Hosea 10:1 Israel was once a lush vine, bountiful in grapes. The more lavish the harvest, the more promiscuous the worship. The more money they got, the more they squan...

10:1 MSG

Parallel Verses

The Message - Israel was once a lush vine, bountiful in grapes. The more lavish the harvest, the more promiscuous the worship. The more money they got, the more they squandered on gods-in-their-own-image. Their sweet smiles are sheer lies. They’re guilty as sin. God will smash their worship shrines, pulverize their god-images.
新标点和合本 - 以色列是茂盛的葡萄树，结果繁多。果子越多，就越增添祭坛；地土越肥美，就越造美丽的柱像。
和合本2010（上帝版-简体） - 以色列是茂盛的葡萄树，结果繁多。果子越多，就越增添祭坛；土地越肥美，就越建造美丽的柱像。
和合本2010（神版-简体） - 以色列是茂盛的葡萄树，结果繁多。果子越多，就越增添祭坛；土地越肥美，就越建造美丽的柱像。
当代译本 - 以色列是茂盛的葡萄树，硕果累累。可是，他结果越多，建造的祭坛就越多；土地出产越丰富，他就把神柱装饰得越美丽。
圣经新译本 - 以色列最茂盛的葡萄树，自己能结果子。他的果子越多，他就越增添祭坛；他的土地越肥美，他就使柱像越美丽。
现代标点和合本 - 以色列是茂盛的葡萄树，结果繁多。果子越多，就越增添祭坛；地土越肥美，就越造美丽的柱像。
和合本（拼音版） - 以色列是茂盛的葡萄树，结果繁多。果子越多，就越增添祭坛；地土越肥美，就越造美丽的柱像。
New International Version - Israel was a spreading vine; he brought forth fruit for himself. As his fruit increased, he built more altars; as his land prospered, he adorned his sacred stones.
New International Reader's Version - Israel was like a spreading vine. They produced fruit for themselves. As they grew more fruit, they built more altars. As their land became richer, they made more beautiful the sacred stones they worshiped.
English Standard Version - Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit. The more his fruit increased, the more altars he built; as his country improved, he improved his pillars.
New Living Translation - How prosperous Israel is— a luxuriant vine loaded with fruit. But the richer the people get, the more pagan altars they build. The more bountiful their harvests, the more beautiful their sacred pillars.
Christian Standard Bible - Israel is a lush vine; it yields fruit for itself. The more his fruit increased, the more he increased the altars. The better his land produced, the better they made the sacred pillars.
New American Standard Bible - Israel is a luxuriant vine; He produces fruit for himself. The more his fruit, The more altars he made; The richer his land, The better he made the memorial stones.
New King James Version - Israel empties his vine; He brings forth fruit for himself. According to the multitude of his fruit He has increased the altars; According to the bounty of his land They have embellished his sacred pillars.
Amplified Bible - Israel is a luxuriant and prolific vine; He produces fruit for himself. The more his fruit, The more altars he made [to Baal]; The richer his land, The better he made the [idolatrous] pillars.
American Standard Version - Israel is a luxuriant vine, that putteth forth his fruit: according to the abundance of his fruit he hath multiplied his altars; according to the goodness of their land they have made goodly pillars.
King James Version - Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.
New English Translation - Israel was a fertile vine that yielded fruit. As his fruit multiplied, he multiplied altars to Baal. As his land prospered, they adorned the fertility pillars.
World English Bible - Israel is a luxuriant vine that produces his fruit. According to the abundance of his fruit he has multiplied his altars. As their land has prospered, they have adorned their sacred stones.
