Jeremiah 5

1 ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ କହନ୍ତି, ତୁମ୍ଭମାନେେ ୟିରୁଶାଲମର ସବୁ ସଡ଼କରେ ବୁଲି ଦେଖ, ଚାରିଆଡ଼କୁ ଚାହିଁ ବୁଝ। ତହିଁର ଛକସ୍ଥାନ ସବୁ ଖାଜେ। ଯଦି ତୁମ୍ଭମାନେେ ଜଣେ ନ୍ଯାଯପରାଯଣ ଓ ସତ୍ଯାନୁସରଣକାରୀକୁ ପାଇବ, ତବେେ ଆମ୍ଭେ ସେ ନଗରକୁ କ୍ଷମା କରିବା।

2 ସମାନେେ, 'ଜୀବତ୍ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ' କହିଲେ ହେଁ ନିତାନ୍ତ ମିଥ୍ଯା ରେ ଶପଥ କରନ୍ତି।

3 ହେ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ, ମୁଁ ଜାଣୁଛି, ତୁମ୍ଭେ ସମାନଙ୍କେୁ ସତ୍ଯ ଓ ବିଶ୍ବସ୍ତ ହବୋକୁ ଚାହଁ। ସମାନଙ୍କେୁ ପ୍ରହାର କରିଅଛ। ମାତ୍ର ସମାନେେ ଅନୁତପ୍ତ ନୁହଁନ୍ତି। ତୁମ୍ଭେ ସମାନଙ୍କେୁ ଜୀର୍ଣ୍ଣ କରିଅଛ। ମାତ୍ର ସମାନେେ ଶାସ୍ତି ଗ୍ରହଣ କରିବାକୁ ଅସ୍ବୀକାର କରିଅଛନ୍ତି। ସମାନେେ ନିଜ ନିଜ ମୁଖ ପାଷାଣଠାରୁ ଅଧିକ କଠିନ କରିଅଛନ୍ତି। ସମାନେେ କୁପଥରୁ ଫରେିବାକୁ ଇଚ୍ଛା କରି ନାହାଁନ୍ତି।

4 ତେଣୁ ମୁଁ ନିଜକୁ କହିଲି, ନିଶ୍ଚଯ ସମାନେେ ଦରିଦ୍ର, ଏବଂ ନିର୍ ବୋଧ, କାରଣ ସମାନେେ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କର ପଥ କିଅବା ତାଙ୍କର ଶିକ୍ଷା ଜାଣନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ।

5 ମାେତେ ଧନୀ ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କ ପାଖକୁ ୟିବାକୁ ଏବଂ କଥାବାର୍ତ୍ତା ହବୋକୁ ଦିଅ। କାରଣ ସମାନେେ ହିଁ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କର ପଥ ଏବଂ ସମାନଙ୍କେର ପରମେଶ୍ବରଙ୍କର ବ୍ଯବସ୍ଥା ଜାଣନ୍ତି। କିନ୍ତୁ ଏମାନେ ଏକତ୍ର ହାଇେ ୟୁଆଳି ଭାଙ୍ଗି ଅଛନ୍ତି ଓ ବନ୍ଧନସବୁକୁ ଛିଣ୍ଡାଇ ପକାଇ ଅଛନ୍ତି।

6 ସମାନେେ ପରମେଶ୍ବରଙ୍କ ବିରୁଦ୍ଧାଚରଣ କରିଛନ୍ତି। ତେଣୁ ବନରୁ ଏକ ସିଂହ ବାହାରି ସମାନଙ୍କେୁ ବଧ କରିବ ଓ ସନ୍ଧ୍ଯା କାଳୀନ ଗଧିଆ ସମାନଙ୍କେୁ ବିନାଶ କରିବ। ଚିତାବାଘ ସମାନଙ୍କେ ନଗର ସମୂହ ନିକଟରେ ଛକି ରହିବ। ଯେଉଁଲୋକ ନଗରରୁ ବାହାରିବ, ସେ ତାକୁ ବିଦୀର୍ଣ୍ଣ କରିବ। କାରଣ ସମାନେେ ବହୁ ଅପରାଧ କରିଛନ୍ତି ଓ ସମାନେେ ବହୁବାର ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କଠାରୁ ବିପଥଗାମୀ ହାଇେଛନ୍ତି।

