Seek the Lord and Live
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"Fallen, no more to rise, is 2the virgin Israel; forsaken on her land, with none to raise her up."
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For thus says the Lord GOD: "The city that went out a thousand shall have a hundred left, and that which went out a hundred shall have ten left to the house of Israel."
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but do not seek 4Bethel, and do not enter into 5Gilgal or cross over to 6Beersheba; for 7Gilgal shall surely go into exile, and 8Bethel shall come to nothing."
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9Seek the LORD and live, 10lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and it devour, with none to quench it for 11Bethel,
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He who made the 13Pleiades and Orion, and turns deep darkness into the morning and 14darkens the day into night, who 15calls for the waters of the sea 16and pours them out on the surface of the earth, 17the LORD is his name;
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18who makes destruction flash forth against the strong, so that destruction comes upon the fortress.
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Therefore because you 22trample onb the poor and you exact taxes of grain from him, 23you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not dwell in them; 24you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine.
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For I know how many are your transgressions and how great are your sins-- you who afflict the righteous, who 25take a bribe, and 26turn aside the needy 27in the gate.
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30Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the LORD, 31the God of hosts, will be with you, as you have said.
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32Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice 33in the gate; 34it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.
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Therefore thus says the LORD, 35the God of hosts, the Lord: "In all the squares 36there shall be wailing, and in all the streets they shall say, 'Alas! Alas!' They shall call the farmers to mourning and 37to wailing those who are skilled in lamentation,
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and in all vineyards there shall be wailing, for 38I will pass through your midst," says the LORD.
Let Justice Roll Down
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Woe to you who desire 39the day of the LORD! Why would you have the day of the LORD? 40It is darkness, and not light,
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41as if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him, or went into the house and leaned his hand against the wall, and a serpent bit him.
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44Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them.
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But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
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46"Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)