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Hosea 12-14
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Hosea 12-14
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
12 Ephraim herds the wind,
and pursues the east wind all day long;
they multiply falsehood and violence;
they make a treaty with Assyria,
and oil is carried to Egypt.
The Long History of Rebellion
2 The Lord has an indictment against Judah,
and will punish Jacob according to his ways,
and repay him according to his deeds.
3 In the womb he tried to supplant his brother,
and in his manhood he strove with God.
4 He strove with the angel and prevailed,
he wept and sought his favor;
he met him at Bethel,
and there he spoke with him.[a]
5 The Lord the God of hosts,
the Lord is his name!
6 But as for you, return to your God,
hold fast to love and justice,
and wait continually for your God.
7 A trader, in whose hands are false balances,
he loves to oppress.
8 Ephraim has said, “Ah, I am rich,
I have gained wealth for myself;
in all of my gain
no offense has been found in me
that would be sin.”[b]
9 I am the Lord your God
from the land of Egypt;
I will make you live in tents again,
as in the days of the appointed festival.
10 I spoke to the prophets;
it was I who multiplied visions,
and through the prophets I will bring destruction.
11 In Gilead[c] there is iniquity,
they shall surely come to nothing.
In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls,
so their altars shall be like stone heaps
on the furrows of the field.
12 Jacob fled to the land of Aram,
there Israel served for a wife,
and for a wife he guarded sheep.[d]
13 By a prophet the Lord brought Israel up from Egypt,
and by a prophet he was guarded.
14 Ephraim has given bitter offense,
so his Lord will bring his crimes down on him
and pay him back for his insults.
Relentless Judgment on Israel
13 When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling;
he was exalted in Israel;
but he incurred guilt through Baal and died.
2 And now they keep on sinning
and make a cast image for themselves,
idols of silver made according to their understanding,
all of them the work of artisans.
“Sacrifice to these,” they say.[e]
People are kissing calves!
3 Therefore they shall be like the morning mist
or like the dew that goes away early,
like chaff that swirls from the threshing floor
or like smoke from a window.
4 Yet I have been the Lord your God
ever since the land of Egypt;
you know no God but me,
and besides me there is no savior.
5 It was I who fed[f] you in the wilderness,
in the land of drought.
6 When I fed[g] them, they were satisfied;
they were satisfied, and their heart was proud;
therefore they forgot me.
7 So I will become like a lion to them,
like a leopard I will lurk beside the way.
8 I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs,
and will tear open the covering of their heart;
there I will devour them like a lion,
as a wild animal would mangle them.
9 I will destroy you, O Israel;
who can help you?[h]
10 Where now is[i] your king, that he may save you?
Where in all your cities are your rulers,
of whom you said,
“Give me a king and rulers”?
11 I gave you a king in my anger,
and I took him away in my wrath.
12 Ephraim’s iniquity is bound up;
his sin is kept in store.
13 The pangs of childbirth come for him,
but he is an unwise son;
for at the proper time he does not present himself
at the mouth of the womb.
14 Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol?
Shall I redeem them from Death?
O Death, where are[j] your plagues?
O Sheol, where is[k] your destruction?
Compassion is hidden from my eyes.
15 Although he may flourish among rushes,[l]
the east wind shall come, a blast from the Lord,
rising from the wilderness;
and his fountain shall dry up,
his spring shall be parched.
It shall strip his treasury
of every precious thing.
16 [m] Samaria shall bear her guilt,
because she has rebelled against her God;
they shall fall by the sword,
their little ones shall be dashed in pieces,
and their pregnant women ripped open.
A Plea for Repentance
14 Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God,
for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.
2 Take words with you
and return to the Lord;
say to him,
“Take away all guilt;
accept that which is good,
and we will offer
the fruit[n] of our lips.
3 Assyria shall not save us;
we will not ride upon horses;
we will say no more, ‘Our God,’
to the work of our hands.
In you the orphan finds mercy.”
Assurance of Forgiveness
4 I will heal their disloyalty;
I will love them freely,
for my anger has turned from them.
5 I will be like the dew to Israel;
he shall blossom like the lily,
he shall strike root like the forests of Lebanon.[o]
6 His shoots shall spread out;
his beauty shall be like the olive tree,
and his fragrance like that of Lebanon.
7 They shall again live beneath my[p] shadow,
they shall flourish as a garden;[q]
they shall blossom like the vine,
their fragrance shall be like the wine of Lebanon.
8 O Ephraim, what have I[r] to do with idols?
It is I who answer and look after you.[s]
I am like an evergreen cypress;
your faithfulness[t] comes from me.