新標點和合本 - 以色列是茂盛的葡萄樹，結果繁多。果子越多，就越增添祭壇；地土越肥美，就越造美麗的柱像。
和合本2010（上帝版-繁體） - 以色列是茂盛的葡萄樹，結果繁多。果子越多，就越增添祭壇；土地越肥美，就越建造美麗的柱像。
和合本2010（神版-繁體） - 以色列是茂盛的葡萄樹，結果繁多。果子越多，就越增添祭壇；土地越肥美，就越建造美麗的柱像。
當代譯本 - 以色列是茂盛的葡萄樹，碩果纍纍。可是，他結果越多，建造的祭壇就越多；土地出產越豐富，他就把神柱裝飾得越美麗。
聖經新譯本 - 以色列最茂盛的葡萄樹，自己能結果子。他的果子越多，他就越增添祭壇；他的土地越肥美，他就使柱像越美麗。
呂振中譯本 - 以色列是茂盛的葡萄樹、能結果子的；他的果子越多，他的祭壇就越增多；他的地土越肥美，他就越使崇拜柱子美麗。
現代標點和合本 - 以色列是茂盛的葡萄樹，結果繁多。果子越多，就越增添祭壇；地土越肥美，就越造美麗的柱像。
文理和合譯本 - 以色列為茂盛之葡萄樹、結實纍纍、其實愈繁、築壇愈多、其地愈美、建柱愈佳、
文理委辦譯本 - 先知曰、以色列族若葡萄樹、枝葉蓁蓁、果實纍纍、結果愈繁、築壇愈多、田疇益肥美、偶像益壯麗、
施約瑟淺文理新舊約聖經 - 以色列若茂盛之葡萄樹、結果繁多、結果愈繁、築祭壇愈多、土地愈腴美、造偶像偶像或作柱像愈壯麗、造偶像愈壯麗或作愈妝飾偶像
Nueva Versión Internacional - Israel era una vid frondosa que daba fruto a su antojo. Pero cuanto más aumentaba su fruto, más altares se construía; cuanto más prosperaba su país, más hermosas hacía sus piedras sagradas.
현대인의 성경 - 이스라엘 백성은 무성한 포도나무와 같아서 열매를 많이 맺는다. 열매 가 많을수록 그들은 제단을 많이 만들고 그 땅이 아름다울수록 그들은 돌기둥의 우상을 아름답게 꾸민다.
Новый Русский Перевод - Израиль – ветвистый виноград; он производил плод для себя. Чем больше было у него плодов, тем больше он возводил жертвенников. Чем плодороднее была его земля, тем лучше он украшал свои священные столбы .
Восточный перевод - Исраил – ветвистый виноград; он производил плод для себя. Чем больше было у него плодов, тем больше он возводил жертвенников; чем плодороднее была его земля, тем лучше он украшал свои священные камни.
Восточный перевод, версия с «Аллахом» - Исраил – ветвистый виноград; он производил плод для себя. Чем больше было у него плодов, тем больше он возводил жертвенников; чем плодороднее была его земля, тем лучше он украшал свои священные камни.
Восточный перевод, версия для Таджикистана - Исроил – ветвистый виноград; он производил плод для себя. Чем больше было у него плодов, тем больше он возводил жертвенников; чем плодороднее была его земля, тем лучше он украшал свои священные камни.
La Bible du Semeur 2015 - Israël est semblable ╵à une vigne ╵qui dégénère , il ne produit du fruit ╵que pour lui-même. Plus il a eu de fruit, plus il a édifié d’autels. Plus sa terre était belle, plus il embellissait les stèles ╵pour ses divinités.
リビングバイブル - 「イスラエルの繁栄ぶりの、なんとすばらしいことか。まるで実を豊かに結んだぶどうの木のようだ。ところが、わたしが富を増やせば増やすほど、異教の神々の祭壇に多くの物が供えられる。収穫を豊かにすればするほど、それだけ多くの美しい彫像や偶像が立てられる。
Nova Versão Internacional - Israel era como videira viçosa; cobria-se de frutos. Quanto mais produzia, mais altares construía; Quanto mais sua terra prosperava, mais enfeitava suas colunas sagradas.
Hoffnung für alle - Israel war wie ein prächtiger Weinstock mit vielen Früchten. Ja, die Israeliten hatten es gut! Je besser es ihnen ging, desto mehr Altäre bauten sie. Je größer der Wohlstand im Land wurde, desto schöner verzierten sie die heiligen Steinsäulen.
Kinh Thánh Hiện Đại - Ít-ra-ên cường thịnh là thế nào— như cây nho tươi tốt đầy hoa trái. Dân chúng càng giàu có, họ càng lập thêm nhiều bàn thờ. Những mùa thu hoạch của họ càng dồi dào, thì các trụ thờ của họ càng xinh đẹp.
