kingdom on earth, which shall be diverse from all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. 007:024 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom shall ten kings arise: and another shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse from the former, and he shall put down three kings. 007:025 He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time. 007:026 But the judgment shall be set, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it to the end. 007:027 The kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole sky, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High: his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. 007:028 Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts much troubled me, and my face was changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart. 008:001 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, even to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me at the first. 008:002 I saw in the vision; now it was so, that when I saw, I was in the citadel of Susa, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in the vision, and I was by the river Ulai. 008:003 Then I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. 008:004 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; and no animals could stand before him, neither was there any who could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and magnified himself. 008:005 As I was considering, behold, a male goat came from the west over the surface of the whole earth, and didn't touch the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. 008:006 He came to the ram that had the two horns, which I saw standing before the river, and ran on him in the fury of his power. 008:007 I saw him come close to the ram, and he was moved with anger against him, and struck the ram, and broke his two horns; and there was no power in the ram to stand before him; but he cast him down to the ground, and trampled on him; and there was none who could deliver the ram out of his hand. 008:008 The male goat magnified himself exceedingly: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and instead of it there came up four notable [horns] toward the four winds of the sky. 008:009 Out of one of them came forth a little horn, which grew exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the glorious [land]. 008:010 It grew great, even to the army of the sky; and some of the army and of the stars it cast down to the ground, and trampled on them. 008:011 Yes, it magnified itself, even to the prince of the army; and it took away from him the continual [burnt offering], and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. 008:012 The army was given over [to it] together with the continual [burnt offering] through disobedience; and it cast down truth to the ground, and it did [its pleasure] and prospered. 008:013 Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who spoke, How long shall be the vision [concerning] the continual [burnt offering], and the disobedience that makes desolate, to give both the sanctuary and the army to be trodden under foot? 008:014 He said to me, To two thousand and three hundred evenings [and] mornings; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. 008:015 It happened, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, that I sought to understand it; and behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man. 008:016 I heard a man's voice between [the banks of] the Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. 008:017 So he came near where I stood; and when he came, I was frightened, and fell on my face: but he said to me, Understand, son of man; for the vision belongs to the time of the end. 008:018 Now as he was speaking with me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face toward the ground; but he touched me, and set me upright. 008:019 He said, Behold, I will make you know what shall be in the latter time of the indignation; for it belongs to the appointed time of the end. 008:020 The ram which you saw, that had the two horns, they are the kings of Media and Persia. 008:021 The rough male goat is the king of Greece: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. 008:022 As for that which was broken, in the place where four stood up, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not with his power. 008:023 In the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce face, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. 008:024 His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper and do [his pleasure]; and he shall destroy the mighty ones and the holy people. 008:025 Through his policy he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and in [their] security shall he destroy many: he shall also stand up against the prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. 008:026 The vision of the evenings and mornings which has been told is true: but seal up the vision; for it belongs to many days [to come]. 008:027 I, Daniel, fainted, and was sick certain days; then I rose up, and did the king's business: and I wondered at the vision, but none understood it. 009:001 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans, 009:002 in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years about which the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah the prophet, for the accomplishing of the desolations of Jerusalem, even seventy years. 009:003 I set my face to the Lord God, to seek by prayer and petitions, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. 009:004 I prayed to Yahweh my God, and made confession, and said, Oh, Lord, the great and dreadful God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love him and keep his commandments, 009:005 we have sinned, and have dealt perversely, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even turning aside from your precepts and from your ordinances; 009:006 neither have we listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 009:007 Lord, righteousness belongs to you, but to us confusion of face, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, who are near, and who are far off, through all the countries where you have driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against you. 009:008 Lord, to us belongs confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. 009:009 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness; for we have rebelled against him; 009:010 neither have we obeyed the voice of Yahweh our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. 009:011 Yes, all Israel have transgressed your law, even turning aside, that they should not obey your voice: therefore has the curse been poured out on us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God; for we have sinned against him. 009:012 He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us, and against our judges who judged us, by bringing on us a great evil; for under the whole sky has not been done as has been done on Jerusalem. 009:013 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come on us: yet have we not entreated the favor of Yahweh our God, that we should turn from our iniquities, and have discernment in your truth. 009:014 Therefore has Yahweh watched over the evil, and brought it on us; for Yahweh our God is righteous in all his works which he does, and we have not obeyed his voice. 009:015 Now, Lord our God, who has brought your people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have gotten you renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly. 009:016 Lord, according to all your righteousness, let your anger and please let your wrath be turned away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people are become a reproach to all who are round about us. 009:017 Now therefore, our God, listen to the prayer of your servant, and to his petitions, and cause your face to shine on your sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. 009:018 My God, turn your ear, and hear; open your eyes, and see our desolations, and the city which is called by your name: for we do not present our petitions before you for our righteousness, but for your great mercies' sake. 009:019 Lord, hear; Lord, forgive; Lord, listen and do; don't defer, for your own sake, my God, because your city and your people are called by your name. 009:020 While I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before Yahweh my God for the holy mountain of my God; 009:021 yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening offering. 009:022 He instructed me, and talked with me, and said, Daniel, I am now come forth to give you wisdom and understanding. 009:023 At the beginning of your petitions the commandment went forth, and I am come to tell you; for you are greatly beloved: therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision. 009:024 Seventy weeks are decreed on your people and on your holy city, to finish disobedience, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy. 009:025 Know therefore and discern, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem to the Anointed One,{"Anointed One" can also be translated "Messiah" (same as "Christ").} the prince, shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks: it shall be built again, with street and moat, even in troubled times. 009:026 After the sixty-two weeks the Anointed One{"Anointed One" can also be translated "Messiah" (same as "Christ").} shall be cut off, and shall have nothing: and the people of the prince who shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end of it shall be with a flood, and even to the end shall be war; desolations are determined. 009:027 He shall make a firm covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease; and on the wing of abominations [shall come] one who makes desolate; and even to the full end, and that determined, shall [wrath] be poured out on the desolate. 010:001 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, even a great warfare: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision. 010:002 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three whole weeks. 010:003 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine into my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, until three whole weeks were fulfilled. 