9 Those who are wise understand these things;
those who are discerning know them.
For the ways of the Lord are right,
and the upright walk in them,
but transgressors stumble in them.
Footnotes
- Hosea 12:4 Gk Syr: Heb us
- Hosea 12:8 Meaning of Heb uncertain
- Hosea 12:11 Compare Syr: Heb Gilead
- Hosea 12:12 Heb lacks sheep
- Hosea 13:2 Cn Compare Gk: Heb To these they say sacrifices of people
- Hosea 13:5 Gk Syr: Heb knew
- Hosea 13:6 Cn: Heb according to their pasture
- Hosea 13:9 Gk Syr: Heb for in me is your help
- Hosea 13:10 Gk Syr Vg: Heb I will be
- Hosea 13:14 Gk Syr: Heb I will be
- Hosea 13:14 Gk Syr: Heb I will be
- Hosea 13:15 Or among brothers
- Hosea 13:16 Ch 14.1 in Heb
- Hosea 14:2 Gk Syr: Heb bulls
- Hosea 14:5 Cn: Heb like Lebanon
- Hosea 14:7 Heb his
- Hosea 14:7 Cn: Heb they shall grow grain
- Hosea 14:8 Or What more has Ephraim
- Hosea 14:8 Heb him
- Hosea 14:8 Heb your fruit
Hosea 12-14
New International Version
Hosea 12-14
New International Version
12 [a]1 Ephraim(A) feeds on the wind;(B)
he pursues the east wind all day
and multiplies lies and violence.(C)
He makes a treaty with Assyria(D)
and sends olive oil to Egypt.(E)
2 The Lord has a charge(F) to bring against Judah;(G)
he will punish(H) Jacob[b] according to his ways
and repay him according to his deeds.(I)
3 In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel;(J)
as a man he struggled(K) with God.
4 He struggled with the angel and overcame him;
he wept and begged for his favor.
He found him at Bethel(L)
and talked with him there—
5 the Lord God Almighty,
the Lord is his name!(M)
6 But you must return(N) to your God;
maintain love and justice,(O)
and wait for your God always.(P)
7 The merchant uses dishonest scales(Q)
and loves to defraud.
8 Ephraim boasts,(R)
“I am very rich; I have become wealthy.(S)
With all my wealth they will not find in me
any iniquity or sin.”
9 “I have been the Lord your God
ever since you came out of Egypt;(T)
I will make you live in tents(U) again,
as in the days of your appointed festivals.
10 I spoke to the prophets,
gave them many visions
and told parables(V) through them.”(W)
11 Is Gilead wicked?(X)
Its people are worthless!
Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal?(Y)
Their altars will be like piles of stones
on a plowed field.(Z)
12 Jacob fled to the country of Aram[c];(AA)
Israel served to get a wife,
and to pay for her he tended sheep.(AB)
13 The Lord used a prophet to bring Israel up from Egypt,(AC)
by a prophet he cared for him.(AD)
14 But Ephraim has aroused his bitter anger;
his Lord will leave on him the guilt of his bloodshed(AE)
and will repay him for his contempt.(AF)
The Lord’s Anger Against Israel
13 When Ephraim spoke, people trembled;(AG)
he was exalted(AH) in Israel.
But he became guilty of Baal worship(AI) and died.
2 Now they sin more and more;
they make(AJ) idols for themselves from their silver,(AK)
cleverly fashioned images,
all of them the work of craftsmen.(AL)
It is said of these people,
“They offer human sacrifices!
They kiss[d](AM) calf-idols!(AN)”
3 Therefore they will be like the morning mist,
like the early dew that disappears,(AO)
like chaff(AP) swirling from a threshing floor,(AQ)
like smoke(AR) escaping through a window.
4 “But I have been the Lord your God
ever since you came out of Egypt.(AS)
You shall acknowledge(AT) no God but me,(AU)
no Savior(AV) except me.
5 I cared for you in the wilderness,(AW)
in the land of burning heat.
6 When I fed them, they were satisfied;
when they were satisfied, they became proud;(AX)
then they forgot(AY) me.(AZ)
7 So I will be like a lion(BA) to them,
like a leopard I will lurk by the path.
