I will send war against you to punish you for breaking my covenant. When you go back into your cities, I will send a plague among you. You will be handed over to your enemies.

我又要使刀剑临到你们，报复你们背约的仇；聚集你们在各城内，降瘟疫在你们中间，也必将你们交在仇敌的手中。

我要使刀剑临到你们，报复你们的背约。你们若被赶入城中，我要降瘟疫在你们中间，把你们交在仇敌手中。

我要使刀剑临到你们，报复你们的背约。你们若被赶入城中，我要降瘟疫在你们中间，把你们交在仇敌手中。

因为你们毁约，我要用战祸报应你们。你们躲进各城的时候，我要在你们中间降下瘟疫，使你们落在敌人手里。

使刀剑临到你们，报复背约的仇；聚集你们到城里，好使我打发瘟疫在你们中间，把你们交在仇敌的手里。

我又要使刀劍臨到你們，報復你們背約的仇；聚集你們在各城內，降瘟疫在你們中間，也必將你們交在仇敵的手中。

我要使刀劍臨到你們，報復你們的背約。你們若被趕入城中，我要降瘟疫在你們中間，把你們交在仇敵手中。

我要使刀劍臨到你們，報復你們的背約。你們若被趕入城中，我要降瘟疫在你們中間，把你們交在仇敵手中。

因為你們毀約，我要用戰禍報應你們。你們躲進各城的時候，我要在你們中間降下瘟疫，使你們落在敵人手裡。

使刀劍臨到你們，報復背約的仇；聚集你們到城裡，好使我打發瘟疫在你們中間，把你們交在仇敵的手裡。

我要使刀劍擊殺你們，對你們施行背約的報罰。你們聚集在你們的城內，我要打發瘟疫在你們中間，要將你們交在仇敵手中。

我使鋒刃臨爾、以報背約之仇、爾集於邑垣、我則降疫癘於其中、付爾於敵、

為爾背約、故以鋒刃擊爾、洩我忿怒。爾若集於邑垣、我必使疫癘流行、付爾於敵。

必降爾兵刃之災、討爾背約之罪、爾奔集於城中、必降瘟疫於爾間、付爾於敵手、

And I will bring the sword on you to avenge the breaking of the covenant. When you withdraw into your cities, I will send a plague among you, and you will be given into enemy hands.

And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall execute vengeance for the covenant. And if you gather within your cities, I will send pestilence among you, and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.

I will send armies against you to carry out the curse of the covenant you have broken. When you run to your towns for safety, I will send a plague to destroy you there, and you will be handed over to your enemies.

I will bring a sword against you to execute the vengeance of the covenant. Though you withdraw into your cities, I will send a pestilence among you, and you will be delivered into enemy hands.

I will also bring upon you a sword which will execute vengeance for the covenant; and when you gather together into your cities, I will send a plague among you, so that you will be handed over to the enemy.

And I will bring a sword against you that will execute the vengeance of the covenant; when you are gathered together within your cities I will send pestilence among you; and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.

And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall execute the vengeance of the covenant; and ye shall be gathered together within your cities: and I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.

I will bring a sword against you to execute the vengeance of the covenant. Though you withdraw into your cities, I will send a pestilence among you, and you will be delivered into enemy hands.

And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of[ my] covenant: and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.

I will bring on you an avenging sword, a covenant vengeance. Although you will gather together into your cities, I will send pestilence among you and you will be given into enemy hands.

I will bring a sword upon you that will execute the vengeance of the covenant. You will be gathered together within your cities, and I will send the pestilence among you. You will be delivered into the hand of the enemy.

So I will strike them down with a plague. I will destroy them. But I will make you into a greater and stronger nation than they are.”

I will send hunger and wild animals against you. They will destroy all your children. Plague and murder will sweep over you. And I will send swords to kill you. I have spoken. I am the Lord.”

“ 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.

In the streets their children will be killed by swords. Their homes will be filled with terror. The young men and women will die. The babies and old people will die.

Say,‘ Mountains of Israel, listen to the message of the Lord and King. Here is what he says to the mountains and hills. And here is what he says to the canyons and valleys. He tells them,“ I will send swords to kill your people. I will destroy the high places where you worship other gods.

He will send all kinds of sicknesses on you. He’ll send them until he has destroyed you. He’ll remove you from the land you are entering to take as your own.

So the Lord and King says,“ I will send Nebuchadnezzar’s sword against you. He will kill people and animals alike.

“ Son of man, speak to your people. Tell them,‘ Suppose I send enemies against a land. And its people choose one of their men to stand guard.

The Lord who rules over all says,“ I will send war, hunger and plague against them. I will make them like bad figs. They are so bad they can’t be eaten.I will hunt them down with war, hunger and plague. I will make all the kingdoms on earth displeased with them. They will use their name in a curse. All the nations where I drive them will be shocked at them. They will make fun of them. And they will bring shame on them.

I will send war, hunger and plague against them. They will be destroyed from the land I gave them and their people of long ago.’ ”

I will scatter them among the nations. They and their people before them didn’t know about these nations. With swords I will chase these people. I will hunt them down until I have destroyed them.”