010:004 In the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel, 010:005 I lifted up my eyes, and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, whose thighs were girded with pure gold of Uphaz: 010:006 his body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. 010:007 I, Daniel, alone saw the vision; for the men who were with me didn't see the vision; but a great quaking fell on them, and they fled to hide themselves. 010:008 So I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me; for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. 010:009 Yet heard I the voice of his words; and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I fallen into a deep sleep on my face, with my face toward the ground. 010:010 Behold, a hand touched me, which set me on my knees and on the palms of my hands. 010:011 He said to me, Daniel, you man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright; for to you am I now sent. When he had spoken this word to me, I stood trembling. 010:012 Then said he to me, Don't be afraid, Daniel; for from the first day that you did set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard: and I am come for your words' sake. 010:013 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; but, behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me: and I remained there with the kings of Persia. 010:014 Now I have come to make you understand what shall happen to your people in the latter days; for the vision is yet for [many] days: 010:015 and when he had spoken to me according to these words, I set my face toward the ground, and was mute. 010:016 Behold, one in the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spoke and said to him who stood before me, my lord, by reason of the vision my sorrows are turned on me, and I retain no strength. 010:017 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, immediately there remained no strength in me, neither was there breath left in me. 010:018 Then there touched me again one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me. 010:019 He said, "Greatly beloved man, don't be afraid: peace be to you, be strong, yes, be strong." When he spoke to me, I was strengthened, and said, "Let my lord speak; for you have strengthened me." 010:020 Then he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? Now I will return to fight with the prince of Persia. When I go forth, behold, the prince of Greece shall come. 010:021 But I will tell you that which is inscribed in the writing of truth: and there is none who holds with me against these, but Michael your prince." 011:001 "As for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him. 011:002 Now will I show you the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and when he has grown strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece. 011:003 A mighty king shall stand up, who shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. 011:004 When he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of the sky, but not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others besides these. 011:005 The king of the south shall be strong, and [one] of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion. 011:006 At the end of years they shall join themselves together; and the daughter of the king of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the strength of her arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm; but she shall be given up, and those who brought her, and he who became the father of her, and he who strengthened her in those times. 011:007 But out of a shoot from her roots shall one stand up in his place, who shall come to the army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail. 011:008 Also their gods, with their molten images, [and] with their goodly vessels of silver and of gold, shall he carry captive into Egypt; and he shall refrain some years from the king of the north. 011:009 He shall come into the realm of the king of the south, but he shall return into his own land. 011:010 His sons shall war, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces, which shall come on, and overflow, and pass through; and they shall return and war, even to his fortress. 011:011 The king of the south shall be moved with anger, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north; and he shall set forth a great multitude, and the multitude shall be given into his hand. 011:012 The multitude shall be lifted up, and his heart shall be exalted; and he shall cast down tens of thousands, but he shall not prevail. 011:013 The king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former; and he shall come on at the end of the times, [even of] years, with a great army and with much substance. 011:014 In those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the children of the violent among your people shall lift themselves up to establish the vision; but they shall fall. 011:015 So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mound, and take a well-fortified city: and the forces of the south shall not stand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to stand. 011:016 But he who comes against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him; and he shall stand in the glorious land, and in his hand shall be destruction. 011:017 He shall set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and with him equitable conditions; and he shall perform them: and he shall give him the daughter of women, to corrupt her; but she shall not stand, neither be for him. 011:018 After this shall he turn his face to the islands, and shall take many: but a prince shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; yes, moreover, he shall cause his reproach to turn on him. 011:019 Then he shall turn his face toward the fortresses of his own land; but he shall stumble and fall, and shall not be found. 011:020 Then shall stand up in his place one who shall cause a tax collector to pass through the kingdom to maintain its glory; but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle. 011:021 In his place shall stand up a contemptible person, to whom they had not given the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in time of security, and shall obtain the kingdom by flatteries. 011:022 The overwhelming forces shall be overwhelmed from before him, and shall be broken; yes, also the prince of the covenant. 011:023 After the league made with him he shall work deceitfully; for he shall come up, and shall become strong, with a small people. 011:024 In time of security shall he come even on the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them prey, and spoil, and substance: yes, he shall devise his devices against the strongholds, even for a time. 011:025 He shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall war in battle with an exceeding great and mighty army; but he shall not stand; for they shall devise devices against him. 011:026 Yes, they who eat of his dainties shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow; and many shall fall down slain. 011:027 As for both these kings, their hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table: but it shall not prosper; for yet the end shall be at the time appointed. 011:028 Then shall he return into his land with great substance; and his heart [shall be] against the holy covenant; and he shall do [his pleasure], and return to his own land. 011:029 At the time appointed he shall return, and come into the south; but it shall not be in the latter time as it was in the former. 011:030 For ships of Kittim shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and shall return, and have indignation against the holy covenant, and shall do [his pleasure]: he shall even return, and have regard to those who forsake the holy covenant. 011:031 Forces shall stand on his part, and they shall profane the sanctuary, even the fortress, and shall take away the continual [burnt offering], and they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate. 011:032 Such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he pervert by flatteries; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and do [exploits]. 011:033 Those who are wise among the people shall instruct many; yet they shall fall by the sword and by flame, by captivity and by spoil, [many] days. 011:034 Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help; but many shall join themselves to them with flatteries. 011:035 Some of those who are wise shall fall, to refine them, and to purify, and to make them white, even to the time of the end; because it is yet for the time appointed. 011:036 The king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods; and he shall prosper until the indignation be accomplished; for that which is determined shall be done. 011:037 Neither shall he regard the gods of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall magnify himself above all. 011:038 But in his place shall he honor the god of fortresses; and a god whom his fathers didn't know shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. 011:039 He shall deal with the strongest fortresses by the help of a foreign god: whoever acknowledges [him] he will increase with glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for a price. 011:040 At the time of the end shall the king of the south contend with him; and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass through. 011:041 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many [countries] shall be overthrown; but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. 011:042 He shall stretch forth his hand also on the countries; and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 011:043 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. 011:044 But news out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him; and he shall go forth with great fury to destroy and utterly to sweep away many. 011:045 He shall plant the tents of his palace between the sea and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. 012:001 "At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who shall be found written in the book. 012:002 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 012:003 Those who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the expanse; and those who turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. 