Idolaters Condemned

14 Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of me.^{(A) 2} Then the word of the Lord came to me: ³ “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts^(B) and put wicked stumbling blocks^(C) before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all?^{(D) 4} Therefore speak to them and tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When any of the Israelites set up idols in their hearts and put a wicked stumbling block before their faces and then go to a prophet, I the Lord will answer them myself in keeping with their great idolatry. ⁵ I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of Israel, who have all deserted^(E) me for their idols.’^(F)

⁶ “Therefore say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Repent!^(G) Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!^(H)

⁷ “‘When any of the Israelites or any foreigner^(I) residing in Israel separate themselves from me and set up idols in their hearts and put a wicked stumbling block^(J) before their faces and then go to a prophet to inquire^(K) of me, I the Lord will answer them myself. ⁸ I will set my face against^(L) them and make them an example^(M) and a byword.^(N) I will remove them from my people. Then you will know that I am the Lord.^(O)

⁹ “‘And if the prophet^(P) is enticed^(Q) to utter a prophecy, I the Lord have enticed that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand against him and destroy him from among my people Israel.^{(R) 10} They will bear their guilt—the prophet will be as guilty as the one who consults him. ¹¹ Then the people of Israel will no longer stray^(S) from me, nor will they defile themselves anymore with all their sins. They will be my people,^(T) and I will be their God, declares the Sovereign Lord.^(U)’”

Jerusalem’s Judgment Inescapable

¹² The word of the Lord came to me: ¹³ “Son of man, if a country sins^(V) against me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food supply^(W) and send famine upon it and kill its people and their animals,^{(X) 14} even if these three men—Noah,^(Y) Daniel^[a](Z) and Job^(AA)—were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness,^(AB) declares the Sovereign Lord.

¹⁵ “Or if I send wild beasts^(AC) through that country and they leave it childless and it becomes desolate so that no one can pass through it because of the beasts,^{(AD) 16} as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, even if these three men were in it, they could not save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved, but the land would be desolate.^(AE)

¹⁷ “Or if I bring a sword^(AF) against that country and say, ‘Let the sword pass throughout the land,’ and I kill its people and their animals,^{(AG) 18} as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, even if these three men were in it, they could not save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved.

¹⁹ “Or if I send a plague into that land and pour out my wrath^(AH) on it through bloodshed,^(AI) killing its people and their animals,^{(AJ) 20} as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, even if Noah, Daniel and Job were in it, they could save neither son nor daughter. They would save only themselves by their righteousness.^(AK)

²¹ “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: How much worse will it be when I send against Jerusalem my four dreadful judgments^(AL)—sword^(AM) and famine^(AN) and wild beasts and plague^(AO)—to kill its men and their animals!^{(AP) 22} Yet there will be some survivors^(AQ)—sons and daughters who will be brought out of it.^(AR) They will come to you, and when you see their conduct^(AS) and their actions, you will be consoled^(AT) regarding the disaster I have brought on Jerusalem—every disaster I have brought on it. ²³ You will be consoled when you see their conduct and their actions, for you will know that I have done nothing in it without cause, declares the Sovereign Lord.^(AU)”

Jerusalem as a Useless Vine

15 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, how is the wood of a vine^(AV) different from that of a branch from any of the trees in the forest? ³ Is wood ever taken from it to make anything useful?^(AW) Do they make pegs^(AX) from it to hang things on? ⁴ And after it is thrown on the fire as fuel and the fire burns both ends and chars the middle, is it then useful for anything?^{(AY) 5} If it was not useful for anything when it was whole, how much less can it be made into something useful when the fire has burned it and it is charred?

⁶ “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: As I have given the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest as fuel for the fire, so will I treat the people living in Jerusalem. ⁷ I will set my face against^(AZ) them. Although they have come out of the fire^(BA), the fire will yet consume them. And when I set my face against them, you will know that I am the Lord.^{(BB) 8} I will make the land desolate^(BC) because they have been unfaithful,^(BD) declares the Sovereign Lord.”

Jerusalem as an Adulterous Wife

16 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, confront^(BE) Jerusalem with her detestable practices^{(BF) 3} and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says to Jerusalem: Your ancestry^(BG) and birth were in the land of the Canaanites; your father^(BH) was an Amorite^(BI) and your mother a Hittite.^{(BJ) 4} On the day you were born^(BK) your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to make you clean, nor were you rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths. ⁵ No one looked on you with pity or had compassion enough to do any of these things for you. Rather, you were thrown out into the open field, for on the day you were born you were despised.

