A Rebellious Nation

Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth! For the Lord has spoken: “I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me.

The ox knows its master, the donkey its owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.”

Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah!

Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals I hate with all my being. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them.

When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood!

Your rulers are rebels, partners with thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s case does not come before them.

The mighty man will become tinder and his work a spark; both will burn together, with no one to quench the fire.”

Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.

So people will be brought low and everyone humbled— do not forgive them.

Go into the rocks, hide in the ground from the fearful presence of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty!

The arrogance of man will be brought low and human pride humbled; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day,

People will flee to caves in the rocks and to holes in the ground from the fearful presence of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth.

They will flee to caverns in the rocks and to the overhanging crags from the fearful presence of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth.

Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem?

the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor, skilled craftsman and clever enchanter.

“I will make mere youths their officials; children will rule over them.”

People will oppress each other— man against man, neighbor against neighbor. The young will rise up against the old, the nobody against the honored.

A man will seize one of his brothers in his father’s house, and say, “You have a cloak, you be our leader; take charge of this heap of ruins!”

Jerusalem staggers, Judah is falling; their words and deeds are against the Lord, defying his glorious presence.

The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves.

Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.

Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done.

Youths oppress my people, women rule over them. My people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path.

The Lord takes his place in court; he rises to judge the people.