012:004 But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run back and forth, and knowledge shall be increased." 012:005 Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, there stood other two, the one on the brink of the river on this side, and the other on the brink of the river on that side. 012:006 One said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? 012:007 I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by him who lives forever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. 012:008 I heard, but I didn't understand: then said I, my lord, what shall be the issue of these things? 012:009 He said, Go your way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 012:010 Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but those who are wise shall understand. 012:011 From the time that the continual [burnt offering] shall be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred ninety days. 012:012 Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred thirty-five days. 012:013 But go you your way until the end be; for you shall rest, and shall stand in your lot, at the end of the days. Book 28 Hosea 001:001 The word of Yahweh that came to Hosea the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel. 001:002 When Yahweh spoke at the first by Hosea, Yahweh said to Hosea, "Go, take for yourself a wife of prostitution and children of unfaithfulness; for the land commits great adultery, forsaking Yahweh." 001:003 So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; and she conceived, and bore him a son. 001:004 Yahweh said to him, "Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel on the house of Jehu, and will cause the kingdom of the house of Israel to cease. 001:005 It will happen in that day that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel." 001:006 She conceived again, and bore a daughter. Then he said to him, "Call her name Lo-Ruhamah{Lo-Ruhamah means "not loved."}; for I will no longer have mercy on the house of Israel, that I should in any way pardon them. 001:007 But I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and will save them by Yahweh their God, and will not save them by bow, sword, battle, horses, or horsemen." 001:008 Now when she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, she conceived, and bore a son. 001:009 He said, "Call his name Lo-Ammi{Lo-Ammi means "not my people"}; for you are not my people, and I will not be yours. 001:010 Yet the number of the children of Israel will be as the sand of the sea, which can't be measured nor numbered; and it will come to pass that, in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' they will be called 'sons of the living God.' 001:011 The children of Judah and the children of Israel will be gathered together, and they will appoint themselves one head, and will go up from the land; for great will be the day of Jezreel. 002:001 "Say to your brothers, 'My people!'{'Ammi' in Hebrew} and to your sisters, 'My loved one!'{'Ruhamah' in Hebrew} 002:002 Contend with your mother! Contend, for she is not my wife, neither am I her husband; and let her put away her prostitution from her face, and her adulteries from between her breasts; 002:003 Lest I strip her naked, and make her bare as in the day that she was born, and make her like a wilderness, and set her like a dry land, and kill her with thirst. 002:004 Indeed, on her children I will have no mercy; for they are children of unfaithfulness; 002:005 For their mother has played the prostitute. She who conceived them has done shamefully; for she said, 'I will go after my lovers, who give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, my oil and my drink.' 002:006 Therefore, behold, I will hedge up your way with thorns, and I will build a wall against her, that she can't find her way. 002:007 She will follow after her lovers, but she won't overtake them; and she will seek them, but won't find them. Then she will say, 'I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now.' 002:008 For she did not know that I gave her the grain, the new wine, and the oil, and multiplied to her silver and gold, which they used for Baal. 002:009 Therefore I will take back my grain in its time, and my new wine in its season, and will pluck away my wool and my flax which should have covered her nakedness. 002:010 Now I will uncover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and no one will deliver her out of my hand. 002:011 I will also cause all her celebrations to cease: her feasts, her new moons, her Sabbaths, and all her solemn assemblies. 002:012 I will lay waste her vines and her fig trees, about which she has said, 'These are my wages that my lovers have given me; and I will make them a forest,' and the animals of the field shall eat them. 002:013 I will visit on her the days of the Baals, to which she burned incense, when she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and went after her lovers, and forgot me," says Yahweh. 002:014 "Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. 002:015 I will give her vineyards from there, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope; and she will respond there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. 002:016 It will be in that day," says Yahweh, "that you will call me 'my husband,' and no longer call me 'my master.' 002:017 For I will take away the names of the Baals out of her mouth, and they will no longer be mentioned by name. 002:018 In that day I will make a covenant for them with the animals of the field, and with the birds of the sky, and with the creeping things of the ground. I will break the bow, the sword, and the battle out of the land, and will make them lie down safely. 002:019 I will betroth you to me forever. Yes, I will betroth you to me in righteousness, in justice, in loving kindness, and in compassion. 002:020 I will even betroth you to me in faithfulness; and you shall know Yahweh. 002:021 It will happen in that day, I will respond," says Yahweh, "I will respond to the heavens, and they will respond to the earth; 002:022 and the earth will respond to the grain, and the new wine, and the oil; and they will respond to Jezreel. 002:023 I will sow her to me in the earth; and I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy; and I will tell those who were not my people, 'You are my people;' and they will say, 'My God!'" 003:001 Yahweh said to me, "Go again, love a woman loved by another, and an adulteress, even as Yahweh loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods, and love cakes of raisins." 003:002 So I bought her for myself for fifteen pieces of silver and a homer and a half of barley. 003:003 I said to her, "You shall stay with me many days. You shall not play the prostitute, and you shall not be with any other man. I will also be so toward you." 003:004 For the children of Israel shall abide many days without king, and without prince, and without sacrifice, and without sacred stone, and without ephod or idols. 003:005 Afterward the children of Israel shall return, and seek Yahweh their God, and David their king, and shall come with trembling to Yahweh and to his blessings in the last days. 004:001 Hear the word of Yahweh, you children of Israel; for Yahweh has a charge against the inhabitants of the land: "Indeed there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge of God in the land. 004:002 There is cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break boundaries, and bloodshed causes bloodshed. 004:003 Therefore the land will mourn, and everyone who dwells therein will waste away. all living things in her, even the animals of the field and the birds of the sky; yes, the fish of the sea also die. 004:004 "Yet let no man bring a charge, neither let any man accuse; For your people are like those who bring charges against a priest. 004:005 You will stumble in the day, and the prophet will also stumble with you in the night; and I will destroy your mother. 004:006 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you may be no priest to me. Because you have forgotten your God's law, I will also forget your children. 004:007 As they were multiplied, so they sinned against me. I will change their glory into shame. 004:008 They feed on the sin of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity. 004:009 It will be, like people, like priest; and I will punish them for their ways, and will repay them for their deeds. 004:010 They will eat, and not have enough. They will play the prostitute, and will not increase; because they have abandoned giving to Yahweh. 004:011 Prostitution, wine, and new wine take away understanding. 004:012 My people consult with their wooden idol, and answer to a stick of wood. Indeed the spirit of prostitution has led them astray, and they have been unfaithful to their God. 004:013 They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because its shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the prostitute, and your brides commit adultery. 004:014 I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostitute, nor your brides when they commit adultery; because the men consort with prostitutes, and they sacrifice with the shrine prostitutes; so the people without understanding will come to ruin. 004:015 "Though you, Israel, play the prostitute, yet don't let Judah offend; and don't come to Gilgal, neither go up to Beth Aven, nor swear, 'As Yahweh lives.' 004:016 For Israel has behaved extremely stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer. Then how will Yahweh feed them like a lamb in a meadow. 004:017 Ephraim is joined to idols. Leave him alone! 004:018 Their drink has become sour. They play the prostitute continually. Her rulers dearly love their shameful way. 004:019 The wind has wrapped her up in its wings; and they shall be disappointed because of their sacrifices. 005:001 "Listen to this, you priests! Listen, house of Israel, and give ear, house of the king! For the judgment is against you; for you have been a snare at Mizpah, and a net spread on Tabor. 005:002 The rebels are deep in slaughter; but I discipline all of them. 005:003 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from me; for now, Ephraim, you have played the prostitute. Israel is defiled. 