1 Some|strong="H0376" of|strong="H0376" the|strong="H6440" elders|strong="H2205" of|strong="H0376" Israel|strong="H3478" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413". They|strong="H0376" sat|strong="H3427" down|strong="H3427" to|strong="H0413" talk with|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413".
2 The|strong="H0559" word|strong="H1697" of|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" came|strong="H1961" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413". He|strong="H3068" said|strong="H0559",
3 “Son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" man|strong="H0376", these|strong="H0428" men|strong="H0376" came|strong="H5927" to|strong="H5921" talk to|strong="H5921" you|strong="H5414". But|strong="H0376" they|strong="H5921" still have|strong="H0376" their|strong="H5414" filthy idols|strong="H1544". They|strong="H5921" kept|strong="H5414" the|strong="H6440" things|strong="H0428" that|strong="H1121" made|strong="H5414" them|strong="H5414" sin|strong="H5771". They|strong="H5921" still worship those|strong="H0428" statues, so|strong="H5414" why do they|strong="H5921" come|strong="H5927" to|strong="H5921" me|strong="H5414" for|strong="H5921" advice? Should|strong="H0376" I|strong="H5414" answer their|strong="H5414" questions?
4 But|strong="H6030" I|strong="H0589" will|strong="H3068" give|strong="H7760" them|strong="H0413" an|strong="H7760" answer|strong="H6030". You|strong="H0834" must|strong="H0853" tell|strong="H0559" them|strong="H0413" this|strong="H3651": ‘This|strong="H3651" is|strong="H0834" what|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0853" Lord|strong="H3068" GOD|strong="H3068" says|strong="H0559": If|strong="H0834" any|strong="H0376" Israelites|strong="H3478" come|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" a|strong="H7760" prophet|strong="H5030" and|strong="H0935" ask|strong="H0559" me|strong="H0413" for|strong="H0413" advice, I|strong="H0589" myself|strong="H0589" will|strong="H3068" answer|strong="H6030" their|strong="H3068" questions. I|strong="H0589", the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068", will|strong="H3068" answer|strong="H6030" them|strong="H0413" even|strong="H3651" if|strong="H0834" they|strong="H0834" still|strong="H0559" have|strong="H0834" their|strong="H3068" filthy idols|strong="H1544", even|strong="H3651" if|strong="H0834" they|strong="H0834" kept the|strong="H0853" things|strong="H0834" that|strong="H0834" made|strong="H7760" them|strong="H0413" sin|strong="H5771", and|strong="H0935" even|strong="H3651" if|strong="H0834" they|strong="H0834" still|strong="H0559" worship|strong="H3651" those|strong="H0834" statues. I|strong="H0589" will|strong="H3068" speak|strong="H1696" to|strong="H0413" them|strong="H0413" in|strong="H0935" spite of|strong="H1004" all|strong="H0376" their|strong="H3068" filthy idols|strong="H1544".
5 This|strong="H0834" is|strong="H0834" because|strong="H5921" I|strong="H0834" want to|strong="H5921" touch their|strong="H3605" hearts|strong="H3820". I|strong="H0834" want to|strong="H5921" show them|strong="H0853" that|strong="H0834" I|strong="H0834" love them|strong="H0853", even|strong="H0853" though they|strong="H0834" left me|strong="H5921" for|strong="H5921" their|strong="H3605" filthy idols|strong="H1544".’
6 “So|strong="H3651" tell|strong="H0559" the|strong="H3605" family|strong="H1004" of|strong="H1004" Israel|strong="H3478", ‘This|strong="H3651" is|strong="H3651" what|strong="H3541" the|strong="H3605" Lord|strong="H0136" GOD|strong="H0136" says|strong="H0559": Come|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413" and|strong="H3478" leave your|strong="H3605" filthy idols|strong="H1544". Turn|strong="H7725" away|strong="H7725" from|strong="H7725" those|strong="H3605" terrible, false gods.
