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Seek the Lord and live,
    or he will break out against the house of Joseph like fire,
    and it will devour Bethel, with no one to quench it.(A)
Ah, you who turn justice to wormwood
    and bring 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 reproves in the gate,
    and they abhor the one who speaks the truth.(A)
11 Therefore because you trample on the poor
    and take from them levies of grain,
you have built houses of hewn stone,
    but you shall not live in them;
you have planted pleasant vineyards,
    but you shall not drink their wine.(B)
12 For I know how many are your transgressions
    and how great are your sins—
you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe
    and push aside the needy in the gate.(C)
13 Therefore the prudent will keep silent in such a time,
    for it is an evil time.

14 Seek good and not evil,
    that you may live,
and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you,
    just as you have said.(D)
15 Hate evil and love good,
    and establish justice in the gate;
it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts,
    will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.(E)

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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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