005:004 Their deeds won't allow them to turn to their God; for the spirit of prostitution is within them, and they don't know Yahweh. 005:005 The pride of Israel testifies to his face. Therefore Israel and Ephraim will stumble in their iniquity. Judah also will stumble with them. 005:006 They will go with their flocks and with their herds to seek Yahweh; but they won't find him. He has withdrawn himself from them. 005:007 They are unfaithful to Yahweh; for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the new moon will devour them with their fields. 005:008 "Blow the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah! Sound a battle cry at Beth Aven, behind you, Benjamin! 005:009 Ephraim will become a desolation in the day of rebuke. Among the tribes of Israel, I have made known that which will surely be. 005:010 The princes of Judah are like those who remove a landmark. I will pour out my wrath on them like water. 005:011 Ephraim is oppressed, he is crushed in judgment; Because he is intent in his pursuit of idols. 005:012 Therefore I am to Ephraim like a moth, and to the house of Judah like rottenness. 005:013 "When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his wound, Then Ephraim went to Assyria, and sent to king Jareb: but he is not able to heal you, neither will he cure you of your wound. 005:014 For I will be to Ephraim like a lion, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I myself will tear in pieces and go away. I will carry off, and there will be no one to deliver. 005:015 I will go and return to my place, until they acknowledge their offense, and seek my face. In their affliction they will seek me earnestly." 006:001 "Come, and let us return to Yahweh; for he has torn us to pieces, and he will heal us; he has injured us, and he will bind up our wounds. 006:002 After two days he will revive us. On the third day he will raise us up, and we will live before him. 006:003 Let us acknowledge Yahweh. Let us press on to know Yahweh. As surely as the sun rises, Yahweh will appear. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain that waters the earth." 006:004 "Ephraim, what shall I do to you? Judah, what shall I do to you? For your love is like a morning cloud, and like the dew that disappears early. 006:005 Therefore I have cut them to pieces with the prophets; I killed them with the words of my mouth. Your judgments are like a flash of lightning. 006:006 For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. 006:007 But they, like Adam, have broken the covenant. They were unfaithful to me, there. 006:008 Gilead is a city of those who work iniquity; it is stained with blood. 006:009 As gangs of robbers wait to ambush a man, so the company of priests murder in the way toward Shechem, committing shameful crimes. 006:010 In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing. There is prostitution in Ephraim. Israel is defiled. 006:011 "Also, Judah, there is a harvest appointed for you, when I restore the fortunes of my people. 007:001 When I would heal Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim is uncovered, also the wickedness of Samaria; for they commit falsehood, and the thief enters in, and the gang of robbers ravages outside. 007:002 They don't consider in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness. Now their own deeds have engulfed them. They are before my face. 007:003 They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies. 007:004 They are all adulterers. They are burning like an oven that the baker stops stirring, from the kneading of the dough, until it is leavened. 007:005 On the day of our king, the princes made themselves sick with the heat of wine. He joined his hand with mockers. 007:006 For they have made ready their heart like an oven, while they lie in wait. Their baker sleeps all the night. In the morning it burns as a flaming fire. 007:007 They are all hot as an oven, and devour their judges. All their kings have fallen. There is no one among them who calls to me. 007:008 Ephraim, he mixes himself among the nations. Ephraim is a pancake not turned over. 007:009 Strangers have devoured his strength, and he doesn't realize it. Indeed, gray hairs are here and there on him, and he doesn't realize it. 007:010 The pride of Israel testifies to his face; yet they haven't returned to Yahweh their God, nor sought him, for all this. 007:011 "Ephraim is like an easily deceived dove, without understanding. They call to Egypt. They go to Assyria. 007:012 When they go, I will spread my net on them. I will bring them down like the birds of the sky. I will chastise them, as their congregation has heard. 007:013 Woe to them! For they have wandered from me. Destruction to them! For they have trespassed against me. Though I would redeem them, yet they have spoken lies against me. 007:014 They haven't cried to me with their heart, but they howl on their beds. They assemble themselves for grain and new wine. They turn away from me. 007:015 Though I have taught and strengthened their arms, yet they plot evil against me. 007:016 They return, but not to the Most High. They are like a faulty bow. Their princes will fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue. This will be their derision in the land of Egypt. 008:001 "Put the trumpet to your lips! Something like an eagle is over Yahweh's house, because they have broken my covenant, and rebelled against my law. 008:002 They cry to me, 'My God, we Israel acknowledge you!' 008:003 Israel has cast off that which is good. The enemy will pursue him. 008:004 They have set up kings, but not by me. They have made princes, and I didn't approve. Of their silver and their gold they have made themselves idols, that they may be cut off. 008:005 Let Samaria throw out his calf idol! My anger burns against them! How long will it be until they are capable of purity? 008:006 For this is even from Israel! The workman made it, and it is no God; indeed, the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces. 008:007 For they sow the wind, and they will reap the whirlwind. He has no standing grain. The stalk will yield no head. If it does yield, strangers will swallow it up. 008:008 Israel is swallowed up. Now they are among the nations like a worthless thing. 008:009 For they have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has hired lovers for himself. 008:010 But although they sold themselves among the nations, I will now gather them; and they begin to waste away because of the oppression of the king of mighty ones. 008:011 Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning, they became for him altars for sinning. 008:012 I wrote for him the many things of my law; but they were regarded as a strange thing. 008:013 As for the sacrifices of my offerings, they sacrifice flesh and eat it; But Yahweh doesn't accept them. Now he will remember their iniquity, and punish their sins. They will return to Egypt. 008:014 For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces; and Judah has multiplied fortified cities; but I will send a fire on his cities, and it will devour its fortresses." 009:001 Don't rejoice, Israel, to jubilation like the nations; for you were unfaithful to your God. You love the wages of a prostitute at every grain threshing floor. 009:002 The threshing floor and the winepress won't feed them, and the new wine will fail her. 009:003 They won't dwell in Yahweh's land; but Ephraim will return to Egypt, and they will eat unclean food in Assyria. 009:004 They won't pour out wine offerings to Yahweh, neither will they be pleasing to him. Their sacrifices will be to them like the bread of mourners; all who eat of it will be polluted; for their bread will be for their appetite. It will not come into the house of Yahweh. 009:005 What will you do in the day of solemn assembly, and in the day of the feast of Yahweh? 009:006 For, behold, they have gone away from destruction. Egypt will gather them up. Memphis will bury them. Nettles will possess their pleasant things of silver. Thorns will be in their tents. 009:007 The days of visitation have come. The days of reckoning have come. Israel will consider the prophet to be a fool, and the man who is inspired to be insane, because of the abundance of your sins, and because your hostility is great. 009:008 A prophet watches over Ephraim with my God. A fowler's snare is on all of his paths, and hostility in the house of his God. 009:009 They have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah. He will remember their iniquity. He will punish them for their sins. 009:010 I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your fathers as the first ripe in the fig tree at its first season; but they came to Baal Peor, and consecrated themselves to the shameful thing, and became abominable like that which they loved. 009:011 As for Ephraim, their glory will fly away like a bird. There will be no birth, none with child, and no conception. 009:012 Though they bring up their children, yet I will bereave them, so that not a man shall be left. Indeed, woe also to them when I depart from them! 009:013 I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre, planted in a pleasant place; but Ephraim will bring out his children to the murderer. 009:014 Give them—Yahweh what will you give? Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts. 009:015 "All their wickedness is in Gilgal; for there I hated them. Because of the wickedness of their deeds I will drive them out of my house! I will love them no more. All their princes are rebels. 009:016 Ephraim is struck. Their root has dried up. They will bear no fruit. Even though they bring forth, yet I will kill the beloved ones of their womb." 009:017 My God will cast them away, because they did not listen to him; and they will be wanderers among the nations. 010:001 Israel is a luxuriant vine that puts forth his fruit. According to the abundance of his fruit he has multiplied his altars. As their land has prospered, they have adorned their sacred stones. 010:002 Their heart is divided. Now they will be found guilty. He will demolish their altars. He will destroy their sacred stones. 010:003 Surely now they will say, "We have no king; for we don't fear Yahweh; and the king, what can he do for us?" 010:004 They make promises, swearing falsely in making covenants. Therefore judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field. 