⁶ “‘Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, “Live!”^{[b](BL) 7} I made you grow^(BM) like a plant of the field. You grew and developed and entered puberty. Your breasts had formed and your hair had grown, yet you were stark naked.^(BN)

⁸ “‘Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment^(BO) over you and covered your naked body. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant^(BP) with you, declares the Sovereign Lord, and you became mine.^(BQ)

⁹ “‘I bathed you with water and washed^(BR) the blood from you and put ointments on you. ¹⁰ I clothed you with an embroidered^(BS) dress and put sandals of fine leather on you. I dressed you in fine linen^(BT) and covered you with costly garments.^{(BU) 11} I adorned you with jewelry:^(BV) I put bracelets^(BW) on your arms and a necklace^(BX) around your neck, ¹² and I put a ring on your nose,^(BY) earrings^(BZ) on your ears and a beautiful crown^(CA) on your head.^{(CB) 13} So you were adorned with gold and silver; your clothes^(CC) were of fine linen and costly fabric and embroidered cloth. Your food was honey, olive oil^(CD) and the finest flour. You became very beautiful and rose to be a queen.^{(CE) 14} And your fame^(CF) spread among the nations on account of your beauty,^(CG) because the splendor I had given you made your beauty perfect, declares the Sovereign Lord.^(CH)

¹⁵ “‘But you trusted in your beauty and used your fame to become a prostitute. You lavished your favors on anyone who passed by^(CI) and your beauty became his.^{(CJ) 16} You took some of your garments to make gaudy high places,^(CK) where you carried on your prostitution.^(CL) You went to him, and he possessed your beauty.^{[c] 17} You also took the fine jewelry I gave you, the jewelry made of my gold and silver, and you made for yourself male idols and engaged in prostitution with them.^{(CM) 18} And you took your embroidered clothes to put on them, and you offered my oil and incense^(CN) before them. ¹⁹ Also the food I provided for you—the flour, olive oil and honey I gave you to eat—you offered as fragrant incense before them. That is what happened, declares the Sovereign Lord.^(CO)

²⁰ “‘And you took your sons and daughters^(CP) whom you bore to me^(CQ) and sacrificed them as food to the idols. Was your prostitution not enough?^{(CR) 21} You slaughtered my children and sacrificed them to the idols.^{(CS) 22} In all your detestable practices and your prostitution you did not remember the days of your youth,^(CT) when you were naked and bare,^(CU) kicking about in your blood.^(CV)

²³ “‘Woe!^(CW) Woe to you, declares the Sovereign Lord. In addition to all your other wickedness, ²⁴ you built a mound for yourself and made a lofty shrine^(CX) in every public square.^{(CY) 25} At every street corner^(CZ) you built your lofty shrines and degraded your beauty, spreading your legs with increasing promiscuity to anyone who passed by.^{(DA) 26} You engaged in prostitution^(DB) with the Egyptians,^(DC) your neighbors with large genitals, and aroused my anger^(DD) with your increasing promiscuity.^{(DE) 27} So I stretched out my hand^(DF) against you and reduced your territory; I gave you over^(DG) to the greed of your enemies, the daughters of the Philistines,^(DH) who were shocked by your lewd conduct. ²⁸ You engaged in prostitution with the Assyrians^(DI) too, because you were insatiable; and even after that, you still were not satisfied.^{(DJ) 29} Then you increased your promiscuity to include Babylonia,^[d](DK) a land of merchants, but even with this you were not satisfied.^(DL)

³⁰ “‘I am filled with fury against you,^[e] declares the Sovereign Lord, when you do all these things, acting like a brazen prostitute!^{(DM) 31} When you built your mounds at every street corner and made your lofty shrines^(DN) in every public square, you were unlike a prostitute, because you scorned payment.

³² “‘You adulterous wife! You prefer strangers to your own husband! ³³ All prostitutes receive gifts,^(DO) but you give gifts^(DP) to all your lovers, bribing them to come to you from everywhere for your illicit favors.^{(DQ) 34} So in your prostitution you are the opposite of others; no one runs after you for your favors. You are the very opposite, for you give payment and none is given to you.

³⁵ “‘Therefore, you prostitute, hear the word of the Lord! ³⁶ This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you poured out your lust and exposed your naked body in your promiscuity with your lovers, and because of all your detestable idols, and because you gave them your children’s blood,^{(DR) 37} therefore I am going to gather all your lovers, with whom you found pleasure, those you loved as well as those you hated. I will gather them against you from all around and will strip^(DS) you in front of them, and they will see you stark naked.^{(DT) 38} I will sentence you to the punishment of women who commit adultery and who shed blood;^(DU) I will bring on you the blood vengeance of my wrath and jealous anger.^{(DV) 39} Then I will deliver you into the hands^(DW) of your lovers, and they will tear down your mounds and destroy your lofty shrines. They will strip you of your clothes and take your fine jewelry and leave you stark naked.^{(DX) 40} They will bring a mob against you, who will stone^(DY) you and hack you to pieces with their swords. ⁴¹ They will burn down^(DZ) your houses and inflict punishment on you in the sight of many women.^(EA) I will put a stop^(EB) to your prostitution, and you will no longer pay your lovers. ⁴² Then my wrath against you will subside and my jealous anger will turn away from you; I will be calm and no longer angry.^(EC)

⁴³ “‘Because you did not remember^(ED) the days of your youth but enraged me with all these things, I will surely bring down^(EE) on your head what you have done, declares the Sovereign Lord. Did you not add lewdness to all your other detestable practices?^(EF)

