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SEPTEMBER 5
And the donkey its master’s crib; “I have had enough of burnt offerings
But Israel does not know, of rams
My people do not consider.” And the fat of fed cattle.
I do not delight in the blood of bulls,
4 Alas, sinful nation,
A people laden with iniquity, Or of lambs or goats.
A brood of evildoers, 12 “When you come to appear before Me,
Children who are corrupters! Who has required this from your hand,
They have forsaken the LORD, To trample My courts?
They have provoked to anger 13 Bring no more futile sacrifices;
The Holy One of Israel, Incense is an abomination to Me.
They have turned away backward. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and
the calling of assemblies—
5 Why should you be stricken again?
You will revolt more and more. I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred
meeting.
The whole head is sick, 14 Your New Moons and your appointed
And the whole heart faints.
6 From the sole of the foot even to the feasts
head, My soul hates;
There is no soundness in it, They are a trouble to Me,
I am weary of bearing them.
But wounds and bruises and
putrefying sores;
They have not been closed or bound
up,
Or soothed with ointment. 1:14 My soul hates. It is impossible to doubt
the Lord’s total aversion toward hypocritical
7 Your country is desolate, religion. Other practices God hates include
Your cities are burned with fire; robbery for burnt offering (61:8),serving other
Strangers devour your land in your gods (Jer.44:4),harboring evil against a neigh-
presence; bor and love for a false oath (Zech. 8:16),
And it is desolate, as overthrown by divorce (Mal.2:16),and the one who loves vio-
strangers. lence (Ps. 11:5).
8 So the daughter of Zion is left as a
booth in a vineyard,
As a hut in a garden of cucumbers, 15 When you spread out your hands,
As a besieged city. I will hide My eyes from you;
9 Unless the LORD of hosts Even though you make many prayers,
Had left to us a very small remnant, I will not hear.
We would have become like Sodom, Your hands are full of blood.
We would have been made like 16 “Wash yourselves, make yourselves
Gomorrah.
clean;
10 Hear the word of the LORD, Put away the evil of your doings from
You rulers of Sodom; before My eyes.
Give ear to the law of our God, Cease to do evil,
You people of Gomorrah: 17 Learn to do good;
11 “To what purpose is the multitude of Seek justice,
your sacrifices to Me?” Rebuke the oppressor;
Says the LORD. Defend the fatherless,
Plead for the widow.
“Come now, and let us reason together,”
18
Says the LORD,
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
1:11 I have had enough…I do not delight. They shall be as white as snow;
God found all sacrifices meaningless and even Though they are red like crimson,
abhorrent if the offerer failed in obedience to They shall be as wool.
His laws. Rebellion is equated to the sin of 19 If you are willing and obedient,
witchcraft and stubbornness to iniquity and You shall eat the good of the land;
idolatry. 20 But if you refuse and rebel,
You shall be devoured by the sword”;

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