010:005 The inhabitants of Samaria will be in terror for the calves of Beth Aven; for its people will mourn over it, Along with its priests who rejoiced over it, for its glory, because it has departed from it. 010:006 It also will be carried to Assyria for a present to a great king. Ephraim will receive shame, and Israel will be ashamed of his own counsel. 010:007 Samaria and her king float away, like a twig on the water. 010:008 The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed. The thorn and the thistle will come up on their altars. They will tell the mountains, "Cover us!" and the hills, "Fall on us!" 010:009 "Israel, you have sinned from the days of Gibeah. There they remained. The battle against the children of iniquity doesn't overtake them in Gibeah. 010:010 When it is my desire, I will chastise them; and the nations will be gathered against them, when they are bound to their two transgressions. 010:011 Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh; so I will put a yoke on her beautiful neck. I will set a rider on Ephraim. Judah will plow. Jacob will break his clods. 010:012 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to kindness. Break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek Yahweh, until he comes and rains righteousness on you. 010:013 You have plowed wickedness. You have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, for you trusted in your way, in the multitude of your mighty men. 010:014 Therefore a battle roar will arise among your people, and all your fortresses will be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth Arbel in the day of battle. The mother was dashed in pieces with her children. 010:015 So Bethel will do to you because of your great wickedness. At daybreak the king of Israel will be destroyed. 011:001 "When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. 011:002 They called to them, so they went from them. They sacrificed to the Baals, and burned incense to engraved images. 011:003 Yet I taught Ephraim to walk. I took them by his arms; but they didn't know that I healed them. 011:004 I drew them with cords of a man, with ties of love; and I was to them like those who lift up the yoke on their necks; and I bent down to him and I fed him. 011:005 "They won't return into the land of Egypt; but the Assyrian will be their king, because they refused to repent. 011:006 The sword will fall on their cities, and will destroy the bars of their gates, and will put an end to their plans. 011:007 My people are determined to turn from me. Though they call to the Most High, he certainly won't exalt them. 011:008 "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within me, my compassion is aroused. 011:009 I will not execute the fierceness of my anger. I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of you; and I will not come in wrath. 011:010 They will walk after Yahweh, who will roar like a lion; for he will roar, and the children will come trembling from the west. 011:011 They will come trembling like a bird out of Egypt, and like a dove out of the land of Assyria; and I will settle them in their houses," says Yahweh. 011:012 Ephraim surrounds me with falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit. Judah still strays from God, and is unfaithful to the Holy One. 012:001 Ephraim feeds on wind, and chases the east wind. He continually multiplies lies and desolation. They make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt. 012:002 Yahweh also has a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his deeds he will repay him. 012:003 In the womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he contended with God. 012:004 Indeed, he struggled with the angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication to him. He found him at Bethel, and there he spoke with us, 012:005 even Yahweh, the God of Armies; Yahweh is his name of renown! 012:006 Therefore turn to your God. Keep kindness and justice, and wait continually for your God. 012:007 A merchant has dishonest scales in his hand. He loves to defraud. 012:008 Ephraim said, "Surely I have become rich, I have found myself wealth. In all my wealth they won't find in me any iniquity that is sin." 012:009 "But I am Yahweh your God from the land of Egypt. I will yet again make you dwell in tents, as in the days of the solemn feast. 012:010 I have also spoken to the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and by the ministry of the prophets I have used parables. 012:011 If Gilead is wicked, surely they are worthless. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls. Indeed, their altars are like heaps in the furrows of the field. 012:012 Jacob fled into the country of Aram, and Israel served to get a wife, and for a wife he tended flocks and herds. 012:013 By a prophet Yahweh brought Israel up out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved. 012:014 Ephraim has bitterly provoked anger. Therefore his blood will be left on him, and his Lord will repay his contempt. 013:001 When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling. He exalted himself in Israel, but when he became guilty in Baal, he died. 013:002 Now they sin more and more, and have made themselves molten images of their silver, even idols according to their own understanding, all of them the work of the craftsmen. They say of them, 'They offer human sacrifice and kiss the calves.' 013:003 Therefore they will be like the morning mist, and like the dew that passes away early, like the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing floor, and like the smoke out of the chimney. 013:004 "Yet I am Yahweh your God from the land of Egypt; and you shall acknowledge no god but me, and besides me there is no savior. 013:005 I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of great drought. 013:006 According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted. Therefore they have forgotten me. 013:007 Therefore I am like a lion to them. Like a leopard, I will lurk by the path. 013:008 I will meet them like a bear that is bereaved of her cubs, and will tear the covering of their heart. There I will devour them like a lioness. The wild animal will tear them. 013:009 You are destroyed, Israel, because you are against me, against your help. 013:010 Where is your king now, that he may save you in all your cities? And your judges, of whom you said, 'Give me a king and princes?' 013:011 I have given you a king in my anger, and have taken him away in my wrath. 013:012 The guilt of Ephraim is stored up. His sin is stored up. 013:013 The sorrows of a travailing woman will come on him. He is an unwise son; for when it is time, he doesn't come to the opening of the womb. 013:014 I will ransom them from the power of Sheol. I will redeem them from death! Death, where are your plagues? Sheol, where is your destruction? "Compassion will be hidden from my eyes. 013:015 Though he is fruitful among his brothers, an east wind will come, the breath of Yahweh coming up from the wilderness; and his spring will become dry, and his fountain will be dried up. He will plunder the storehouse of treasure. 013:016 Samaria will bear her guilt; for she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword. Their infants will be dashed in pieces, and their pregnant women will be ripped open." 014:001 Israel, return to Yahweh your God; for you have fallen because of your sin. 014:002 Take words with you, and return to Yahweh. Tell him, "Forgive all our sins, and accept that which is good: so we offer our lips like bulls. 014:003 Assyria can't save us. We won't ride on horses; neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, 'Our gods!' for in you the fatherless finds mercy." 014:004 "I will heal their waywardness. I will love them freely; for my anger is turned away from him. 014:005 I will be like the dew to Israel. He will blossom like the lily, and send down his roots like Lebanon. 014:006 His branches will spread, and his beauty will be like the olive tree, and his fragrance like Lebanon. 014:007 Men will dwell in his shade. They will revive like the grain, and blossom like the vine. Their fragrance will be like the wine of Lebanon. 014:008 Ephraim, what have I to do any more with idols? I answer, and will take care of him. I am like a green fir tree; from me your fruit is found." 014:009 Who is wise, that he may understand these things? Who is prudent, that he may know them? For the ways of Yahweh are right, and the righteous walk in them; But the rebellious stumble in them. Book 29 Joel 001:001 The Word of Yahweh that came to Joel, the son of Pethuel. 001:002 Hear this, you elders, And listen, all you inhabitants of the land. Has this ever happened in your days, or in the days of your fathers? 001:003 Tell your children about it, and have your children tell their children, and their children, another generation. 001:004 What the swarming locust has left, the great locust has eaten. What the great locust has left, the grasshopper has eaten. What the grasshopper has left, the caterpillar has eaten. 001:005 Wake up, you drunkards, and weep! Wail, all you drinkers of wine, because of the sweet wine; for it is cut off from your mouth. 001:006 For a nation has come up on my land, strong, and without number. His teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he has the fangs of a lioness. 001:007 He has laid my vine waste, and stripped my fig tree. He has stripped its bark, and thrown it away. Its branches are made white. 001:008 Mourn like a virgin dressed in sackcloth for the husband of her youth! 001:009 The meal offering and the drink offering are cut off from Yahweh's house. The priests, Yahweh's ministers, mourn. 001:010 The field is laid waste. The land mourns, for the grain is destroyed, The new wine has dried up, and the oil languishes. 001:011 Be confounded, you farmers! Wail, you vineyard keepers; for the wheat and for the barley; for the harvest of the field has perished. 001:012 The vine has dried up, and the fig tree withered; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all of the trees of the field are withered; for joy has withered away from the sons of men. 001:013 Put on sackcloth and mourn, you priests! Wail, you ministers of the altar. Come, lie all night in sackcloth, you ministers of my God, for the meal offering and the drink offering are withheld from your God's house. 