7 ପରମେଶ୍ବର ପୁଣି କହିଲେ, ଏ ଯିହୁଦା, ତୁମ୍ଭେ ଗୋଟିଏ କାରଣ ଦିଅ, ଆମ୍ଭେ ତୁମ୍ଭକୁ କାହିଁକି କ୍ଷମା କରିବା ? ତୁମ୍ଭର ସନ୍ତାନମାନେ ଆମ୍ଭକୁ ପରିତ୍ଯାଗ କରିଛନ୍ତି। ଯେଉଁମାନେ ଈଶ୍ବର ନୁହଁନ୍ତି ସମାନେେ ସମାନଙ୍କେ ନାମ ରେ ଶପଥ କରିଅଛନ୍ତି। ଆମ୍ଭେ ସମାନଙ୍କେୁ ସମସ୍ତ ଭୋଜନ ଦଇେ ପରିତୃପ୍ତ କରାଇଲେ ମଧ୍ଯ ସମାନେେ ବ୍ଯଭିଚାରୀ ହେଲେ। ସମାନେେ ଦଳ ଦଳ ହାଇେ ବେଶ୍ଯାମାନଙ୍କ ଗୃହ ରେ ବହୁ ସମୟ ଅତିବାହିତ କଲେ।

8 ସମାନେେ ଏକ କାମୁକି ଘୋଡୀ ପରି ବୁଲନ୍ତି, ପ୍ରେତ୍ୟକକ ତା'ର ପଡ଼ୋଶୀର ସ୍ତ୍ରୀ ପ୍ରତି ଲୋଲୁପ ଦୃଷ୍ଟି ପକାନ୍ତି।

9 ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ କହନ୍ତି, ଆମ୍ଭେ କ'ଣ ଏହିସବୁର ପ୍ରତିଫଳ ଦବୋ ନାହିଁ ? ଆମ୍ଭେ କ'ଣ ଏ ପ୍ରକାର ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ଦଣ୍ଡ ବିଧାନ କରି ପ୍ରତିଶାଧେ ନବୋ ନାହିଁ ? ହଁ, ଏହା ନିଶ୍ଚିତ ଯେ, ଏ ପ୍ରକାର ଲୋକ ଦଣ୍ଡ ପାଇବା ଯୋଗ୍ଯ।

10 ତୁମ୍ଭମାନେେ ପ୍ରାଚୀର ଉପରକୁ ୟାଇ ଦ୍ରାକ୍ଷାଲତାର ଶାଖାସବୁ କାଟି ପକାଅ। ମାତ୍ର ସଗେୁଡ଼ିକୁ ସମ୍ପୂୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ବିନାଶ କର ନାହିଁ, କାରଣ ସେ ସବୁ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କର ନୁହେଁ।

11 ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ କହନ୍ତି, ଏହିପରି କର କାରଣ ଇଶ୍ରାୟେଲ ଓ ଯିହୁଦା ପରିବାର ଆମ୍ଭ ବିରୁଦ୍ଧ ରେ ଅତ୍ଯନ୍ତ ପ୍ରତାରଣା କରିଅଛନ୍ତି।

12 ମିଥ୍ଯା ରେ ସମାନେେ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କର ବିଷଯ ରେ କହିଲେ, 'ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ ଆମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କର କିଛି କରିବେ ନାହିଁ। ଆମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି କିଛି ଅମଙ୍ଗଳ ଘଟିବ ନାହିଁ ଆଉ ଆମ୍ଭମାନେେ ଖଡ୍ଗ କିଅବା ଦୁର୍ଭିକ୍ଷ ଦେଖିବା ନାହିଁ।

13 ଆଉ ଭବିଷ୍ଯଦବକ୍ତାମାନେ ବାଯୁତୁଲ୍ଯ ହବେେ। ସମାନଙ୍କେ ଅନ୍ତର ରେ ପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କର ବାକ୍ଯ ନାହିଁ। ସମାନଙ୍କେ ପ୍ରତି ଅମଙ୍ଗଳ ଘଟିବ।

