So a lion from the forest will attack them. A wolf from the desert will destroy them. A leopard will hide and wait near their towns. It will tear to pieces anyone who dares to go out. Again and again they have refused to obey the Lord. They have turned away from him many times.

因此，林中的狮子必害死他们；晚上的豺狼必灭绝他们；豹子要在城外窥伺他们。凡出城的必被撕碎；因为他们的罪过极多，背道的事也加增了。

因此，林中的狮子必害死他们，野地的狼必灭绝他们，豹子在城外窥伺。凡出城的必被撕碎，因为他们的罪过极多，背道的事也增加。

因此，林中的狮子必害死他们，野地的狼必灭绝他们，豹子在城外窥伺。凡出城的必被撕碎，因为他们的罪过极多，背道的事也增加。

因此，林中的狮子必袭击他们，荒野的豺狼必残害他们，豹子也蹲伏在他们的城外，伺机撕裂出城的人，因为他们罪大恶极，屡屡叛道。

因此，狮子必从林中出来袭击他们，旷野的豺狼要杀害他们，豹子在他们的城边窥伺，出城的都必被撕碎；因为他们的过犯众多，背道的事也无法数算。

因此，林中的獅子必害死他們；晚上的豺狼必滅絕他們；豹子要在城外窺伺他們。凡出城的必被撕碎；因為他們的罪過極多，背道的事也加增了。

因此，林中的獅子必害死他們，野地的狼必滅絕他們，豹子在城外窺伺。凡出城的必被撕碎，因為他們的罪過極多，背道的事也增加。

因此，林中的獅子必害死他們，野地的狼必滅絕他們，豹子在城外窺伺。凡出城的必被撕碎，因為他們的罪過極多，背道的事也增加。

因此，林中的獅子必襲擊他們，荒野的豺狼必殘害他們，豹子也蹲伏在他們的城外，伺機撕裂出城的人，因為他們罪大惡極，屢屢叛道。

因此，獅子必從林中出來襲擊他們，曠野的豺狼要殺害他們，豹子在他們的城邊窺伺，出城的都必被撕碎；因為他們的過犯眾多，背道的事也無法數算。

因此必有森林中的獅子要撲殺他們，有原野上的豺狼要殺滅他們，有豹子在靜伺着機會要攻擊他們的城市；凡出城的都必被撕碎；因為他們的過犯很多，他們對正道、轉離得很厲害。

是以叢林之獅必殺之、曠野之狼必噬之、豹必伺於邑外、凡出邑者、悉為所裂、蓋其罪戾孔多、悖逆增甚、

彼逆主屢矣、故必死於林中之獅、斃於夤夜之狼、豹守其邑、伏視眈眈、凡出邑者、必被斷傷。

故林中之獅必殺之、夤夜之狼必噬之、豹伏其邑外、凡自邑出者、必被噬斃、皆因其罪愆極多、違逆特甚、

Therefore a lion from the forest will attack them, a wolf from the desert will ravage them, a leopard will lie in wait near their towns to tear to pieces any who venture out, for their rebellion is great and their backslidings many.

Therefore a lion from the forest shall strike them down; a wolf from the desert shall devastate them. A leopard is watching their cities; everyone who goes out of them shall be torn in pieces, because their transgressions are many, their apostasies are great.

So now a lion from the forest will attack them; a wolf from the desert will pounce on them. A leopard will lurk near their towns, tearing apart any who dare to venture out. For their rebellion is great, and their sins are many.

Therefore, a lion from the forest will strike them down. A wolf from arid plains will ravage them. A leopard stalks their cities. Anyone who leaves them will be torn to pieces because their rebellious acts are many, their unfaithful deeds numerous.

Therefore a lion from the forest will kill them, A wolf of the deserts will destroy them, A leopard is watching their cities. Everyone who goes out of them will be torn in pieces, Because their wrongdoings are many, Their apostasies are numerous.

Therefore a lion from the forest shall slay them, A wolf of the deserts shall destroy them; A leopard will watch over their cities. Everyone who goes out from there shall be torn in pieces, Because their transgressions are many; Their backslidings have increased.

Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, a wolf of the evenings shall destroy them, a leopard shall watch against their cities; every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces; because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.

Therefore, a lion from the forest will strike them down. A wolf from an arid plain will ravage them. A leopard keeps watch over their cities. Anyone who leaves them will be torn to pieces because their rebellious acts are many, their unfaithful deeds numerous.

Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them,[ and] a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many,[ and] their backslidings are increased.

So like a lion from the thicket their enemies will kill them. Like a wolf from the desert they will destroy them. Like a leopard they will lie in wait outside their cities and totally destroy anyone who ventures out. For they have rebelled so much and done so many unfaithful things.

Therefore a lion out of the forest will kill them. A wolf of the evenings will destroy them. A leopard will watch against their cities. Everyone who goes out there will be torn in pieces, because their transgressions are many and their backsliding has increased.

Jerusalem’s officials are like roaring lions. Their rulers are like wolves that hunt in the evening. They don’t leave anything to eat in the morning.

Lions have come out of their dens. Those who destroy nations have begun to march out. They have left their place to destroy your land completely. Your towns will be broken to pieces. No one will live in them.

Their horses are faster than leopards. They are meaner than wolves at sunset. Their horsemen charge straight into battle. They ride in from far away. They come down like an eagle diving for its food.