001:014 Sanctify a fast. Call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders, and all the inhabitants of the land, to the house of Yahweh, your God, and cry to Yahweh. 001:015 Alas for the day! For the day of Yahweh is at hand, and it will come as destruction from the Almighty. 001:016 Isn't the food cut off before our eyes; joy and gladness from the house of our God? 001:017 The seeds rot under their clods. The granaries are laid desolate. The barns are broken down, for the grain has withered. 001:018 How the animals groan! The herds of livestock are perplexed, because they have no pasture. Yes, the flocks of sheep are made desolate. 001:019 Yahweh, I cry to you, For the fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame has burned all the trees of the field. 001:020 Yes, the animals of the field pant to you, for the water brooks have dried up, And the fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness. 002:001 Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of Yahweh comes, for it is close at hand: 002:002 A day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness. As the dawn spreading on the mountains, a great and strong people; there has never been the like, neither will there be any more after them, even to the years of many generations. 002:003 A fire devours before them, and behind them, a flame burns. The land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them, a desolate wilderness. Yes, and no one has escaped them. 002:004 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses, and as horsemen, so do they run. 002:005 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of the mountains do they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. 002:006 At their presence the peoples are in anguish. All faces have grown pale. 002:007 They run like mighty men. They climb the wall like warriors. They each march in his line, and they don't swerve off course. 002:008 Neither does one jostle another; they march everyone in his path, and they burst through the defenses, and don't break ranks. 002:009 They rush on the city. They run on the wall. They climb up into the houses. They enter in at the windows like thieves. 002:010 The earth quakes before them. The heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. 002:011 Yahweh thunders his voice before his army; for his forces are very great; for he is strong who obeys his command; for the day of Yahweh is great and very awesome, and who can endure it? 002:012 "Yet even now," says Yahweh, "turn to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning." 002:013 Tear your heart, and not your garments, and turn to Yahweh, your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and relents from sending calamity. 002:014 Who knows? He may turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, even a meal offering and a drink offering to Yahweh, your God. 002:015 Blow the trumpet in Zion! Sanctify a fast. Call a solemn assembly. 002:016 Gather the people. Sanctify the assembly. Assemble the elders. Gather the children, and those who suck the breasts. Let the bridegroom go forth from his room, and the bride out of her chamber. 002:017 Let the priests, the ministers of Yahweh, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, "Spare your people, Yahweh, and don't give your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'" 002:018 Then Yahweh was jealous for his land, And had pity on his people. 002:019 Yahweh answered his people, "Behold, I will send you grain, new wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied with them; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations. 002:020 But I will remove the northern army far away from you, and will drive it into a barren and desolate land, its front into the eastern sea, and its back into the western sea; and its stench will come up, and its bad smell will rise." Surely he has done great things. 002:021 Land, don't be afraid. Be glad and rejoice, for Yahweh has done great things. 002:022 Don't be afraid, you animals of the field; for the pastures of the wilderness spring up, for the tree bears its fruit. The fig tree and the vine yield their strength. 002:023 "Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in Yahweh, your God; for he gives you the former rain in just measure, and he causes the rain to come down for you, the former rain and the latter rain, as before. 002:024 The threshing floors will be full of wheat, and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. 002:025 I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the great locust, the grasshopper, and the caterpillar, my great army, which I sent among you. 002:026 You will have plenty to eat, and be satisfied, and will praise the name of Yahweh, your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; and my people will never again be disappointed. 002:027 You will know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am Yahweh, your God, and there is no one else; and my people will never again be disappointed. 002:028 "It will happen afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions. 002:029 And also on the servants and on the handmaids in those days, I will pour out my Spirit. 002:030 I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood, fire, and pillars of smoke. 002:031 The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes. 002:032 It will happen that whoever will call on the name of Yahweh shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, as Yahweh has said, and among the remnant, those whom Yahweh calls. 003:001 "For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, 003:002 I will gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will execute judgment on them there for my people, and for my heritage, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations. They have divided my land, 003:003 and have cast lots for my people, and have given a boy for a prostitute, and sold a girl for wine, that they may drink. 003:004 "Yes, and what are you to me, Tyre, and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Will you repay me? And if you repay me, I will swiftly and speedily return your repayment on your own head. 003:005 Because you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my finest treasures into your temples, 003:006 and have sold the children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem to the sons of the Greeks, that you may remove them far from their border. 003:007 Behold, I will stir them up out of the place where you have sold them, and will return your repayment on your own head; 003:008 and I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hands of the children of Judah, and they will sell them to the men of Sheba, to a faraway nation, for Yahweh has spoken it." 003:009 Proclaim this among the nations: "Prepare for war! Stir up the mighty men. Let all the warriors draw near. Let them come up. 003:010 Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, 'I am strong.' 003:011 Hurry and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves together." Cause your mighty ones to come down there, Yahweh. 003:012 "Let the nations arouse themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge all the surrounding nations. 003:013 Put in the sickle; for the harvest is ripe. Come, tread, for the winepress is full, the vats overflow, for their wickedness is great." 003:014 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of Yahweh is near, in the valley of decision. 003:015 The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. 003:016 Yahweh will roar from Zion, and thunder from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth will shake; but Yahweh will be a refuge to his people, and a stronghold to the children of Israel. 003:017 "So you will know that I am Yahweh, your God, dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain. Then Jerusalem will be holy, and no strangers will pass through her any more. 003:018 It will happen in that day, that the mountains will drop down sweet wine, the hills will flow with milk, all the brooks of Judah will flow with waters, and a fountain will come forth from the house of Yahweh, and will water the valley of Shittim. 003:019 Egypt will be a desolation, and Edom will be a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. 003:020 But Judah will be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. 003:021 I will cleanse their blood, that I have not cleansed: for Yahweh dwells in Zion." Book 30 Amos 001:001 The words of Amos, who was among the herdsmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. 001:002 He said: "Yahweh will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the pastures of the shepherds will mourn, and the top of Carmel will wither." 001:003 Thus says Yahweh: "For three transgressions of Damascus, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron; 001:004 but I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, and it will devour the palaces of Ben Hadad. 001:005 I will break the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the valley of Aven, and him who holds the scepter from the house of Eden; and the people of Syria shall go into captivity to Kir," says Yahweh. 001:006 Thus says Yahweh: "For three transgressions of Gaza, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; because they carried away captive the whole community, to deliver them up to Edom; 001:007 but I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, and it will devour its palaces. 001:008 I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him who holds the scepter from Ashkelon; and I will turn my hand against Ekron; and the remnant of the Philistines will perish," says the Lord Yahweh. 001:009 Thus says Yahweh: "For three transgressions of Tyre, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; because they delivered up the whole community to Edom, and didn't remember the brotherly covenant; 001:010 but I will send a fire on the wall of Tyre, and it will devour its palaces." 