14 ସୁତରାଂ ସୈନ୍ଯାଧିପତି ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ ପରମେଶ୍ବର ଏହା କହନ୍ତି : ଯିରିମିୟ ଦେଖ, କାରଣ ଲୋକମାନେ ଏହିପରି କହିଥିଲେ, ଆମ୍ଭେ ତୁମ୍ଭ ପାଟି ରେ ଆମ୍ଭର ଶବ୍ଦସବୁ ରଖିଅଛୁ ଏବଂ ଏହା ଅଗ୍ନି ତୁଲ୍ଯ ହବେ। ଏହି ଦେଶ ପାଠ ସଦୃଶ ଅଗ୍ନି ସମାନଙ୍କେୁ ପୋଡ଼ିଦବେ।

15 ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ କହନ୍ତି, ହେ ଇଶ୍ରାୟେଲ ବଂଶ, ଦେଖ, ଆମ୍ଭେ ତୁମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କ ବିରୁଦ୍ଧ ରେ ଦୂରରୁ ଏକ ଗୋଷ୍ଠୀକୁ ଆଣିବା ସେ ଏକ ବଳବାନ୍ ଗୋଷ୍ଠୀ ଓ ପ୍ରାଚୀନ ଗୋଷ୍ଠୀ। ସେ ଗୋଷ୍ଠୀର ଭାଷା ତୁମ୍ଭମାନେେ ଜାଣ ନାହିଁ। ଆଉ ସମାନଙ୍କେର କଥା ତୁମ୍ଭମାନେେ ବୁଝିପାରିବ ନାହିଁ।

16 ସମାନଙ୍କେର ତୂଣୀର ଖାେଲା କବର ସଦୃଶ, ସମାନେେ ସମସ୍ତେ ବୀର ସୈନିକ।

17 ସମାନେେ ତୁମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କର ସଂଗୃହିତ ଶସ୍ଯ ଓ ରୋଟୀ ଭକ୍ଷଣ କରିବେ। ସମାନେେ ତୁମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କ ପୁତ୍ରକନ୍ଯା ଗଣଙ୍କୁ ଭକ୍ଷଣ କରିବେ। ସମାନେେ ସମାନଙ୍କେର ମଷେ ଓ ଗାଈ ଗୁଡିକ ଭକ୍ଷଣ କରିବେ। ସମାନେେ ମଧ୍ଯ ତୁମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କର ଦ୍ରାକ୍ଷାଲତା ଓ ଡ଼ିମ୍ବିରି ବୃକ୍ଷ ଗ୍ରାସ କରିବେ। ଆଉ ତୁମ୍ଭମାନେେ ଯେଉଁ ସୁଦୃଢ଼ ନଗର ଉପ ରେ ବିଶ୍ବାସ କରିଅଛ, ସମାନେେ ସହେି ସବୁକୁ ଖଡ୍ଗ ରେ ଧ୍ବଂସ କରିବେ।

18 ମାତ୍ର ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ କହନ୍ତି, ହେ ଯିହୁଦା ଏପରିକି ଯେତବେେଳେ ସହେି ଭୟଙ୍କର ସମୟ ଆସିବ, ଆମ୍ଭେ ତୁମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କୁ ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ରୂପେ ଧ୍ବଂସ କରିବା ନାହିଁ।

19 ଆଉ ତୁମ୍ଭମାନେେ ଯେତବେେଳେ ଯିରିମିୟଙ୍କୁ କହିବ, 'ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ ଆମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କ ପରମେଶ୍ବର, କେଉଁ କାରଣରୁ ଆମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ଏହିସବୁ କରିଅଛନ୍ତି।' ସେତବେେଳେ ତୁମ୍ଭେ ସମାନଙ୍କେୁ କହିବ, ' ଯେଉଁପ୍ରକା ରେ ତୁମ୍ଭମାନେେ ମାେତେ ପରିତ୍ଯାଗ କରିଛ ଏବଂ ମୂର୍ତ୍ତିଗଣର ସବୋ କରିଅଛ, ସହେିପରି ଭାବରେ ତୁମ୍ଭମାନେେ ବିଦେଶ ରେ ବିଦେଶୀଯମାନଙ୍କର ସବୋ କରିବ।

20 ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ କହିଲେ, ତୁମ୍ଭମାନେେ ଯାକୁବ ବଂଶକୁ ଏକଥା ଜଣାଅ ଓ ଯିହୁଦା ମଧିଅରେ ପ୍ରଚାର କରି କୁହ।

