Thus the Bible Speaks

Thus the Bible Speaks

1986 12 December 17 Thus the Bible Speaks (427) For thus hath the Lord of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast a mount against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.

As a fountain casteth out her waters, so she casteth out her wickedness: violence and spoil is heard in her; before me continually is grief arid wounds.

Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.

Thus said the Lord of hosts, to whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? Behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the Lord is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.

Therefore I am full of the fury of the Lord; and I am weary with holding in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is full of days.

And their houses shall be turned unto others, with their fields and wives together: for I will stretch out my hands upon the inhabitants of the land, saith the Lord.

Far from the least of them even unto the greatest of them everyone is given to covetousness and from the prophet even unto the priest everyone dealeth falsely. They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, peace, Peace; and there is no peace.

Thus saith the Lord, stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls, but they said, we will not walk therein.

To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me, therefore thus saith the Lord, behold, I will lay the stumbling blocks before these people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish.

Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side.

They are all grievous revolters walking with slanders; they are brass and iron; they are all corruptors.

The bellows are burnt, the lead is consumed of the fire; reprobate silver shall men call them, because the Lord hath rejected them.

(Jeremiah, Chapter 6)