001:011 Thus says Yahweh: "For three transgressions of Edom, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; because he pursued his brother with the sword, and cast off all pity, and his anger raged continually, and he kept his wrath forever; 001:012 but I will send a fire on Teman, and it will devour the palaces of Bozrah." 001:013 Thus says Yahweh: "For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; because they have ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead, that they may enlarge their border. 001:014 But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it will devour its palaces, with shouting in the day of battle, with a storm in the day of the whirlwind; 001:015 and their king will go into captivity, he and his princes together," says Yahweh. 002:001 Thus says Yahweh: "For three transgressions of Moab, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime; 002:002 but I will send a fire on Moab, and it will devour the palaces of Kerioth; and Moab will die with tumult, with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet; 002:003 and I will cut off the judge from their midst, and will kill all its princes with him," says Yahweh. 002:004 Thus says Yahweh: "For three transgressions of Judah, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; because they have rejected Yahweh's law, and have not kept his statutes, and their lies have led them astray, after which their fathers walked; 002:005 But I will send a fire on Judah, and it will devour the palaces of Jerusalem." 002:006 Thus says Yahweh: "For three transgressions of Israel, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; because they have sold the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; 002:007 They trample on the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and deny justice to the oppressed; and a man and his father use the same maiden, to profane my holy name; 002:008 and they lay themselves down beside every altar on clothes taken in pledge; and in the house of their God they drink the wine of those who have been fined. 002:009 Yet I destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath. 002:010 Also I brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and led you forty years in the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite. 002:011 I raised up some of your sons for prophets, and some of your young men for Nazirites. Isn't this true, you children of Israel?" says Yahweh. 002:012 "But you gave the Nazirites wine to drink, and commanded the prophets, saying, 'Don't prophesy!' 002:013 Behold, I will crush you in your place, as a cart crushes that is full of grain. 002:014 Flight will perish from the swift; and the strong won't strengthen his force; neither shall the mighty deliver himself; 002:015 neither shall he stand who handles the bow; and he who is swift of foot won't escape; neither shall he who rides the horse deliver himself; 002:016 and he who is courageous among the mighty will flee away naked on that day," says Yahweh. 003:001 Hear this word that Yahweh has spoken against you, children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up out of the land of Egypt, saying: 003:002 "You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth. Therefore I will punish you for all of your sins." 003:003 Do two walk together, unless they have agreed? 003:004 Will a lion roar in the thicket, when he has no prey? Does a young lion cry out of his den, if he has caught nothing? 003:005 Can a bird fall in a trap on the earth, where no snare is set for him? Does a snare spring up from the ground, when there is nothing to catch? 003:006 Does the trumpet alarm sound in a city, without the people being afraid? Does evil happen to a city, and Yahweh hasn't done it? 003:007 Surely the Lord Yahweh will do nothing, unless he reveals his secret to his servants the prophets. 003:008 The lion has roared. Who will not fear? The Lord Yahweh has spoken. Who can but prophesy? 003:009 Proclaim in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, "Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria, and see what unrest is in her, and what oppression is among them." 003:010 "Indeed they don't know to do right," says Yahweh, "Who hoard plunder and loot in their palaces." 003:011 Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: "An adversary will overrun the land; and he will pull down your strongholds, and your fortresses will be plundered." 003:012 Thus says Yahweh: "As the shepherd rescues out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the children of Israel be rescued who sit in Samaria on the corner of a couch, and on the silken cushions of a bed." 003:013 "Listen, and testify against the house of Jacob," says the Lord Yahweh, the God of Armies. 003:014 "For in the day that I visit the transgressions of Israel on him, I will also visit the altars of Bethel; and the horns of the altar will be cut off, and fall to the ground. 003:015 I will strike the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory will perish, and the great houses will have an end," says Yahweh. 004:001 Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their husbands, "Bring us drinks!" 004:002 The Lord Yahweh has sworn by his holiness that behold, "The days shall come on you that they will take you away with hooks, and the last of you with fish hooks. 004:003 You will go out at the breaks in the wall, everyone straight before her; and you will cast yourselves into Harmon," says Yahweh. 004:004 "Go to Bethel, and sin; to Gilgal, and sin more. Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three days, 004:005 offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving of that which is leavened, and proclaim free will offerings and brag about them: for this pleases you, you children of Israel," says the Lord Yahweh. 004:006 "I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and lack of bread in every town; yet you haven't returned to me," says Yahweh. 004:007 "I also have withheld the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest; and I caused it to rain on one city, and caused it not to rain on another city. One place was rained on, and the piece where it didn't rain withered. 004:008 So two or three cities staggered to one city to drink water, and were not satisfied: yet you haven't returned to me," says Yahweh. 004:009 "I struck you with blight and mildew many times in your gardens and your vineyards; and your fig trees and your olive trees have the swarming locust devoured: yet you haven't returned to me," says Yahweh. 004:010 "I sent plagues among you like I did Egypt. I have slain your young men with the sword, and have carried away your horses; and I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camp, yet you haven't returned to me," says Yahweh. 004:011 "I have overthrown some of you, as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a burning stick plucked out of the fire; yet you haven't returned to me," says Yahweh. 004:012 "Therefore thus will I do to you, Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, Israel. 004:013 For, behold, he who forms the mountains, and creates the wind, and declares to man what is his thought; who makes the morning darkness, and treads on the high places of the Earth: Yahweh, the God of Armies, is his name." 005:001 Listen to this word which I take up for a lamentation over you, O house of Israel. 005:002 "The virgin of Israel has fallen; She shall rise no more. She is cast down on her land; there is no one to raise her up." 005:003 For thus says the Lord Yahweh: "The city that went forth a thousand shall have a hundred left, and that which went forth one hundred shall have ten left to the house of Israel." 005:004 For thus says Yahweh to the house of Israel: "Seek me, and you will live; 005:005 but don't seek Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and don't pass to Beersheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nothing. 005:006 Seek Yahweh, and you will live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and it devour, and there be no one to quench it in Bethel. 005:007 You who turn justice to wormwood, and cast down righteousness to the earth: 005:008 seek him who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns the shadow of death into the morning, and makes the day dark with night; who calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out on the surface of the earth, Yahweh is his name, 005:009 who brings sudden destruction on the strong, so that destruction comes on the fortress. 005:010 They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks blamelessly. 005:011 Forasmuch therefore as you trample on the poor, and take taxes from him of wheat: You have built houses of hewn stone, but you will not dwell in them. You have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine. 005:012 For I know how many your offenses, and how great are your sins— you who afflict the just, who take a bribe, and who turn aside the needy in the courts. 005:013 Therefore a prudent person keeps silent in such a time, for it is an evil time. 005:014 Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so Yahweh, the God of Armies, will be with you, as you say. 005:015 Hate evil, love good, and establish justice in the courts. It may be that Yahweh, the God of Armies, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph." 005:016 Therefore thus says Yahweh, the God of Armies, the Lord: "Wailing will be in all the broad ways; and they will say in all the streets, 'Alas! Alas!' and they will call the farmer to mourning, and those who are skillful in lamentation to wailing. 005:017 In all vineyards there will be wailing; for I will pass through the midst of you," says Yahweh. 005:018 "Woe to you who desire the day of Yahweh! Why do you long for the day of Yahweh? It is darkness, and not light. 005:019 As if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him; Or he went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall, and a snake bit him. 005:020 Won't the day of Yahweh be darkness, and not light? Even very dark, and no brightness in it? 005:021 I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can't stand your solemn assemblies. 005:022 Yes, though you offer me your burnt offerings and meal offerings, I will not accept them; neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat animals. 005:023 Take away from me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. 