I will punish David’s family because of what Solomon has done. But I will not punish them forever.’ ”

我必因所罗门所行的使大卫后裔受患难，但不至于永远。’”

我必因这事使大卫的后裔遭受患难，但不是永远的。’”

我必因这事使大卫的后裔遭受患难，但不是永远的。’”

因所罗门的所作所为，我必让大卫的后裔遭难，但不会永远如此。’”

因此，我要使大卫的后裔遭受苦难，不过，却不是永远的。’”

我必因所羅門所行的使大衛後裔受患難，但不至於永遠。』」

我必因這事使大衛的後裔遭受患難，但不是永遠的。』」

我必因這事使大衛的後裔遭受患難，但不是永遠的。』」

因所羅門的所作所為，我必讓大衛的後裔遭難，但不會永遠如此。』」

因此，我要使大衛的後裔遭受苦難，不過，卻不是永遠的。’”

為了所羅門所行的這些惡、我必使大衛的後裔遭受苦難，但不至於日久月長。」』

我必困苦大衛之裔、然不至久遠、

我雖使大闢後裔困苦、不至歷年甚久。

我必緣所羅門所行、原文作我必緣此使大衛後裔受患難、但不至於永久、

I will humble David’s descendants because of this, but not forever.’”

And I will afflict the offspring of David because of this, but not forever.’”

Because of Solomon’s sin I will punish the descendants of David— though not forever.’”

I will humble David’s descendants, because of their unfaithfulness, but not forever.’”

So I will oppress the descendants of David for this, but not always.’ ”

And I will afflict the descendants of David because of this, but not forever.’”

And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.

I will humble David’s descendants, because of their unfaithfulness, but not forever.’”

And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.

I will humiliate David’s descendants because of this, but not forever.”

I will afflict the offspring of David for this, but not forever.’”

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord.

I will give one of the tribes to David’s son. Then my servant David will always have a son on his throne in Jerusalem. The lamp of David’s kingdom will always burn brightly in my sight. Jerusalem is the city I chose for my Name.

“ What if his sons turn away from my laws and do not follow them?What if they disobey my orders and fail to keep my commands?Then I will punish them for their sins. I will strike them with a rod. I will whip them for their evil acts.But I will not stop loving David. I will always be faithful to him.I will not break my covenant. I will not go back on my word.

But you have turned your back on your anointed king. You have been very angry with him.You have broken the covenant you made with him. You have thrown your servant’s crown into the dirt.You have broken through the walls around his city. You have completely destroyed his secure places.All those who pass by have carried off what belonged to him. His neighbors make fun of him.You have made his enemies strong. You have made all of them happy.You have made his sword useless. You have not helped him in battle.You have put an end to his glory. You have knocked his throne to the ground.You have cut short the days of his life. You have covered him with shame.

“ A new day is coming,” announces the Lord.“ At that time I will raise up for David’s royal line a godly Branch. He will be a King who will rule wisely. He will do what is fair and right in the land.In his days Judah will be saved. Israel will live in safety. And the Branch will be called The Lord Who Makes Us Right With Himself.

So Joseph went also. He went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea. That is where Bethlehem, the town of David, was. Joseph went there because he belonged to the family line of David.

All the Israelites saw that the king refused to listen to them. So they answered the king. They said,“ We don’t have any share in David’s royal family. We don’t have any share in Jesse’s son. People of Israel, let’s go back to our homes. David’s royal family, take care of your own kingdom!” So the Israelites went home.

The Lord doesn’t turn his back on people forever.He might bring suffering. But he will also show loving concern. How great his faithful love is!

The Lord himself will give you a sign. The virgin is going to have a baby. She will give birth to a son. And he will be called Immanuel.

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king like his father David of long ago.The Son of the Most High God will rule forever over his people. They are from the family line of Jacob. That kingdom will never end.”

Jesse’s family is like a tree that has been cut down. A new little tree will grow from its stump. From its roots a Branch will grow and produce fruit.The Spirit of the Lord will rest on that Branch. The Spirit will help him to be wise and understanding. The Spirit will help him make wise plans and carry them out. The Spirit will help him know the Lord and have respect for him.The Branch will take delight in respecting the Lord. He will not judge things only by the way they look. He won’t make decisions based simply on what people say.He will always do what is right when he judges those who are in need. He’ll be completely fair when he makes decisions about poor people. When he commands that people be punished, it will happen. When he orders that evil people be put to death, it will take place.He will put on godliness as if it were his belt. He’ll wear faithfulness around his waist.Wolves will live with lambs. Leopards will lie down with goats. Calves and lions will eat together. And little children will lead them around.Cows will eat with bears. Their little ones will lie down together. And lions will eat straw like oxen.A baby will play near a hole where cobras live. A young child will put its hand into a nest where poisonous snakes live.None of those animals will harm or destroy anything or anyone on my holy mountain of Zion. The oceans are full of water. In the same way, the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord.At that time, here is what the man who is called the Root of Jesse will do. He will be like a banner that brings nations together. They will come to him. And the place where he rules will be glorious.

I tore the kingdom away from the royal house of David. I gave it to you. But you have not been like my servant David. He obeyed my commands. He followed me with all his heart. He did only what was right in my eyes.

There will be no limit to how great his authority is. The peace he brings will never end. He will rule on David’s throne and over his kingdom. He will make the kingdom strong and secure. His rule will be based on what is fair and right. It will last forever. The Lord’ s great love will make sure that happens. He rules over all.

Lord, where is the great love you used to have? You faithfully promised it to David.Lord, remember how my enemies have made fun of me. I’ve had to put up with mean words from all the nations.Lord, your enemies have said mean things. They have laughed at everything your anointed king has done.

Shishak attacked Jerusalem. It was in the fifth year that Rehoboam was king. Shishak was king of Egypt.He carried away the treasures of the Lord’ s temple. He also carried away the treasures of the royal palace. He took everything. That included all the gold shields Solomon had made.