7 If|strong="H3588" any|strong="H0376" Israelites|strong="H3478" or|strong="H1004" foreigners|strong="H1616" who|strong="H0834" live|strong="H1481" in|strong="H0935" Israel|strong="H3478" come|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413" for|strong="H3588" advice, I|strong="H0589" will|strong="H3068" give|strong="H7760" them|strong="H0413" an|strong="H7760" answer|strong="H6030". I|strong="H0589", the|strong="H6440" LORD|strong="H3068", will|strong="H3068" answer|strong="H6030" them|strong="H0413" even|strong="H3588" if|strong="H3588" they|strong="H0834" still have|strong="H0834" their|strong="H3068" filthy idols|strong="H1544", even|strong="H3588" if|strong="H3588" they|strong="H0834" kept the|strong="H6440" things|strong="H0834" that|strong="H0834" made|strong="H7760" them|strong="H0413" sin|strong="H5771", and|strong="H0935" even|strong="H3588" if|strong="H3588" they|strong="H0834" worship|strong="H3478" those|strong="H0834" statues. This|strong="H3588" is|strong="H0834" the|strong="H6440" answer|strong="H6030" I|strong="H0589" will|strong="H3068" give|strong="H7760" them|strong="H0413":
8 I|strong="H0589" will|strong="H3068" turn|strong="H5414" against|strong="H6440" them|strong="H5414" and|strong="H3068" destroy|strong="H3772" them|strong="H5414". They|strong="H3588" will|strong="H3068" be|strong="H0376" an|strong="H5414" example to|strong="H3068" others|strong="H5971". People|strong="H5971" will|strong="H3068" laugh at|strong="H3068" them|strong="H5414". I|strong="H0589" will|strong="H3068" remove|strong="H6440" them|strong="H5414" from|strong="H3772" my|strong="H5414" people|strong="H5971". Then|strong="H5414" you|strong="H3588" will|strong="H3068" know|strong="H3045" that|strong="H3588" I|strong="H0589" am|strong="H0589" the|strong="H6440" LORD|strong="H3068"!
9 And|strong="H3068" if|strong="H3588" a|strong="H3588" prophet|strong="H5030" is|strong="H3068" foolish enough|strong="H3027" to|strong="H1696" give|strong="H5186" his|strong="H5921" own answer|strong="H1697", I|strong="H0589", the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068", will|strong="H3068" show him|strong="H5921" how|strong="H3588" foolish he|strong="H1931" is|strong="H3068"! I|strong="H0589" will|strong="H3068" use|strong="H1931" my|strong="H3068" power|strong="H3027" against|strong="H5921" him|strong="H5921". I|strong="H0589" will|strong="H3068" destroy|strong="H8045" him|strong="H5921" and|strong="H3068" remove him|strong="H5921" from|strong="H5921" among|strong="H8432" my|strong="H3068" people|strong="H5971", Israel|strong="H3478".
10 So|strong="H1961" both the|strong="H5375" one|strong="H1961" who|strong="H5030" came|strong="H1961" for|strong="H5771" advice and|strong="H5030" the|strong="H5375" prophet|strong="H5030" who|strong="H5030" gave|strong="H1961" an|strong="H1961" answer will|strong="H1961" get the|strong="H5375" same punishment|strong="H5771".
11 Why|strong="H3808"? So|strong="H4616" that|strong="H3605" those|strong="H3605" prophets will|strong="H0430" stop|strong="H3808" leading|strong="H8582" my|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" away|strong="H0310" from|strong="H3478" me|strong="H0310", and|strong="H3478" my|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" will|strong="H0430" stop|strong="H3808" being|strong="H1961" filthy with|strong="H1004" sin. Then|strong="H1961" they|strong="H3808" will|strong="H0430" be|strong="H1961" my|strong="H3605" special people|strong="H5971", and|strong="H3478" I|strong="H0589" will|strong="H0430" be|strong="H1961" their|strong="H3605" God|strong="H0430".’” This|strong="H4616" is|strong="H0430" what the|strong="H3605" Lord|strong="H0136" GOD|strong="H0430" said.
12 Then|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0559" word|strong="H1697" of|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" came|strong="H1961" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413". He|strong="H3068" said|strong="H0559",
13 “Son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" man|strong="H0120", I|strong="H3588" will|strong="H0776" punish any|strong="H4480" nation that|strong="H3588" leaves me|strong="H7971" and|strong="H1121" sins|strong="H2398" against|strong="H5921" me|strong="H7971". I|strong="H3588" will|strong="H0776" stop their|strong="H5921" food|strong="H3899" supply|strong="H4294". I|strong="H3588" might|strong="H1121" cause a|strong="H3588" famine|strong="H7458" and|strong="H1121" remove|strong="H7971" the|strong="H5921" people|strong="H0120" and|strong="H1121" animals|strong="H0929" from|strong="H4480" that|strong="H3588" country|strong="H0776".