Suppose someone did not obey the law of Moses. And suppose two or three witnesses made charges against them. That person would die without mercy.People who deserve even more punishment include those who have hated the Son of God. They include people who have said no to him. They include people who have treated as unholy the blood of the covenant that makes them holy. They also include people who have disrespected the Holy Spirit who brings God’s grace. Don’t you think people like this should be punished more than anyone else?We know the God who said,“ I am the God who judges people. I will pay them back.”( Deuteronomy 32:35) Scripture also says,“ The Lord will judge his people.”( Deuteronomy 32:36; Psalm 135:14)

He let his people be killed by swords. He was very angry with them.Fire destroyed their young men. Their young women had no one to marry.Their priests were killed by swords. Their widows weren’t able to weep.

But 14,700 people died from the plague. That doesn’t include those who had died because of what Korah did.

The Lord became angry with the Israelites. So he handed them over to robbers. The robbers stole everything from them. The Lord handed the Israelites over to their enemies all around them. Israel wasn’t able to fight against them anymore and win.When the Israelites went out to fight, the Lord’ s power was against them. He let their enemies win the battle over them. The Lord had warned them that it would happen. And now they were suffering terribly.Then the Lord gave them leaders. The leaders saved them from the power of those robbers.

Suppose these people ask you,‘ Where should we go?’ Then tell them,‘ The Lord says,“‘ “Those I have appointed to die will die. Those I have appointed to be killed by swords will be killed by swords. Those I have appointed to die of hunger will die of hunger. Those I have appointed to be taken away as prisoners will be taken away.” ’“ I will send four kinds of destroyers against them,” announces the Lord.“ Swords will kill them. Dogs will drag them away. Birds will eat them up. And wild animals will destroy them.I will make all the kingdoms on earth hate them. That will happen because of what Manasseh did in Jerusalem. He was king of Judah and the son of Hezekiah.

“ I sent plagues on you, just as I did on Egypt. I killed your young men by swords. I also let the horses you had captured be killed. I filled your noses with the stink of your camps. In spite of that, you still have not returned to me,” announces the Lord.

And you can be just as sure that I will sharpen my flashing sword. My hand will hold it when I judge. I will get even with my enemies. I will pay back those who hate me.

The sword of the Lord will finish its deadly work in the sky. Then it will come down to strike Edom. He will totally destroy that nation.His sword will be red with blood. It will be covered with fat. The blood will flow like the blood of lambs and goats being sacrificed. The fat will be like the fat taken from the kidneys of rams. That’s because the Lord will offer a sacrifice in the city of Bozrah. He will kill many people in the land of Edom.

I punish people. I will pay them back. The time will come when their feet will slip. Their day of trouble is near. Very soon they will be destroyed.”

Even if they go without food, I will not listen to their cry for help. They might sacrifice burnt offerings and grain offerings. But I will not accept them. Instead, I will destroy them with war, hunger and plague.”But I said,“ Lord and King, the prophets keep telling them something else. They say,‘ You won’t have to suffer from war or hunger. Instead, the Lord will give you peace and rest in this place.’ ”

“ Young people and old people alike lie dead in the dust of my streets. My young men and women have been killed by swords. You killed them when you were angry. You put them to death without pity.

“ I will take note of you as you pass under my shepherd’s stick. I will separate those who obey me from those who do not. And I will give the blessings of the covenant to those of you who obey me.

The Lord is a God who punishes. Since you are the one who punishes, come and show your anger.

In many places there will be powerful earthquakes. People will go hungry. There will be terrible sicknesses. Things will happen that will make people afraid. There will be great and miraculous signs from heaven.

Because I am going to remove them, my sword will be ready to use. I will strike down everyone from south to north.Then all people will know that I have pulled out my sword. I will not put it back. I am the Lord.” ’“ Groan, son of man! Groan in front of your people. Groan with a broken heart and bitter sorrow.They will ask you,‘ Why are you groaning?’ Then you will say,‘ Because of the news that is coming. The hearts of all the people will melt away in fear. Their hands will not be able to help them. Their spirits will grow weak. And they will be so afraid they’ll wet themselves.’ The news is coming! You can be sure those things will happen,” announces the Lord and King.A message from the Lord came to me. The Lord said,“ Son of man, prophesy. Say,‘ The Lord says,“‘ “A sword! A sword! A sharp and shiny sword is coming from Babylon!It is sharpened to kill people. It flashes like lightning.” ’ ” The people say,“ Should we take delight in the scepter of the Lord’ s royal son? The sword looks down on every scepter like this.”The Lord says,“ I have told Nebuchadnezzar to shine his sword. It is in his hand. It has been sharpened and shined. It is ready for the killer’s hand.Son of man, cry out and weep. The sword is against my people. It is against all the princes of Israel. It will kill them along with the rest of my people. So beat your chest in sorrow.“ You can be sure that testing will come. Why does the sword look down on the scepter? Because even the scepter will not continue to rule,” announces the Lord and King.“ Son of man, prophesy. Clap your hands. Let the sword strike twice. Let it strike even three times. It is a sword to kill people. It is a sword to kill many people. It is closing in on them from every side.People’s hearts will melt away in fear. Many will be wounded or killed. I have prepared the sword to kill people at all their city gates. Look! It strikes like lightning. It is in the killer’s hand.Sword, cut to the right. Then cut to the left. Strike down people everywhere your blade is turned.I too will clap my hands. I won’t be so angry anymore. I have spoken. I am the Lord.”

So the Lord sent a plague on Israel. It lasted from that morning until he decided to end it. From Dan all the way to Beersheba 70,000 people died.