⁴⁹ This is the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were proud, had plenty to eat, and enjoyed peace and prosperity; but she didn’t help the poor and the needy. ⁵⁰ They became haughty and did detestable things in front of me, and I turned away from them as soon as I saw it.

⁵¹ Samaria didn’t sin even half as much as you did. You’ve so outstripped her in multiplying your detestable practices, with all the detestable things you’ve done, that you’ve even made your sisters seem innocent. ⁵² Bear your disgrace, which has actually improved your sisters’ position. Because your sins and detestable acts were greater than theirs, they are now more righteous than you. Be ashamed, and bear the disgrace of making your sisters righteous! ⁵³ I will improve the circumstances of Sodom and her daughters and the circumstances of Samaria and her daughters. And what’s left of your fortune will go to them, ⁵⁴ so that you will bear your disgrace and be humiliated by all that you’ve done to make them feel better. ⁵⁵ Then your sister Sodom and her daughters will return to their former state, and your sister Samaria and her daughters will return to their former state. You and your daughters will return to your former state, ⁵⁶ but you will no longer talk about your sister Sodom as in your haughty days ⁵⁷ before your wickedness was exposed. You are now the reproach of all the daughters of Edom^[a] and all those around her, including the daughters of the Philistines. They mock you on every side. ⁵⁸ You alone must bear your bad reputation and your detestable ways. This is what the Lord says.

⁵⁹ The Lord God proclaims: I will do to you just as you have done, despising solemn pledges and breaking covenants. ⁶⁰ Nevertheless, I will remember my covenant with you when you were young, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. ⁶¹ And you will remember your ways and be ashamed, when in spite of your covenant I^[b] take your big sisters and little sisters from you and give them back to you as daughters. ⁶² I myself will establish my covenant with you, and you will know that I am the Lord. ⁶³ Then you will remember and be ashamed, and you won’t even open your mouth because of your shame, after I’ve forgiven you for all that you’ve done. This is what the Lord God says.

²⁹ The important people of the land have practiced extortion and have committed robbery. They’ve oppressed the poor and mistreated the immigrant. They’ve oppressed and denied justice. ³⁰ I looked for anyone to repair the wall and stand in the gap for me on behalf of the land, so I wouldn’t have to destroy it. But I couldn’t find anyone. ³¹ So I’ve poured out my anger on them. With my furious fire I’ve finished them off. I’ve held them accountable. This is what the Lord God proclaims.

Wicked laws