Woe to the Complacent

Woe to those who are at ease in Zion(A)
and to those who feel secure on the hill of Samaria—
the notable people in this first of the nations,
those the house of Israel comes to.
Cross over to Calneh(B) and see;
go from there to great Hamath;(C)
then go down to Gath(D) of the Philistines.
Are you better than these kingdoms?
Is their territory larger than yours?
You dismiss any thought of the evil day(E)
and bring in a reign of violence.(F)

They lie on beds inlaid with ivory,(G)
sprawled out on their couches,(H)
and dine on lambs from the flock(I)
and calves from the stall.
They improvise songs[a] to the sound of the harp(J)
and invent[b] their own musical instruments like David.(K)
They drink wine by the bowlful(L)
and anoint themselves with the finest oils
but do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.(M)
Therefore, they will now go into exile
as the first of the captives,(N)
and the feasting(O) of those who sprawl out
will come to an end.

Israel’s Pride Judged

The Lord God has sworn by himself(P)—this is the declaration of the Lord, the God of Armies:

I loathe Jacob’s pride(Q)
and hate his citadels,(R)
so I will hand over the city(S) and everything in it.

And if there are ten men left in one house, they will die.(T) 10 A close relative[c] and burner[d](U) will remove his corpse[e] from the house. He will call to someone in the inner recesses of the house, “Any more with you?”

That person will reply, “None.”

Then he will say, “Silence, because the Lord’s name must not be invoked.”(V)

11 For the Lord commands:

The large house will be smashed to pieces,
and the small house to rubble.(W)

12 Do horses gallop on the cliffs?
Does anyone plow there with oxen?[f]
Yet you have turned justice into poison(X)
and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood(Y)
13 you who rejoice over Lo-debar(Z)
and say, “Didn’t we capture Karnaim
for ourselves by our own strength?” (AA)
14 But look, I am raising up a nation
against you, house of Israel(AB)
this is the declaration of the Lord,
the God of Armies—
and they will oppress you
from the entrance of Hamath[g](AC)
to the Brook of the Arabah.[h]

Footnotes

  1. 6:5 Hb obscure
  2. 6:5 Or compose on
  3. 6:10 Lit His uncle
  4. 6:10 A burner of incense, a memorial fire, or a body; Hb obscure
  5. 6:10 Lit remove bones
  6. 6:12 Some emend to plow the sea
  7. 6:14 Or from Lebo-hamath
  8. 6:14 Probably the Valley of Zared at the southeast end of the Dead Sea

This is what the Lord says: Administer justice and righteousness.(A) Rescue the victim of robbery from his oppressor.(B) Don’t exploit or brutalize the resident alien, the fatherless, or the widow.(C) Don’t shed innocent blood in this place. For if you conscientiously carry out this word, then kings sitting on David’s throne will enter through the gates of this palace(D) riding on chariots and horses—they, their officers, and their people. But if you do not obey these words, then I swear by myself(E)—this is the Lord’s declaration—that this house will become a ruin.’”(F)

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The Letter to Laodicea

14 “Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea: Thus says the Amen, (A) the faithful and true witness, the originator[a](B) of God’s creation: 15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit[b] you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,’(C) and you don’t realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I advise you to buy from me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich,(D) white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed,(E) and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline.(F) So be zealous and repent. 20 See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.(G)

21 “To the one who conquers I will give the right to sit with me on my throne,(H) just as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.

22 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.”

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Footnotes

  1. 3:14 Or beginning, or ruler
  2. 3:16 Or spit

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