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Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD"s house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD"s house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:

In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the LORD, saying,

For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.

Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.

Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD.

LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them.

Thou hast increased the nation, O LORD, thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed it far unto all the ends of the earth.

They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.

O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name.

LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.

LORD, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them.

Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD.

With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.

The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.

The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.

For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust.

Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.

In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.

A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.

Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.

When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.

He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;

Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.