14 I|strong="H5315" would|strong="H0376" punish that|strong="H1961" country even|strong="H1840" if|strong="H0376" Noah|strong="H5146", Daniel|strong="H1840", and|strong="H0376" Job|strong="H0347" lived|strong="H5315" there|strong="H1961". They|strong="H1992" could|strong="H0376" save|strong="H5315" their|strong="H1992" own|strong="H1961" lives|strong="H5315" by|strong="H1961" their|strong="H1992" goodness, \+w but|strong="H1961"\+w* \+w they|strong="H1992"\+w* \+w could|strong="H0376"\+w* \+w not|strong="H1961"\+w* \+w save|strong="H5315"\+w* \+w the|strong="H5002"\+w* whole country.” This|strong="H0428" is|strong="H0376" what the|strong="H5002" Lord|strong="H0136" GOD|strong="H0136" said.
15 “Or|strong="H7921" I|strong="H0776" might|strong="H3863" send wild|strong="H0776" animals|strong="H2416" through|strong="H5674" that|strong="H1961" country|strong="H0776" to|strong="H1961" kill all the|strong="H6440" people|strong="H0776". Then|strong="H1961" no|strong="H1097" one|strong="H1097" would|strong="H3863" travel|strong="H5674" through|strong="H5674" that|strong="H1961" country|strong="H0776" because|strong="H6440" of|strong="H0776" the|strong="H6440" wild|strong="H0776" animals|strong="H2416".
16 If|strong="H0518" Noah, Daniel, and|strong="H1121" Job lived|strong="H2416" there|strong="H1961", those|strong="H0428" three|strong="H7969" men|strong="H0376" could|strong="H0376" save|strong="H5337" their|strong="H1992" own|strong="H1961" lives|strong="H2416". But|strong="H0518" I|strong="H0589" promise by|strong="H1961" my|strong="H1961" own|strong="H1961" life|strong="H2416" that|strong="H1961" they|strong="H1992" could|strong="H0376" not|strong="H0518" save|strong="H5337" the|strong="H5002" lives|strong="H2416" of|strong="H1121" other|strong="H0428" people|strong="H0376"—not|strong="H0518" even|strong="H0518" their|strong="H1992" own|strong="H1961" sons|strong="H1121" and|strong="H1121" daughters|strong="H1323"! That|strong="H1961" evil country|strong="H0776" would|strong="H0376" be|strong="H1961" destroyed.” This|strong="H0428" is|strong="H0776" what the|strong="H5002" Lord|strong="H0136" GOD|strong="H0136" said.
17 “Or|strong="H0176" I|strong="H0776" might send an|strong="H4480" enemy army|strong="H0776" to|strong="H0559" fight against|strong="H5921" that|strong="H1931" country|strong="H0776". The|strong="H0559" soldiers would|strong="H0559" destroy|strong="H2719" that|strong="H1931" country|strong="H0776"—I|strong="H0776" would|strong="H0559" remove|strong="H5674" all|strong="H4480" the|strong="H0559" people|strong="H0120" and|strong="H0935" animals|strong="H0929" from|strong="H4480" that|strong="H1931" country|strong="H0776".
18 If|strong="H3588" Noah, Daniel, and|strong="H1121" Job|strong="H3808" lived|strong="H2416" there|strong="H1992", those|strong="H0428" three|strong="H7969" men|strong="H0376" could|strong="H0376" save|strong="H5337" their|strong="H1992" own|strong="H0376" lives|strong="H2416". But|strong="H3588" I|strong="H0589" promise by|strong="H3808" my|strong="H3588" own|strong="H0376" life|strong="H2416" that|strong="H3588" they|strong="H1992" could|strong="H0376" not|strong="H3808" save|strong="H5337" the|strong="H5002" lives|strong="H2416" of|strong="H1121" other|strong="H0428" people|strong="H0376"—not|strong="H3808" even|strong="H3588" their|strong="H1992" own|strong="H0376" sons|strong="H1121" and|strong="H1121" daughters|strong="H1323"! That|strong="H3588" evil country would|strong="H0376" be|strong="H3808" destroyed.” This|strong="H0428" is|strong="H0376" what|strong="H3588" the|strong="H5002" Lord|strong="H0136" GOD|strong="H0136" said.