พระคริสตธรรมคัมภีร์ไทย ฉบับอมตธรรมร่วมสมัย - อิสราเอลเป็นองุ่นเถางาม เขาเกิดผลเพื่อตัวเอง เมื่อผลยิ่งดก เขาก็ยิ่งสร้างแท่นบูชาเพิ่ม เมื่อดินแดนของเขารุ่งเรืองขึ้น เขาก็ตกแต่งหินศักดิ์สิทธิ์
พระคัมภีร์ ฉบับแปลใหม่ - อิสราเอลเป็นเถาองุ่นงาม ที่แผ่ออกไปและออกผล ยิ่งเกิดผลมากขึ้นเท่าใด อิสราเอลก็ยิ่งจะสร้างแท่นบูชามากขึ้นเท่านั้น ในเวลาที่แผ่นดินอุดมสมบูรณ์ อิสราเอลก็ตกแต่งเสาหินของเขา

Cross Reference

John 15:1 - “I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.
John 15:4 - “Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.
John 15:5 - “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.
Hosea 8:4 - “They crown kings, but without asking me. They set up princes but don’t let me in on it. Instead, they make idols, using silver and gold, idols that will be their ruin. Throw that gold calf-god on the trash heap, Samaria! I’m seething with anger against that rubbish! How long before they shape up? And they’re Israelites! A sculptor made that thing— it’s not God. That Samaritan calf will be broken to bits. Look at them! Planting wind-seeds, they’ll harvest tornadoes. Wheat with no head produces no flour. And even if it did, strangers would gulp it down. Israel is swallowed up and spit out. Among the pagans they’re a piece of junk. They trotted off to Assyria: Why, even wild donkeys stick to their own kind, but donkey-Ephraim goes out and pays to get lovers. Now, because of their whoring life among the pagans, I’m going to gather them together and confront them. They’re going to reap the consequences soon, feel what it’s like to be oppressed by the big king.
2 Corinthians 5:16 - Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life emerges! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you.
Nahum 2:2 - God has restored the Pride of Jacob, the Pride of Israel. Israel’s lived through hard times. He’s been to hell and back.
Leviticus 26:1 - “Don’t make idols for yourselves; don’t set up an image or a sacred pillar for yourselves, and don’t place a carved stone in your land that you can bow down to in worship. I am God, your God.
Ezekiel 15:1 - God’s Message came to me: “Son of man, how would you compare the wood of a vine with the branches of any tree you’d find in the forest? Is vine wood ever used to make anything? Is it used to make pegs to hang things from?
Ezekiel 15:4 - “I don’t think so. At best it’s good for fuel. Look at it: A flimsy piece of vine, thrown in the fire and then rescued—the ends burned off and the middle charred. Now is it good for anything?
Ezekiel 15:5 - “Hardly. When it was whole it wasn’t good for anything. Half-burned is no improvement. What’s it good for?
Isaiah 5:1 - I’ll sing a ballad to the one I love, a love ballad about his vineyard: The one I love had a vineyard, a fine, well-placed vineyard. He hoed the soil and pulled the weeds, and planted the very best vines. He built a lookout, built a winepress, a vineyard to be proud of. He looked for a vintage yield of grapes, but for all his pains he got garbage grapes.
Isaiah 5:3 - “Now listen to what I’m telling you, you who live in Jerusalem and Judah. What do you think is going on between me and my vineyard? Can you think of anything I could have done to my vineyard that I didn’t do? When I expected good grapes, why did I get bitter grapes?
Isaiah 5:5 - “Well now, let me tell you what I’ll do to my vineyard: I’ll tear down its fence and let it go to ruin. I’ll knock down the gate and let it be trampled. I’ll turn it into a patch of weeds, untended, uncared for— thistles and thorns will take over. I’ll give orders to the clouds: ‘Don’t rain on that vineyard, ever!’”
Isaiah 5:7 - Do you get it? The vineyard of God-of-the-Angel-Armies is the country of Israel. All the men and women of Judah are the garden he was so proud of. He looked for a crop of justice and saw them murdering each other. He looked for a harvest of righteousness and heard only the moans of victims.
Hosea 8:11 - “Ephraim has built a lot of altars, and then uses them for sinning. Can you believe it? Altars for sinning! I write out my revelation for them in detail and they pretend they can’t read it. They offer sacrifices to me and then they feast on the meat. God is not pleased! I’m fed up—I’ll keep remembering their guilt. I’ll punish their sins and send them back to Egypt. Israel has forgotten his Maker and gotten busy making palaces. Judah has gone in for a lot of fortress cities. I’m sending fire on their cities to burn down their fortifications.”

