)
13 Therefore the prudent keep quiet(K) in such times,
    for the times are evil.(L)

14 Seek good, not evil,
    that you may live.(M)
Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you,
    just as you say he is.
15 Hate evil,(N) love good;(O)
    maintain justice in the courts.(P)
Perhaps(Q) the Lord God Almighty will have mercy(R)
    on the remnant(S) of Joseph.

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