19 “Or|strong="H0176" I|strong="H0776" might|strong="H1818" send|strong="H7971" a|strong="H3772" disease against|strong="H5921" that|strong="H1931" country|strong="H0776". I|strong="H0776" will|strong="H0776" pour|strong="H8210" my|strong="H5921" anger|strong="H2534" down|strong="H3772" on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" people|strong="H0120". I|strong="H0776" will|strong="H0776" remove|strong="H7971" all|strong="H4480" the|strong="H5921" people|strong="H0120" and|strong="H0776" animals|strong="H0929" from|strong="H4480" that|strong="H1931" country|strong="H0776".
20 If|strong="H0518" Noah|strong="H5146", Daniel|strong="H1840", and|strong="H1121" Job|strong="H0347" lived|strong="H5315" there|strong="H1992", those|strong="H1992" three men|strong="H1121" could|strong="H5337" save|strong="H5315" their|strong="H1992" own|strong="H5315" lives|strong="H5315" because they|strong="H1992" are|strong="H1992" good men|strong="H1121". But|strong="H0518" I|strong="H0589" promise by|strong="H0518" my|strong="H5337" own|strong="H5315" life|strong="H5315" that|strong="H5315" they|strong="H1992" could|strong="H5337" not|strong="H0518" save|strong="H5315" the|strong="H5002" lives|strong="H5315" of|strong="H1121" other people|strong="H1121"—not|strong="H0518" even|strong="H0518" their|strong="H1992" own|strong="H5315" sons|strong="H1121" and|strong="H1121" daughters|strong="H1323"!” This|strong="H0518" is|strong="H5315" what the|strong="H5002" Lord|strong="H0136" GOD|strong="H0136" said.
21 Then|strong="H7971" the|strong="H0559" Lord|strong="H0136" GOD|strong="H0136" said|strong="H0559", “So|strong="H4480" think|strong="H0559" how|strong="H0637" bad|strong="H7451" it|strong="H3588" will|strong="H2719" be|strong="H0136" for|strong="H3588" Jerusalem|strong="H3389". I|strong="H3588" will|strong="H2719" send|strong="H7971" all|strong="H4480" four|strong="H0702" of|strong="H4480" those|strong="H4480" punishments against|strong="H0413" that|strong="H3588" city! I|strong="H3588" will|strong="H2719" send|strong="H7971" enemy soldiers, hunger|strong="H7458", disease, and|strong="H7971" wild animals|strong="H0929" against|strong="H0413" that|strong="H3588" city. I|strong="H3588" will|strong="H2719" remove|strong="H7971" all|strong="H4480" the|strong="H0559" people|strong="H0120" and|strong="H7971" animals|strong="H0929" from|strong="H4480" that|strong="H3588" country.
22 Some|strong="H2009" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H1121" will|strong="H0834" escape|strong="H6413" from|strong="H0935" that|strong="H0834" country. They|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" bring|strong="H0935" their|strong="H3605" sons|strong="H1121" and|strong="H1121" daughters|strong="H1323" and|strong="H1121" come|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" you|strong="H0834" for|strong="H5921" help|strong="H1323". Then|strong="H3318" you|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" see|strong="H7200" how|strong="H0834" bad|strong="H7451" those|strong="H3605" people|strong="H1121" really are|strong="H0834", and|strong="H1121" you|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" feel|strong="H7200" better|strong="H5921" about|strong="H5921" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" troubles|strong="H7200" that|strong="H0834" I|strong="H0834" am|strong="H5162" bringing|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" Jerusalem|strong="H3389".
23 You|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" see|strong="H7200" how|strong="H0834" they|strong="H0834" live|strong="H1870" and|strong="H1870" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" bad things|strong="H3605" they|strong="H0834" do|strong="H6213". Then|strong="H0853" you|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" know|strong="H3045" that|strong="H0834" I|strong="H0834" had|strong="H0834" a|strong="H3588" good reason|strong="H0834" for|strong="H3588" punishing them|strong="H0853".” This|strong="H3588" is|strong="H0834" what|strong="H0834" the|strong="H3605" Lord|strong="H0136" GOD|strong="H0136" said.