Parallel Verses

Cross Reference

The Message - Israel was once a lush vine, bountiful in grapes. The more lavish the harvest, the more promiscuous the worship. The more money they got, the more they squandered on gods-in-their-own-image. Their sweet smiles are sheer lies. They’re guilty as sin. God will smash their worship shrines, pulverize their god-images.
新标点和合本 - 以色列是茂盛的葡萄树，结果繁多。果子越多，就越增添祭坛；地土越肥美，就越造美丽的柱像。
和合本2010（上帝版-简体） - 以色列是茂盛的葡萄树，结果繁多。果子越多，就越增添祭坛；土地越肥美，就越建造美丽的柱像。
和合本2010（神版-简体） - 以色列是茂盛的葡萄树，结果繁多。果子越多，就越增添祭坛；土地越肥美，就越建造美丽的柱像。
当代译本 - 以色列是茂盛的葡萄树，硕果累累。可是，他结果越多，建造的祭坛就越多；土地出产越丰富，他就把神柱装饰得越美丽。
圣经新译本 - 以色列最茂盛的葡萄树，自己能结果子。他的果子越多，他就越增添祭坛；他的土地越肥美，他就使柱像越美丽。
现代标点和合本 - 以色列是茂盛的葡萄树，结果繁多。果子越多，就越增添祭坛；地土越肥美，就越造美丽的柱像。
和合本（拼音版） - 以色列是茂盛的葡萄树，结果繁多。果子越多，就越增添祭坛；地土越肥美，就越造美丽的柱像。
New International Version - Israel was a spreading vine; he brought forth fruit for himself. As his fruit increased, he built more altars; as his land prospered, he adorned his sacred stones.
New International Reader's Version - Israel was like a spreading vine. They produced fruit for themselves. As they grew more fruit, they built more altars. As their land became richer, they made more beautiful the sacred stones they worshiped.
English Standard Version - Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit. The more his fruit increased, the more altars he built; as his country improved, he improved his pillars.
New Living Translation - How prosperous Israel is— a luxuriant vine loaded with fruit. But the richer the people get, the more pagan altars they build. The more bountiful their harvests, the more beautiful their sacred pillars.
Christian Standard Bible - Israel is a lush vine; it yields fruit for itself. The more his fruit increased, the more he increased the altars. The better his land produced, the better they made the sacred pillars.
New American Standard Bible - Israel is a luxuriant vine; He produces fruit for himself. The more his fruit, The more altars he made; The richer his land, The better he made the memorial stones.
New King James Version - Israel empties his vine; He brings forth fruit for himself. According to the multitude of his fruit He has increased the altars; According to the bounty of his land They have embellished his sacred pillars.
Amplified Bible - Israel is a luxuriant and prolific vine; He produces fruit for himself. The more his fruit, The more altars he made [to Baal]; The richer his land, The better he made the [idolatrous] pillars.
American Standard Version - Israel is a luxuriant vine, that putteth forth his fruit: according to the abundance of his fruit he hath multiplied his altars; according to the goodness of their land they have made goodly pillars.
King James Version - Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.
New English Translation - Israel was a fertile vine that yielded fruit. As his fruit multiplied, he multiplied altars to Baal. As his land prospered, they adorned the fertility pillars.
World English Bible - Israel is a luxuriant vine that produces his fruit. According to the abundance of his fruit he has multiplied his altars. As their land has prospered, they have adorned their sacred stones.