21 ' ହେ ଅଜ୍ଞାନ ଓ ବୁଦ୍ଧିହୀନ ଲୋକେ, ତୁମ୍ଭମାନେେ ଚକ୍ଷୁ ଥାଉଁ ଥାଉଁ ଦେଖୁନାହଁ, କର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଥାଉଁ ଥାଉଁ ଶୁଣୁ ନାହଁ। ଏବେ ଏହି କଥା ତୁମ୍ଭମାନେେ ଶୁଣ।

22 ନିଶ୍ଚିତଭାବରେ ତୁମ୍ଭମାନେେ ଆମ୍ଭକୁ ଭୟ କରିବାର କାରଣ ଅଛି, ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ କହନ୍ତି। ହଁ, ତୁମ୍ଭମାନେେ ଆମ୍ଭ ସମ୍ମୁଖ ରେ ଭୟ ରେ ଥରିବାର କାରଣ ଅଛି। ଆମ୍ଭେ ବାଲୁକାସ୍ତୁପ ସ୍ଥାପନ କଲୁ, ଯେପରି ସମୁଦ୍ର ତା'ର ସୀମା ଲଙ୍ଘନ ନ କରିବ। ସମୁଦ୍ର ରେ ଢ଼େଉ ଉେଠ ଏବଂ ଏହାର କୌଣସି କ୍ଷତି କରେ ନାହିଁ। ଏହା ଘାରେ ଗର୍ଜନ କରେ, ମାତ୍ର ଆମ୍ଭେ ସ୍ଥାପନ କରିଥିବା ସୀମା ଲଙ୍ଘନ କରେ ନାହିଁ।

23 ମାତ୍ର ଯିହୁଦାର ଲୋକମାନେ ଅବାଧ୍ଯ ଓ ପ୍ରତିକୁଳାଚାରୀ। ସମାନେେ ସର୍ବଦା ଆମ୍ଭ ବିରୁଦ୍ଧ ରେ ଯୋଜନା କରିଛନ୍ତି ଓ ଆମ୍ଭଠାରୁ ଦୂ ରଇେ ୟାଇଅଛନ୍ତି।

24 ସମାନେେ କବେେ କହିବେ ନାହିଁ ଯେ, 'ଆମ୍ଭର ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ ଯଥା ସମୟରେ ଆମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କୁ ଆଦ୍ଯ ଓ ଶଷେ ବୃଷ୍ଟି ପ୍ରଦାନ କରିଛନ୍ତି ଓ ଶସ୍ଯ ଚ୍ଛଦନେ ପାଇଁ ଆମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କ ନିମନ୍ତେ ନିରୂପିତ ସପ୍ତାହମାନ ରକ୍ଷା କରିଛନ୍ତି, ଆସ ଏବେ ଆମ୍ଭମାନେେ ସହେି ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କୁ ଭୟ ଓ ଭକ୍ତି କରିବା।'

25 ତୁମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କର ଅଧର୍ମ ଏହିସବୁ ଅମଙ୍ଗଳ ଘଟାଇଅଛି। ତୁମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କର ପାପ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କ ମଙ୍ଗଳ ପଦାର୍ଥ ଉପଭୋଗରୁ ତୁମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କୁ ନିବୃତ୍ତ କରିଅଛି।

26 କାରଣ ଆମ୍ଭେ ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କ ମଧିଅରେ କେତକେ ଦୁଷ୍ଟ ଲୋକ ଅଛନ୍ତି। ସମାନେେ ବ୍ଯାଧ ତୁଲ୍ଯ ଫାଶ ବସାନ୍ତି ଓ ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କୁ ସହେି ଫାନ୍ଦ ରେ ପକାନ୍ତି।

27 ଯେପରି ପିଞ୍ଜରା ପକ୍ଷୀ ରେ ପରିପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ସହେିପରି ସମାନଙ୍କେ ଗୃହ ଛଳନା ରେ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ। ଏହି ମିଥ୍ଯା ଯୋଗୁଁ ସମାନେେ ଉନ୍ନତ ଓ ଧନବନ୍ତ ହାଇେଛନ୍ତି।

