Contemporary English Version Evil Rulers and Lying Prophets1Listen to me, you rulers of Israel! You know right from wrong, 2but you prefer to do evil instead of what is right. You skin my people alive. You strip off their flesh, 3break their bones, cook it all in a pot, and gulp it down. 4Someday you will beg the Lord to help you, but he will turn away because of your sins. 5You lying prophets promise security for anyone who gives you food, but disaster for anyone who refuses to feed you. Here is what the Lord says to you prophets: 6“You will live in the dark, far from the sight of the sun, with no message from me. 7You prophets and fortunetellers will all be disgraced, with no message from me.” 8But the Lord has filled me with power and his Spirit. I have been given the courage to speak about justice and to tell you people of Israel that you have sinned. 9So listen to my message, you rulers of Israel! You hate justice and twist the truth. 10You make cruelty and murder a way of life in Jerusalem. 11You leaders accept bribes for dishonest decisions. You priests and prophets teach and preach, but only for money. Then you say, “The Lord is on our side. No harm will come to us.” Jerusalem will be plowed under and left in ruins. Thorns will cover the mountain where the temple now stands. Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®) © 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved. Bible text from the Contemporary English Version 2nd Edition (CEV®) is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by American Bible Society, 101 North Independence Mall East, Floor 8, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2155 (www.americanbible.org). Learn more at www.cev.bible. Discover .BIBLE resources for your ministry at www.get.bible/cev Home |