8 Like a bear robbed of her cubs,(BB)
I will attack them and rip them open;
like a lion(BC) I will devour them—
a wild animal will tear them apart.(BD)
9 “You are destroyed, Israel,
because you are against me,(BE) against your helper.(BF)
10 Where is your king,(BG) that he may save you?
Where are your rulers in all your towns,
of whom you said,
‘Give me a king and princes’?(BH)
11 So in my anger I gave you a king,(BI)
and in my wrath I took him away.(BJ)
12 The guilt of Ephraim is stored up,
his sins are kept on record.(BK)
13 Pains as of a woman in childbirth(BL) come to him,
but he is a child without wisdom;
when the time(BM) arrives,
he doesn’t have the sense to come out of the womb.(BN)
14 “I will deliver this people from the power of the grave;(BO)
I will redeem them from death.(BP)
Where, O death, are your plagues?
Where, O grave, is your destruction?(BQ)
“I will have no compassion,
15 even though he thrives(BR) among his brothers.
An east wind(BS) from the Lord will come,
blowing in from the desert;
his spring will fail
and his well dry up.(BT)
His storehouse will be plundered(BU)
of all its treasures.
16 The people of Samaria(BV) must bear their guilt,(BW)
because they have rebelled(BX) against their God.
They will fall by the sword;(BY)
their little ones will be dashed(BZ) to the ground,
their pregnant women(CA) ripped open.”[e]
Repentance to Bring Blessing
14 [f]Return,(CB) Israel, to the Lord your God.
Your sins(CC) have been your downfall!(CD)
2 Take words with you
and return to the Lord.
Say to him:
“Forgive(CE) all our sins
and receive us graciously,(CF)
that we may offer the fruit of our lips.[g](CG)
3 Assyria cannot save us;(CH)
we will not mount warhorses.(CI)
We will never again say ‘Our gods’(CJ)
to what our own hands have made,(CK)
for in you the fatherless(CL) find compassion.”
4 “I will heal(CM) their waywardness(CN)
and love them freely,(CO)
for my anger has turned away(CP) from them.
5 I will be like the dew(CQ) to Israel;
he will blossom like a lily.(CR)
Like a cedar of Lebanon(CS)
he will send down his roots;(CT)
6 his young shoots will grow.
His splendor will be like an olive tree,(CU)
his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.(CV)
7 People will dwell again in his shade;(CW)
they will flourish like the grain,
they will blossom(CX) like the vine—
Israel’s fame will be like the wine(CY) of Lebanon.(CZ)
8 Ephraim, what more have I[h] to do with idols?(DA)
I will answer him and care for him.
I am like a flourishing juniper;(DB)
your fruitfulness comes from me.”
Footnotes
- Hosea 12:1 In Hebrew texts 12:1-14 is numbered 12:2-15.
- Hosea 12:2 Jacob means he grasps the heel, a Hebrew idiom for he takes advantage of or he deceives.
- Hosea 12:12 That is, Northwest Mesopotamia
- Hosea 13:2 Or “Men who sacrifice / kiss
- Hosea 13:16 In Hebrew texts this verse (13:16) is numbered 14:1.
- Hosea 14:1 In Hebrew texts 14:1-9 is numbered 14:2-10.
- Hosea 14:2 Or offer our lips as sacrifices of bulls
- Hosea 14:8 Or Hebrew; Septuagint What more has Ephraim
Sirach 43:13-33
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Sirach 43:13-33
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
The Marvels of Nature
13 By his command he sends the driving snow
and speeds the lightnings of his judgment.
14 Therefore the storehouses are opened,
and the clouds fly out like birds.
15 In his majesty he gives the clouds their strength,
and the hailstones are broken in pieces.
17a The voice of his thunder rebukes the earth;
16 when he appears, the mountains shake.
At his will the south wind blows;
17b so do the storm from the north and the whirlwind.
He scatters the snow like birds flying down,
and its descent is like locusts alighting.
18 The eye is dazzled by the beauty of its whiteness,
and the mind is amazed as it falls.
19 He pours frost over the earth like salt,
and icicles form like pointed thorns.
20 The cold north wind blows,
and ice freezes on the water;
it settles on every pool of water,
and the water puts it on like a breastplate.
21 He consumes the mountains and burns up the wilderness,
and withers the tender grass like fire.
22 A mist quickly heals all things;
the falling dew gives refreshment from the heat.
23 By his plan he stilled the deep
and planted islands in it.
24 Those who sail the sea tell of its dangers,
and we marvel at what we hear.
25 In it are strange and marvelous creatures,
all kinds of living things, and huge sea-monsters.
26 Because of him each of his messengers succeeds,
and by his word all things hold together.
27 We could say more but could never say enough;
let the final word be: “He is the all.”
28 Where can we find the strength to praise him?
For he is greater than all his works.
29 Awesome is the Lord and very great,
and marvelous is his power.
