So I confronted the nobles of Judah.“ Why are you profaning the Sabbath in this evil way?” I asked.

我就斥责犹大的贵胄说：“你们怎么行这恶事犯了安息日呢？

我就斥责犹大的贵族，对他们说：“你们怎么会做这恶事干犯安息日呢！

我就斥责犹大的贵族，对他们说：“你们怎么会做这恶事干犯安息日呢！

我斥责犹大的贵族说：“你们为何做这恶事干犯安息日？

于是我责备犹大的贵族，对他们说：“你们怎么行这恶事，亵渎安息日呢？

我就斥責猶大的貴冑說：「你們怎麼行這惡事犯了安息日呢？

我就斥責猶大的貴族，對他們說：「你們怎麼會做這惡事干犯安息日呢！

我就斥責猶大的貴族，對他們說：「你們怎麼會做這惡事干犯安息日呢！

我斥責猶大的貴族說：「你們為何做這惡事干犯安息日？

於是我責備猶大的貴族，對他們說：“你們怎麼行這惡事，褻瀆安息日呢？

我就譴責猶大顯貴的人，對他們說：『你們行的這壞事到底是甚麼事，竟瀆犯這安息之日啊？

我斥責猶大顯者曰、爾奚行此惡、以犯安息日、

我責猶大世職曰、爾奚犯安息日、多行不義。

我斥責猶大諸顯者、謂之曰、爾行不法、犯安息日何耶、

I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them,“ What is this wicked thing you are doing— desecrating the Sabbath day?

I gave a warning to the nobles of Judah. I said,“ Why are you doing such an evil thing? You are misusing the Sabbath day!

Then I confronted the nobles of Judah and said to them,“ What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day?

I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them,“ What is this evil you are doing— profaning the Sabbath day?

Then I reprimanded the nobles of Judah and said to them,“ What is this evil thing that you are doing, by profaning the Sabbath day?

Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them,“ What evil thing is this that you do, by which you profane the Sabbath day?

Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them:“ What is this evil you are doing— profaning the Sabbath day?

Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing[ is] this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

So I registered a complaint with the nobles of Judah, saying to them,“ What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day?

Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them,“ What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the Sabbath day?

I immediately confronted the leaders and demanded,“ Why has the Temple of God been neglected?” Then I called all the Levites back again and restored them to their proper duties.

So I confronted them and called down curses on them. I beat some of them and pulled out their hair. I made them swear in the name of God that they would not let their children intermarry with the pagan people of the land.

Listen to me, you leaders of Israel! You hate justice and twist all that is right.

After thinking it over, I spoke out against these nobles and officials. I told them,“ You are hurting your own relatives by charging interest when they borrow money!” Then I called a public meeting to deal with the problem.

To reject the law is to praise the wicked; to obey the law is to fight them.

I said,“ Listen, you leaders of Israel! You are supposed to know right from wrong,

So I will go and speak to their leaders. Surely they know the ways of the Lord and understand God’s laws.” But the leaders, too, as one man, had thrown off God’s yoke and broken his chains.

‘ Listen to this message from the Lord, you king of Judah, sitting on David’s throne. Let your attendants and your people listen, too.This is what the Lord says: Be fair minded and just. Do what is right! Help those who have been robbed; rescue them from their oppressors. Quit your evil deeds! Do not mistreat foreigners, orphans, and widows. Stop murdering the innocent!If you obey me, there will always be a descendant of David sitting on the throne here in Jerusalem. The king will ride through the palace gates in chariots and on horses, with his parade of attendants and subjects.But if you refuse to pay attention to this warning, I swear by my own name, says the Lord, that this palace will become a pile of rubble.’”Now this is what the Lord says concerning Judah’s royal palace:“ I love you as much as fruitful Gilead and the green forests of Lebanon. But I will turn you into a desert, with no one living within your walls.I will call for wreckers, who will bring out their tools to dismantle you. They will tear out all your fine cedar beams and throw them on the fire.“ People from many nations will pass by the ruins of this city and say to one another,‘ Why did the Lord destroy such a great city?’And the answer will be,‘ Because they violated their covenant with the Lord their God by worshiping other gods.’”Do not weep for the dead king or mourn his loss. Instead, weep for the captive king being led away! For he will never return to see his native land again.For this is what the Lord says about Jehoahaz, who succeeded his father, King Josiah, and was taken away as a captive:“ He will never return.He will die in a distant land and will never again see his own country.”And the Lord says,“ What sorrow awaits Jehoiakim, who builds his palace with forced labor. He builds injustice into its walls, for he makes his neighbors work for nothing. He does not pay them for their labor.He says,‘ I will build a magnificent palace with huge rooms and many windows. I will panel it throughout with fragrant cedar and paint it a lovely red.’But a beautiful cedar palace does not make a great king! Your father, Josiah, also had plenty to eat and drink. But he was just and right in all his dealings. That is why God blessed him.He gave justice and help to the poor and needy, and everything went well for him. Isn’t that what it means to know me?” says the Lord.“ But you! You have eyes only for greed and dishonesty! You murder the innocent, oppress the poor, and reign ruthlessly.”Therefore, this is what the Lord says about Jehoiakim, son of King Josiah:“ The people will not mourn for him, crying to one another,‘ Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!’ His subjects will not mourn for him, crying,‘ Alas, our master is dead! Alas, his splendor is gone!’He will be buried like a dead donkey— dragged out of Jerusalem and dumped outside the gates!Weep for your allies in Lebanon. Shout for them in Bashan. Search for them in the regions east of the river. See, they are all destroyed. Not one is left to help you.I warned you when you were prosperous, but you replied,‘ Don’t bother me.’ You have been that way since childhood— you simply will not obey me!And now the wind will blow away your allies. All your friends will be taken away as captives. Surely then you will see your wickedness and be ashamed.It may be nice to live in a beautiful palace paneled with wood from the cedars of Lebanon, but soon you will groan with pangs of anguish— anguish like that of a woman in labor.

Listen to the Lord, you leaders of“ Sodom.” Listen to the law of our God, people of“ Gomorrah.”

Say to the king and his mother,“ Come down from your thrones and sit in the dust, for your glorious crowns will soon be snatched from your heads.”

God presides over heaven’s court; he pronounces judgment on the heavenly beings:“ How long will you hand down unjust decisions by favoring the wicked? Interlude