8-10 God’s Message:

“But just as one bad apple doesn’t ruin the whole bushel,
    there are still plenty of good apples left.
So I’ll preserve those in Israel who obey me.
    I won’t destroy the whole nation.
I’ll bring out my true children from Jacob
    and the heirs of my mountains from Judah.
My chosen will inherit the land,
    my servants will move in.
The lush valley of Sharon in the west
    will be a pasture for flocks,
And in the east, the valley of Achor,
    a place for herds to graze.
These will be for the people
    who bothered to reach out to me, who wanted me in their lives,
    who actually bothered to look for me.

* * *

11-12 “But you who abandon me, your God,
    who forget the holy mountains,
Who hold dinners for Lady Luck
    and throw cocktail parties for Sir Fate,
Well, you asked for it. Fate it will be:
    your destiny, Death.
For when I invited you, you ignored me;
    when I spoke to you, you brushed me off.
You did the very things I exposed as evil;
    you chose what I hate.”

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10 Sharon(A) will become a pasture for flocks,(B)
    and the Valley of Achor(C) a resting place for herds,
    for my people who seek(D) me.

11 “But as for you who forsake(E) the Lord
    and forget my holy mountain,(F)
who spread a table for Fortune
    and fill bowls of mixed wine(G) for Destiny,
12 I will destine you for the sword,(H)
    and all of you will fall in the slaughter;(I)
for I called but you did not answer,(J)
    I spoke but you did not listen.(K)
You did evil in my sight
    and chose what displeases me.”(L)

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