005:024 But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream. 005:025 "Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, house of Israel? 005:026 You also carried the tent of your king and the shrine of your images, the star of your god, which you made for yourselves. 005:027 Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus," says Yahweh, whose name is the God of Armies. 006:001 Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who are secure on the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel come! 006:002 Go to Calneh, and see; and from there go to Hamath the great; then go down to Gath of the Philistines. are they better than these kingdoms? or is their border greater than your border? 006:003 Those who put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near; 006:004 Who lie on beds of ivory, and stretch themselves on their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; 006:005 who strum on the strings of a harp; who invent for themselves instruments of music, like David; 006:006 who drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the best oils; but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. 006:007 Therefore they will now go captive with the first who go captive; and the feasting and lounging will end. 006:008 "The Lord Yahweh has sworn by himself," says Yahweh, the God of Armies: "I abhor the pride of Jacob, and detest his fortresses. Therefore I will deliver up the city with all that is in it. 006:009 It will happen, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die. 006:010 "When a man's relative carries him, even he who burns him, to bring bodies out of the house, and asks him who is in the innermost parts of the house, 'Is there yet any with you?' And he says, 'No;' then he will say, 'Hush! Indeed we must not mention the name of Yahweh.' 006:011 "For, behold, Yahweh commands, and the great house will be smashed to pieces, and the little house into bits. 006:012 Do horses run on the rocky crags? Does one plow there with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison, and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness; 006:013 you who rejoice in a thing of nothing, who say, 'Haven't we taken for ourselves horns by our own strength?' 006:014 For, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, house of Israel," says Yahweh, the God of Armies; "and they will afflict you from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of the Arabah." 007:001 Thus the Lord Yahweh showed me: and behold, he formed locusts in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and behold, it was the latter growth after the king's harvest. 007:002 It happened that, when they made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, "Lord Yahweh, forgive, I beg you! How could Jacob stand? For he is small." 007:003 Yahweh relented concerning this. "It shall not be," says Yahweh. 007:004 Thus the Lord Yahweh showed me and behold, the Lord Yahweh called for judgment by fire; and it dried up the great deep, and would have devoured the land. 007:005 Then I said, "Lord Yahweh, stop, I beg you! How could Jacob stand? For he is small." 007:006 Yahweh relented concerning this. "This also shall not be," says the Lord Yahweh. 007:007 Thus he showed me and behold, the Lord stood beside a wall made by a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. 007:008 Yahweh said to me, "Amos, what do you see?" I said, "A plumb line." Then the Lord said, "Behold, I will set a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel. I will not again pass by them any more. 007:009 The high places of Isaac will be desolate, the sanctuaries of Israel will be laid waste; and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword." 007:010 Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, "Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land is not able to bear all his words. 007:011 For Amos says, 'Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of his land.'" 007:012 Amaziah also said to Amos, "You seer, go, flee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there: 007:013 but don't prophesy again any more at Bethel; for it is the king's sanctuary, and it is a royal house!" 007:014 Then Amos answered Amaziah, "I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was a herdsman, and a farmer of sycamore figs; 007:015 and Yahweh took me from following the flock, and Yahweh said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people Israel.' 007:016 Now therefore listen to the word of Yahweh: 'You say, Don't prophesy against Israel, and don't preach against the house of Isaac.' 007:017 Therefore thus says Yahweh: 'Your wife shall be a prostitute in the city, and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be divided by line; and you yourself shall die in a land that is unclean, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of his land.'" 008:001 Thus the Lord Yahweh showed me: behold, a basket of summer fruit. 008:002 He said, "Amos, what do you see?" I said, "A basket of summer fruit." Then Yahweh said to me, "The end has come on my people Israel. I will not again pass by them any more. 008:003 The songs of the temple will be wailings in that day," says the Lord Yahweh. "The dead bodies will be many. In every place they will throw them out with silence. 008:004 Hear this, you who desire to swallow up the needy, and cause the poor of the land to fail, 008:005 Saying, 'When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may market wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel large, and dealing falsely with balances of deceit; 008:006 that we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes, and sell the sweepings with the wheat?'" 008:007 Yahweh has sworn by the pride of Jacob, "Surely I will never forget any of their works. 008:008 Won't the land tremble for this, and everyone mourn who dwells in it? Yes, it will rise up wholly like the River; and it will be stirred up and sink again, like the River of Egypt. 008:009 It will happen in that day," says the Lord Yahweh, "that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day. 008:010 I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will make you wear sackcloth on all your bodies, and baldness on every head. I will make it like the mourning for an only son, and the end of it like a bitter day. 008:011 Behold, the days come," says the Lord Yahweh, "that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of Yahweh. 008:012 They will wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east; they will run back and forth to seek the word of Yahweh, and will not find it. 008:013 In that day the beautiful virgins and the young men will faint for thirst. 008:014 Those who swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, 'As your god, Dan, lives;' and, 'As the way of Beersheba lives;' they will fall, and never rise up again." 009:001 I saw the Lord standing beside the altar, and he said, "Strike the tops of the pillars, that the thresholds may shake; and break them in pieces on the head of all of them; and I will kill the last of them with the sword: there shall not one of them flee away, and there shall not one of them escape. 009:002 Though they dig into Sheol, there my hand will take them; and though they climb up to heaven, there I will bring them down. 009:003 Though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out there; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent, and it will bite them. 009:004 Though they go into captivity before their enemies, there I will command the sword, and it will kill them. I will set my eyes on them for evil, and not for good. 009:005 For the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, is he who touches the land and it melts, and all who dwell in it will mourn; and it will rise up wholly like the River, and will sink again, like the River of Egypt. 009:006 It is he who builds his chambers in the heavens, and has founded his vault on the earth; he who calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out on the surface of the earth; Yahweh is his name. 009:007 Are you not like the children of the Ethiopians to me, children of Israel?" says Yahweh. "Haven't I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt, and the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir? 009:008 Behold, the eyes of the Lord Yahweh are on the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the surface of the earth; except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob," says Yahweh. 009:009 "For, behold, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all the nations, as grain is sifted in a sieve, yet not the least kernel will fall on the earth. 009:010 All the sinners of my people will die by the sword, who say, 'Evil won't overtake nor meet us.' 009:011 In that day I will raise up the tent of David who is fallen, and close up its breaches, and I will raise up its ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old; 009:012 that they may possess the remnant of Edom, and all the nations who are called by my name," says Yahweh who does this. 009:013 "Behold, the days come," says Yahweh, "that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the one treading grapes him who sows seed; and sweet wine will drip from the mountains, and flow from the hills. 009:014 I will bring my people Israel back from captivity, and they will rebuild the ruined cities, and inhabit them; and they will plant vineyards, and drink wine from them. They shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. 009:015 I will plant them on their land, and they will no more be plucked up out of their land which I have given them," says Yahweh your God. Book 31 Obadiah 001:001 The vision of Obadiah. This is what the Lord Yahweh says about Edom. We have heard news from Yahweh, and an ambassador is sent among the nations, saying, "Arise, and let's rise up against her in battle. 001:002 Behold, I have made you small among the nations. You are greatly despised. 001:003 The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high, who says in his heart, 'Who will bring me down to the ground?' 001:004 Though you mount on high as the eagle, and though your nest is set among the stars, I will bring you down from there," says Yahweh. 001:005 "If thieves came to you, if