They were like their people who lived long ago. They turned away from him and were not faithful. They were like a bow that doesn’t shoot straight. They couldn’t be trusted.

反倒退后，行诡诈，像他们的祖宗一样；他们改变，如同翻背的弓。

反倒退后，行诡诈，像他们的祖宗一样，他们翻转，如同松弛的弓，

反倒退后，行诡诈，像他们的祖宗一样，他们翻转，如同松弛的弓，

他们跟祖先一样背信弃义，像断弓一样毫不可靠。

他们背信不忠，像他们的列祖一样；他们改变了，如同不可靠的弓。

他们退缩、背信，如同他们的祖先；他们扭曲，如同松弛的弓。

反倒退後，行詭詐，像他們的祖宗一樣；他們改變，如同翻背的弓。

反倒退後，行詭詐，像他們的祖宗一樣，他們翻轉，如同鬆弛的弓，

反倒退後，行詭詐，像他們的祖宗一樣，他們翻轉，如同鬆弛的弓，

他們跟祖先一樣背信棄義，像斷弓一樣毫不可靠。

他們背信不忠，像他們的列祖一樣；他們改變了，如同不可靠的弓。

反倒退後而背信、像他們祖宗一樣；他們變了，如同乖張的弓一般。

他們退縮、背信，如同他們的祖先；他們扭曲，如同鬆弛的弓。

轉而背之、行詐如其列祖、變其趨向、如偏反之弓兮、

維彼濟惡、屢行叛逆、無異列祖、如弦絶弓反兮、

失信悖逆與其列祖無異、改變有如弓翻、

捨正就邪。一如乃翁。不中正鵠。彷彿弊弓。

Like their ancestors they were disloyal and faithless, as unreliable as a faulty bow.

but turned away and acted treacherously like their fathers; they twisted like a deceitful bow.

They turned back and were as faithless as their parents. They were as undependable as a crooked bow.

They treacherously turned away like their ancestors; they became warped like a faulty bow.

But turned back and acted treacherously like their fathers; They turned aside like a treacherous bow.

But turned back and acted unfaithfully like their fathers; They were turned aside like a deceitful bow.

But turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers: They were turned aside like a deceitful bow.

They treacherously turned away like their fathers; they became warped like a faulty bow.

But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.

They were unfaithful and acted as treacherously as their ancestors; they were as unreliable as a malfunctioning bow.

but turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers. They were twisted like a deceitful bow.

I am the Most High God. But they do not turn to me. They are like a bow that does not shoot straight. Their leaders will be killed by swords. They will die because they have spoken too proudly. The people of Egypt will make fun of them.”

“ Son of man, speak to the people of Israel. Tell them,‘ The Lord and King says,“ Your people spoke evil things against me long ago. They were unfaithful to me.But I brought them into the land. I had promised to give the land to them. Then they offered sacrifices that made me very angry. They did it on every high hill and under every green tree. There they brought their sweet- smelling incense. And there they poured out their drink offerings.

They would not be like their people who lived long ago. Those people were stubborn. They refused to obey God. They turned away from him. Their spirits were not faithful to him.

Again and again they tested God. They made the Holy One of Israel sad and angry.

They didn’t keep the covenant God had made with them. They refused to live by his law.They forgot what he had done. They didn’t remember the wonders he had shown them.He did miracles right in front of their people who lived long ago. At that time they were living in Egypt, in the area of Zoan.God parted the Red Sea and led them through it. He made the water stand up like a wall.He guided them with the cloud during the day. He led them with the light of a fire all night long.He broke the rocks open in the desert. He gave them as much water as there is in the oceans.He brought streams out of a rocky cliff. He made water flow down like rivers.But they continued to sin against him. In the desert they refused to obey the Most High God.They were stubborn and tested God. They ordered him to give them the food they wanted.They spoke against God. They said,“ Can God really put food on a table in the desert?It is true that he struck the rock, and streams of water poured out. Huge amounts of water flowed down. But can he also give us bread? Can he supply meat for his people?”When the Lord heard what they said, he was very angry. His anger broke out like fire against the people of Jacob. He became very angry with Israel.That was because they didn’t believe in God. They didn’t trust in his power to save them.But he gave a command to the skies above. He opened the doors of the heavens.He rained down manna for the people to eat. He gave them the grain of heaven.Mere human beings ate the bread of angels. He sent them all the food they could eat.He made the east wind blow from the heavens. By his power he caused the south wind to blow.He rained down meat on them like dust. He sent them birds like sand on the seashore.He made the birds come down inside their camp. The birds fell all around their tents.People ate until they couldn’t eat any more. He gave them what they had wanted.But even before they had finished eating, God acted. He did it while the food was still in their mouths.His anger rose up against them. He put to death the strongest among them. He struck down Israel’s young men.But even after all that, they kept on sinning. Even after the wonderful things he had done, they still didn’t believe.So he brought their days to an end like a puff of smoke. He ended their years with terror.Every time God killed some of them, the others would seek him. They gladly turned back to him again.They remembered that God was their Rock. They remembered that God Most High had set them free.But they didn’t mean it when they praised him. They lied to him when they spoke.They turned away from him. They weren’t faithful to the covenant he had made with them.

So the Israelites lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.They married the daughters of those people. They gave their own daughters to the sons of those people. And they served the gods of those people.The Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God. They served gods that were named Baal. They also served female gods that were named Asherah.

Again the Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. So the Lord gave Eglon power over Israel. Eglon was the king of Moab.