28 ସମାନେେ ଅଧିକରୁ ଅଧିକ ମାଟୋ ହୁଅନ୍ତି ଏବଂ ଦୁଷ୍କର୍ମ କରିବାର ସୀମା ପାର କରି ୟାଆନ୍ତି। ସମାନେେ ଅନାଥମାନଙ୍କର ମକଦ୍ଦମା ରେ ନ୍ଯାଯୋଚିତ ବିଚାର କରନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ, କାଳେ ଅନାଥମାନେ ଉନ୍ନତି କରିପାରନ୍ତି। ସମାନେେ ଗରିବମାନଙ୍କର ଅଧିକାର ପାଇଁ ପ୍ରତିପକ୍ଷ କରନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ।

29 ତେଣୁ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ କହନ୍ତି, ଆମ୍ଭେ କ'ଣ ଏହିସବୁ ପାଇଁ ସମାନଙ୍କେୁ ଦଣ୍ଡ ଦବୋ ନାହିଁ ? ଆମ୍ଭର ପ୍ରାଣ ଏହିସବୁ ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କଠାରୁ ପରିଶାଧେ ନବେ ନାହିଁ ?

30 ପୁଣି ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ କହନ୍ତି, ଏକ ଭୟଙ୍କର ଓ ମର୍ମନ୍ତୁଦ ଘଟଣା ଦେଶ ମଧିଅରେ ଘଟିଅଛି।

31 ଭବିଷ୍ଯଦବକ୍ତାମାନେ ମିଥ୍ଯା ଭବିଷ୍ଯଦବାକ୍ଯ ପ୍ରଚାର କରନ୍ତି ଓ ସମାନଙ୍କେ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦଶାେନୁସା ରେ ଯାଜକମାନେ କାର୍ୟ୍ଯ କରନ୍ତି। ପୁଣି ଆମ୍ଭର ଲୋକମାନେ ଏପରି ହବୋକୁ ଭଲ ପାଆନ୍ତି। ମାତ୍ର ତୁମ୍ଭ ଲୋକମାନେ ଶଷେ ରେ ଦଣ୍ଡ ସମୟରେ କ'ଣ କରିବେ ?

1 Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.

2 And though they say, The Lord liveth; surely they swear falsely.

3 O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.

4 Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the Lord, nor the judgment of their God.

5 I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the Lord, and the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.

6 Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.

7 How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots’ houses.

8 They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour’s wife.

9 Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

10 Go ye up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her battlements; for they are not the Lord’s.

11 For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, saith the Lord.

12 They have belied the Lord, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine:

13 And the prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them: thus shall it be done unto them.

14 Wherefore thus saith the Lord God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

15 Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the Lord: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.

16 Their quiver is as an open sepulchre, they are all mighty men.

17 And they shall eat up thine harvest, and thy bread, which thy sons and thy daughters should eat: they shall eat up thy flocks and thine herds: they shall eat up thy vines and thy fig trees: they shall impoverish thy fenced cities, wherein thou trustedst, with the sword.

18 Nevertheless in those days, saith the Lord, I will not make a full end with you.

19 And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the Lord our God all these things unto us? then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours.

20 Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying,

21 Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:

22 Fear ye not me? saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?

23 But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.

24 Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.

25 Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.

26 For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.

27 As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.

28 They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.

29 Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

30 A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land;

31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

1 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord: and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.

2 And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.

3 And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them;

4 And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.

5 For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.

6 And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord.

7 And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of the Midianites,

8 That the Lord sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;

9 And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land;

10 And I said unto you, I am the Lord your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.

11 And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abi-ezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.

12 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.

14 And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?

15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.

16 And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

17 And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.

18 Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.

19 And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.

20 And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.

21 Then the angel of the Lord put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the Lord departed out of his sight.

22 And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the Lord, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord God! for because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face.

23 And the Lord said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.

24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah-shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites.

25 And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Take thy father’s young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it:

26 And build an altar unto the Lord thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.

27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the Lord had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father’s household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.

28 And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.

29 And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they inquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.

30 Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it.

31 And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar.

32 Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.

33 Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel.

34 But the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.

35 And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.

36 And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,

37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.

38 And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.

39 And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.

40 And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.