30 Glorify the Lord and exalt him as much as you can,
for he surpasses even that.
When you exalt him, summon all your strength,
and do not grow weary, for you cannot praise him enough.
31 Who has seen him and can describe him?
Or who can extol him as he is?
32 Many things greater than these lie hidden,
for I[a] have seen but few of his works.
33 For the Lord has made all things,
and to the godly he has given wisdom.
Footnotes
- Sirach 43:32 Heb: Gk we
Revelation 19
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Revelation 19
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
The Rejoicing in Heaven
19 After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying,
“Hallelujah!
Salvation and glory and power to our God,
2 for his judgments are true and just;
he has judged the great whore
who corrupted the earth with her fornication,
and he has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”[a]
3 Once more they said,
“Hallelujah!
The smoke goes up from her forever and ever.”
4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who is seated on the throne, saying,
“Amen. Hallelujah!”
5 And from the throne came a voice saying,
“Praise our God,
all you his servants,[b]
and all who fear him,
small and great.”
6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunderpeals, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready;
8 to her it has been granted to be clothed
with fine linen, bright and pure”—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
9 And the angel said[c] to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.” 10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant[d] with you and your comrades[e] who hold the testimony of Jesus.[f] Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus[g] is the spirit of prophecy.”
The Rider on the White Horse
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse! Its rider is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and he has a name inscribed that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in[h] blood, and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, wearing fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule[i] them with a rod of iron; he will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, “King of kings and Lord of lords.”
The Beast and Its Armies Defeated
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly in midheaven, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of the mighty, the flesh of horses and their riders—flesh of all, both free and slave, both small and great.” 19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against the rider on the horse and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed in its presence the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 And the rest were killed by the sword of the rider on the horse, the sword that came from his mouth; and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.
Footnotes
- Revelation 19:2 Gk slaves
- Revelation 19:5 Gk slaves
- Revelation 19:9 Gk he said
- Revelation 19:10 Gk slave
- Revelation 19:10 Gk brothers
- Revelation 19:10 Or to Jesus
- Revelation 19:10 Or to Jesus
- Revelation 19:13 Other ancient authorities read sprinkled with
- Revelation 19:15 Or will shepherd
Revelation 19
New International Version
Revelation 19
New International Version
Threefold Hallelujah Over Babylon’s Fall
19 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude(A) in heaven shouting:
“Hallelujah!(B)
Salvation(C) and glory and power(D) belong to our God,
2 for true and just are his judgments.(E)
He has condemned the great prostitute(F)
who corrupted the earth by her adulteries.
He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”(G)
3 And again they shouted:
4 The twenty-four elders(J) and the four living creatures(K) fell down(L) and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried:
“Amen, Hallelujah!”(M)
5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying:
6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude,(P) like the roar of rushing waters(Q) and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
“Hallelujah!(R)
For our Lord God Almighty(S) reigns.(T)
7 Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!(U)
For the wedding of the Lamb(V) has come,
and his bride(W) has made herself ready.
8 Fine linen,(X) bright and clean,
was given her to wear.”
(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts(Y) of God’s holy people.)
9 Then the angel said to me,(Z) “Write this:(AA) Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!”(AB) And he added, “These are the true words of God.”(AC)
10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him.(AD) But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God!(AE) For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”(AF)
The Heavenly Warrior Defeats the Beast
11 I saw heaven standing open(AG) and there before me was a white horse, whose rider(AH) is called Faithful and True.(AI) With justice he judges and wages war.(AJ) 12 His eyes are like blazing fire,(AK) and on his head are many crowns.(AL) He has a name written on him(AM) that no one knows but he himself.(AN) 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood,(AO) and his name is the Word of God.(AP) 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen,(AQ) white(AR) and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword(AS) with which to strike down(AT) the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”[a](AU) He treads the winepress(AV) of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:(AW)
king of kings and lord of lords.(AX)
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds(AY) flying in midair,(AZ) “Come,(BA) gather together for the great supper of God,(BB) 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people,(BC) free and slave,(BD) great and small.”(BE)
19 Then I saw the beast(BF) and the kings of the earth(BG) and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse(BH) and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet(BI) who had performed the signs(BJ) on its behalf.(BK) With these signs he had deluded(BL) those who had received the mark of the beast(BM) and worshiped its image.(BN) The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake(BO) of burning sulfur.(BP) 21 The rest were killed with the sword(BQ) coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse,(BR) and all the birds(BS) gorged themselves on their flesh.
Footnotes
- Revelation 19:15 Psalm 2:9
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)
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