The officials in the land are like wolves that tear their food apart. They spill blood and kill people to get rich.

So I will leap on them like a lion. I will hide and wait beside the road like a leopard.I will attack them like a bear that is robbed of her cubs. I will rip them wide open. Like a lion I will eat them up. Like a wild animal I will tear them apart.

“ After that, I saw another animal. It looked like a leopard. On its back were four wings like the wings of a bird. The animal I saw had four heads. And it was given authority to rule.

I prayed,“ I’m filled with shame and dishonor, my God. I can hardly look to you and pray. That’s because our sins are piled up above our heads. Our guilt reaches all the way to the heavens.

Haven’t you brought this on yourselves? I am the Lord your God, but you deserted me. You left me even while I was leading you.

Who is wise enough to understand these things? Who has been taught by the Lord? Who can explain them? Why has the land been destroyed so completely? Why has it become like a desert that no one can go across?The Lord answered me,“ Because my people have turned away from my law. I gave it to them. But they have not kept it. They have not obeyed me.Instead, they have done what their stubborn hearts wanted them to do. They have worshiped the gods that are named Baal. They have done what their people have taught them to do through the years.”

“ Now here you are, you bunch of sinners! You have taken the place of your fathers. And you are making the Lord even angrier with Israel.

Lions have roared. They have growled at you. They have destroyed your land. Your towns are burned and deserted.

The beast I saw looked like a leopard. But it had feet like a bear and a mouth like a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority.

“ Tell these people all these things. They will ask you,‘ Why has the Lord decided to send so much trouble on us? We haven’t done anything wrong. We haven’t committed any sins against the Lord our God.’When they say this, here is what you should tell them.‘ I did it because your people of long ago deserted me,’ announces the Lord.‘ They followed other gods. They served them and worshiped them. They deserted me. They did not obey my law.But you have done more evil things than they did. All of you are doing what your stubborn and evil hearts want you to do. You are not obeying me.

“ I will be like a lion coming up from the bushes by the Jordan River. I will hunt in rich grasslands. I will chase you from your land in an instant. What nation will I choose to do this? Which one will I appoint? Is anyone like me? Who would dare to argue with me? What leader can stand against me?”

All those who were going to help you have forgotten you. They do not care about you. I have struck you as if I were your enemy. I have punished you as if I were very mean. That is because your guilt is so great. You have sinned so much.

Then Ezra the priest stood up. He said,“ You haven’t been faithful to the Lord. You have married women from other lands. So you have added to Israel’s guilt.

How terrible it will be for you who long for the day of the Lord! Why do you want it to come? That day will be dark, not light.It will be like a man running away from a lion only to meet a bear. He enters his house and rests his hand on a wall only to be bitten by a snake.

You, Lord, bring darkness, and it becomes night. Then all the animals of the forest prowl around.

The Lord’ s great anger won’t turn back. He will accomplish everything his heart plans to do. In days to come you will understand this.

I will be like a lion to Ephraim. I will attack Judah like a powerful lion. I will tear them to pieces. I will drag them off. Then I will leave them. No one will be able to save them.

And suppose these three men were in that country. Then they could not save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved. But the land would become a dry and empty desert. And that is just as sure as I am alive,” announces the Lord and King.“ Or suppose I send swords to kill the people in that country. And I say,‘ Let swords sweep all through the land.’ And I kill its people and their animals.And suppose these three men were in that country. Then they could not save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved. And that is just as sure as I am alive,” announces the Lord and King.“ Or suppose I send a plague into that land. And I pour out my great anger on it by spilling blood. I kill its people and their animals.And suppose Noah, Daniel and Job were in that land. Then they could not save their own sons or daughters. They could save only themselves by doing what is right. And that is just as sure as I am alive,” announces the Lord and King.The Lord and King says,“ It will get much worse. I will punish Jerusalem in four horrible ways. There will be war, hunger, wild animals and plague. They will destroy the people and their animals.

That’s because we’ve done so many things he considers wrong. Our sins prove that we are guilty. The wrong things we’ve done are always troubling us. We admit that we have sinned.

Assyria is like a lion. Where is the lions’ den now? Where did they feed their cubs? Where did all the lions go? In their den they had nothing to fear.The lion killed enough for his cubs to eat. He choked what he caught for his mate. He filled his home with what he had killed. He brought to his dens what he had caught.

But Oholibah offered her body to her lovers again and again. She remembered the days when she was a young prostitute in Egypt.

Lord, our sins are a witness against us. But do something for the honor of your name. We have often turned away from you. We’ve sinned against you.

Her enemies have become her masters. They have an easy life. The Lord has brought suffering to Jerusalem because her people have committed so many sins. Her children have been taken away as prisoners. Her enemies have forced her people to leave their homes.

You will be punished because you have sinned. You will be corrected for turning away from me. I am the Lord your God. If you desert me, bad things will happen to you. If you do not respect me, you will suffer bitterly. I want you to understand that,” announces the Lord who rules over all.

“ The first animal was like a lion. It had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off. Then it was lifted up from the ground. It stood on two feet like a human being. And the mind of a human being was given to it.

They set them up at every street corner. Jerusalem, you misused your beauty. You offered your body to anyone who passed by. You did it again and again.

Like a lion he will leave his den. The land of those leaders will become a desert. That’s because the sword of the Lord brings great harm. His anger will burn against them.