⁴⁴ “‘Everyone who quotes proverbs^(EG) will quote this proverb about you: “Like mother, like daughter.” ⁴⁵ You are a true daughter of your mother, who despised^(EH) her husband^(EI) and her children; and you are a true sister of your sisters, who despised their husbands and their children. Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite.^{(EJ) 46} Your older sister^(EK) was Samaria, who lived to the north of you with her daughters; and your younger sister, who lived to the south of you with her daughters, was Sodom.^{(EL) 47} You not only followed their ways and copied their detestable practices, but in all your ways you soon became more depraved than they.^{(EM) 48} As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign^(EN) Lord, your sister Sodom^(EO) and her daughters never did what you and your daughters have done.^(EP)

⁴⁹ “‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom:^(EQ) She and her daughters were arrogant,^(ER) overfed and unconcerned;^(ES) they did not help the poor and needy.^{(ET) 50} They were haughty^(EU) and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.^{(EV) 51} Samaria did not commit half the sins you did. You have done more detestable things than they, and have made your sisters seem righteous by all these things you have done.^{(EW) 52} Bear your disgrace, for you have furnished some justification for your sisters. Because your sins were more vile than theirs, they appear more righteous^(EX) than you. So then, be ashamed and bear^(EY) your disgrace, for you have made your sisters appear righteous.

⁵³ “‘However, I will restore^(EZ) the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters and of Samaria and her daughters, and your fortunes along with them,^{(FA) 54} so that you may bear your disgrace^(FB) and be ashamed of all you have done in giving them comfort. ⁵⁵ And your sisters, Sodom with her daughters and Samaria with her daughters, will return to what they were before; and you and your daughters will return to what you were before.^{(FC) 56} You would not even mention your sister Sodom in the day of your pride, ⁵⁷ before your wickedness was uncovered. Even so, you are now scorned^(FD) by the daughters of Edom^[f](FE) and all her neighbors and the daughters of the Philistines—all those around you who despise you. ⁵⁸ You will bear the consequences of your lewdness and your detestable practices, declares the Lord.^(FF)

⁵⁹ “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will deal with you as you deserve, because you have despised my oath by breaking the covenant.^{(FG) 60} Yet I will remember the covenant^(FH) I made with you in the days of your youth,^(FI) and I will establish an everlasting covenant^(FJ) with you. ⁶¹ Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed^(FK) when you receive your sisters, both those who are older than you and those who are younger. I will give them to you as daughters,^(FL) but not on the basis of my covenant with you. ⁶² So I will establish my covenant^(FM) with you, and you will know that I am the Lord.^{(FN) 63} Then, when I make atonement^(FO) for you for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed^(FP) and never again open your mouth^(FQ) because of your humiliation, declares the Sovereign Lord.^(FR)’”

1 James,^(A) a servant of God^(B) and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes^(C) scattered^(D) among the nations:

Greetings.^(E)

Trials and Temptations

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds,^{(F) 3} because you know that the testing of your faith^(G) produces perseverance.^{(H) 4} Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature^(I) and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God,^(J) who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.^{(K) 6} But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt,^(L) because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded^(M) and unstable^(N) in all they do.

⁹ Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.^{(O) 10} But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower.^{(P) 11} For the sun rises with scorching heat^(Q) and withers^(R) the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed.^(S) In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

¹² Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial^(T) because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life^(U) that the Lord has promised to those who love him.^(V)

¹³ When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴ but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own^(W) evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin;^(X) and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.^(Y)

¹⁶ Don’t be deceived,^(Z) my dear brothers and sisters.^{(AA) 17} Every good and perfect gift is from above,^(AB) coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,^(AC) who does not change^(AD) like shifting shadows. ¹⁸ He chose to give us birth^(AE) through the word of truth,^(AF) that we might be a kind of firstfruits^(AG) of all he created.

Listening and Doing

¹⁹ My dear brothers and sisters,^(AH) take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak^(AI) and slow to become angry, ²⁰ because human anger^(AJ) does not produce the righteousness that God desires. ²¹ Therefore, get rid of^(AK) all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you,^(AL) which can save you.

²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.^{(AM) 23} Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵ But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom,^(AN) and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.^(AO)

²⁶ Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues^(AP) deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. ²⁷ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after^(AQ) orphans and widows^(AR) in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.^(AS)

Favoritism Forbidden

2 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious^(AT) Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.^{(AU) 2} Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. ³ If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” ⁴ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges^(AV) with evil thoughts?

⁵ Listen, my dear brothers and sisters:^(AW) Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world^(AX) to be rich in faith^(AY) and to inherit the kingdom^(AZ) he promised those who love him?^{(BA) 6} But you have dishonored the poor.^(BB) Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?^{(BC) 7} Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

⁸ If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”^[b](BD) you are doing right. ⁹ But if you show favoritism,^(BE) you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.^{(BF) 10} For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles^(BG) at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.^{(BH) 11} For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”^[c](BI) also said, “You shall not murder.”^[d](BJ) If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

¹² Speak and act as those who are going to be judged^(BK) by the law that gives freedom,^{(BL) 13} because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.^(BM) Mercy triumphs over judgment.