Is Anybody Listening?

10-11 “I’ve got something to say. Is anybody listening?
    I’ve a warning to post. Will anyone notice?
It’s hopeless! Their ears are stuffed with wax—
    deaf as a post, blind as a bat.
It’s hopeless! They’ve tuned out God.
    They don’t want to hear from me.
But I’m bursting with the wrath of God.
    I can’t hold it in much longer.

11-12 “So dump it on the children in the streets.
    Let it loose on the gangs of youth.
For no one’s exempt: Husbands and wives will be taken,
    the old and those ready to die;
Their homes will be given away—
    all they own, even their loved ones—
When I give the signal
    against all who live in this country.”
        God’s Decree.

13-15 “Everyone’s after the dishonest dollar,
    little people and big people alike.
Prophets and priests and everyone in between
    twist words and doctor truth.
My people are broken—shattered!—
    and they put on Band-Aids,
Saying, ‘It’s not so bad. You’ll be just fine.’
    But things are not ‘just fine’!
Do you suppose they are embarrassed
    over this outrage?
No, they have no shame.
    They don’t even know how to blush.
There’s no hope for them. They’ve hit bottom
    and there’s no getting up.
As far as I’m concerned,
    they’re finished.”
        God has spoken.

Read full chapter

11 But I am full of the wrath(A) of the Lord,
    and I cannot hold it in.(B)

“Pour it out on the children in the street
    and on the young men(C) gathered together;
both husband and wife will be caught in it,
    and the old, those weighed down with years.(D)
12 Their houses will be turned over to others,(E)
    together with their fields and their wives,(F)
when I stretch out my hand(G)
    against those who live in the land,”
declares the Lord.
13 “From the least to the greatest,
    all(H) are greedy for gain;(I)
prophets and priests alike,
    all practice deceit.(J)

Read full chapter