Take It Back!

Oct 20, 2024    Geoff Henderson

6 Shall not all these take up their taunt against him, with scoffing and riddles for him, and say,


“Woe to him who heaps up what is not his own—

  for how long?—

  and loads himself with pledges!”

7 Will not your debtors suddenly arise,

  and those awake who will make you tremble?

  Then you will be spoil for them.

8 Because you have plundered many nations,

  all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder you,

for the blood of man and violence to the earth,

  to cities and all who dwell in them.

9 “Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house,

  to set his nest on high,

  to be safe from the reach of harm!

10 You have devised shame for your house

  by cutting off many peoples;

  you have forfeited your life.

11 For the stone will cry out from the wall,

  and the beam from the woodwork respond.

12 “Woe to him who builds a town with blood

  and founds a city on iniquity!

13 Behold, is it not from the Lord of hosts

  that peoples labor merely for fire,

  and nations weary themselves for nothing?

14 For the earth will be filled

  with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord

  as the waters cover the sea.

15 “Woe to him who makes his neighbors drink—

  you pour out your wrath and make them drunk,

  in order to gaze at their nakedness!

16 You will have your fill of shame instead of glory.

  Drink, yourself, and show your uncircumcision!

The cup in the Lord's right hand

  will come around to you,

  and utter shame will come upon your glory!

17 The violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you,

  as will the destruction of the beasts that terrified them,

for the blood of man and violence to the earth,

  to cities and all who dwell in them.

18 “What profit is an idol

  when its maker has shaped it,

  a metal image, a teacher of lies?

For its maker trusts in his own creation

  when he makes speechless idols!

19 Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake;

  to a silent stone, Arise!

Can this teach?

Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver,

  and there is no breath at all in it.

20 But the Lord is in his holy temple;

  let all the earth keep silence before him.”