新標點和合本 - 以色列是茂盛的葡萄樹，結果繁多。果子越多，就越增添祭壇；地土越肥美，就越造美麗的柱像。
和合本2010（上帝版-繁體） - 以色列是茂盛的葡萄樹，結果繁多。果子越多，就越增添祭壇；土地越肥美，就越建造美麗的柱像。
和合本2010（神版-繁體） - 以色列是茂盛的葡萄樹，結果繁多。果子越多，就越增添祭壇；土地越肥美，就越建造美麗的柱像。
當代譯本 - 以色列是茂盛的葡萄樹，碩果纍纍。可是，他結果越多，建造的祭壇就越多；土地出產越豐富，他就把神柱裝飾得越美麗。
聖經新譯本 - 以色列最茂盛的葡萄樹，自己能結果子。他的果子越多，他就越增添祭壇；他的土地越肥美，他就使柱像越美麗。
呂振中譯本 - 以色列是茂盛的葡萄樹、能結果子的；他的果子越多，他的祭壇就越增多；他的地土越肥美，他就越使崇拜柱子美麗。
現代標點和合本 - 以色列是茂盛的葡萄樹，結果繁多。果子越多，就越增添祭壇；地土越肥美，就越造美麗的柱像。
文理和合譯本 - 以色列為茂盛之葡萄樹、結實纍纍、其實愈繁、築壇愈多、其地愈美、建柱愈佳、
文理委辦譯本 - 先知曰、以色列族若葡萄樹、枝葉蓁蓁、果實纍纍、結果愈繁、築壇愈多、田疇益肥美、偶像益壯麗、
施約瑟淺文理新舊約聖經 - 以色列若茂盛之葡萄樹、結果繁多、結果愈繁、築祭壇愈多、土地愈腴美、造偶像偶像或作柱像愈壯麗、造偶像愈壯麗或作愈妝飾偶像
Nueva Versión Internacional - Israel era una vid frondosa que daba fruto a su antojo. Pero cuanto más aumentaba su fruto, más altares se construía; cuanto más prosperaba su país, más hermosas hacía sus piedras sagradas.
현대인의 성경 - 이스라엘 백성은 무성한 포도나무와 같아서 열매를 많이 맺는다. 열매 가 많을수록 그들은 제단을 많이 만들고 그 땅이 아름다울수록 그들은 돌기둥의 우상을 아름답게 꾸민다.
Новый Русский Перевод - Израиль – ветвистый виноград; он производил плод для себя. Чем больше было у него плодов, тем больше он возводил жертвенников. Чем плодороднее была его земля, тем лучше он украшал свои священные столбы .
Восточный перевод - Исраил – ветвистый виноград; он производил плод для себя. Чем больше было у него плодов, тем больше он возводил жертвенников; чем плодороднее была его земля, тем лучше он украшал свои священные камни.
Восточный перевод, версия с «Аллахом» - Исраил – ветвистый виноград; он производил плод для себя. Чем больше было у него плодов, тем больше он возводил жертвенников; чем плодороднее была его земля, тем лучше он украшал свои священные камни.
Восточный перевод, версия для Таджикистана - Исроил – ветвистый виноград; он производил плод для себя. Чем больше было у него плодов, тем больше он возводил жертвенников; чем плодороднее была его земля, тем лучше он украшал свои священные камни.
La Bible du Semeur 2015 - Israël est semblable ╵à une vigne ╵qui dégénère , il ne produit du fruit ╵que pour lui-même. Plus il a eu de fruit, plus il a édifié d’autels. Plus sa terre était belle, plus il embellissait les stèles ╵pour ses divinités.
リビングバイブル - 「イスラエルの繁栄ぶりの、なんとすばらしいことか。まるで実を豊かに結んだぶどうの木のようだ。ところが、わたしが富を増やせば増やすほど、異教の神々の祭壇に多くの物が供えられる。収穫を豊かにすればするほど、それだけ多くの美しい彫像や偶像が立てられる。
Nova Versão Internacional - Israel era como videira viçosa; cobria-se de frutos. Quanto mais produzia, mais altares construía; Quanto mais sua terra prosperava, mais enfeitava suas colunas sagradas.
Hoffnung für alle - Israel war wie ein prächtiger Weinstock mit vielen Früchten. Ja, die Israeliten hatten es gut! Je besser es ihnen ging, desto mehr Altäre bauten sie. Je größer der Wohlstand im Land wurde, desto schöner verzierten sie die heiligen Steinsäulen.
Kinh Thánh Hiện Đại - Ít-ra-ên cường thịnh là thế nào— như cây nho tươi tốt đầy hoa trái. Dân chúng càng giàu có, họ càng lập thêm nhiều bàn thờ. Những mùa thu hoạch của họ càng dồi dào, thì các trụ thờ của họ càng xinh đẹp.
