13 He took one of the royal family(A) and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath.(B) Then he took away the leading men of the land, 14 so the kingdom might be humble and not exalt itself(C) but might keep his covenant in order to endure. 15 However, this king revolted against him(D) by sending his ambassadors to Egypt so they might give him horses and a large army.(E) Will he flourish? Will the one who does such things escape? Can he break a covenant and still escape?

16 “As I live”—this is the declaration of the Lord God—“he will die in Babylon, in the land of the king who put him on the throne,(F) whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke. 17 Pharaoh will not help him with his great army and vast horde in battle,(G) when ramps are built and siege walls constructed to destroy many lives. 18 He despised the oath by breaking the covenant. He did all these things even though he gave his hand in pledge.(H) He will not escape!”

19 Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: “As I live, I will bring down on his head My oath that he despised and My covenant that he broke.

Read full chapter

13 Then he took a member of the royal family and made a treaty(A) with him, putting him under oath.(B) He also carried away the leading men(C) of the land, 14 so that the kingdom would be brought low,(D) unable to rise again, surviving only by keeping his treaty. 15 But the king rebelled(E) against him by sending his envoys to Egypt(F) to get horses and a large army.(G) Will he succeed? Will he who does such things escape? Will he break the treaty and yet escape?(H)

16 “‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, he shall die(I) in Babylon, in the land of the king who put him on the throne, whose oath he despised and whose treaty he broke.(J) 17 Pharaoh(K) with his mighty army and great horde will be of no help to him in war, when ramps(L) are built and siege works erected to destroy many lives.(M) 18 He despised the oath by breaking the covenant. Because he had given his hand in pledge(N) and yet did all these things, he shall not escape.

19 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: As surely as I live, I will repay him for despising my oath and breaking my covenant.(O)

Read full chapter

Cursing,(A) lying,(B) murder,(C) stealing,(D)
and adultery(E) are rampant;
one act of bloodshed follows another.(F)

Read full chapter

There is only cursing,[a] lying(A) and murder,(B)
    stealing(C) and adultery;(D)
they break all bounds,
    and bloodshed follows bloodshed.(E)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 4:2 That is, to pronounce a curse on