พระคริสตธรรมคัมภีร์ไทย ฉบับอมตธรรมร่วมสมัย - อิสราเอลเป็นองุ่นเถางาม เขาเกิดผลเพื่อตัวเอง เมื่อผลยิ่งดก เขาก็ยิ่งสร้างแท่นบูชาเพิ่ม เมื่อดินแดนของเขารุ่งเรืองขึ้น เขาก็ตกแต่งหินศักดิ์สิทธิ์
พระคัมภีร์ ฉบับแปลใหม่ - อิสราเอลเป็นเถาองุ่นงาม ที่แผ่ออกไปและออกผล ยิ่งเกิดผลมากขึ้นเท่าใด อิสราเอลก็ยิ่งจะสร้างแท่นบูชามากขึ้นเท่านั้น ในเวลาที่แผ่นดินอุดมสมบูรณ์ อิสราเอลก็ตกแต่งเสาหินของเขา

John 15:1 - “I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.
John 15:4 - “Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.
John 15:5 - “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.
Hosea 8:4 - “They crown kings, but without asking me. They set up princes but don’t let me in on it. Instead, they make idols, using silver and gold, idols that will be their ruin. Throw that gold calf-god on the trash heap, Samaria! I’m seething with anger against that rubbish! How long before they shape up? And they’re Israelites! A sculptor made that thing— it’s not God. That Samaritan calf will be broken to bits. Look at them! Planting wind-seeds, they’ll harvest tornadoes. Wheat with no head produces no flour. And even if it did, strangers would gulp it down. Israel is swallowed up and spit out. Among the pagans they’re a piece of junk. They trotted off to Assyria: Why, even wild donkeys stick to their own kind, but donkey-Ephraim goes out and pays to get lovers. Now, because of their whoring life among the pagans, I’m going to gather them together and confront them. They’re going to reap the consequences soon, feel what it’s like to be oppressed by the big king.
2 Corinthians 5:16 - Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life emerges! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you.
Nahum 2:2 - God has restored the Pride of Jacob, the Pride of Israel. Israel’s lived through hard times. He’s been to hell and back.
Leviticus 26:1 - “Don’t make idols for yourselves; don’t set up an image or a sacred pillar for yourselves, and don’t place a carved stone in your land that you can bow down to in worship. I am God, your God.
Ezekiel 15:1 - God’s Message came to me: “Son of man, how would you compare the wood of a vine with the branches of any tree you’d find in the forest? Is vine wood ever used to make anything? Is it used to make pegs to hang things from?
Ezekiel 15:4 - “I don’t think so. At best it’s good for fuel. Look at it: A flimsy piece of vine, thrown in the fire and then rescued—the ends burned off and the middle charred. Now is it good for anything?
Ezekiel 15:5 - “Hardly. When it was whole it wasn’t good for anything. Half-burned is no improvement. What’s it good for?
Isaiah 5:1 - I’ll sing a ballad to the one I love, a love ballad about his vineyard: The one I love had a vineyard, a fine, well-placed vineyard. He hoed the soil and pulled the weeds, and planted the very best vines. He built a lookout, built a winepress, a vineyard to be proud of. He looked for a vintage yield of grapes, but for all his pains he got garbage grapes.
Isaiah 5:3 - “Now listen to what I’m telling you, you who live in Jerusalem and Judah. What do you think is going on between me and my vineyard? Can you think of anything I could have done to my vineyard that I didn’t do? When I expected good grapes, why did I get bitter grapes?
Isaiah 5:5 - “Well now, let me tell you what I’ll do to my vineyard: I’ll tear down its fence and let it go to ruin. I’ll knock down the gate and let it be trampled. I’ll turn it into a patch of weeds, untended, uncared for— thistles and thorns will take over. I’ll give orders to the clouds: ‘Don’t rain on that vineyard, ever!’”
Isaiah 5:7 - Do you get it? The vineyard of God-of-the-Angel-Armies is the country of Israel. All the men and women of Judah are the garden he was so proud of. He looked for a crop of justice and saw them murdering each other. He looked for a harvest of righteousness and heard only the moans of victims.
Hosea 8:11 - “Ephraim has built a lot of altars, and then uses them for sinning. Can you believe it? Altars for sinning! I write out my revelation for them in detail and they pretend they can’t read it. They offer sacrifices to me and then they feast on the meat. God is not pleased! I’m fed up—I’ll keep remembering their guilt. I’ll punish their sins and send them back to Egypt. Israel has forgotten his Maker and gotten busy making palaces. Judah has gone in for a lot of fortress cities. I’m sending fire on their cities to burn down their fortifications.”