הֵ֫מָּה

For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.

All the brothers of a poor man hate him—how much more do his friends avoid him! He may pursue them with pleading, but they are nowhere to be found.

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.

There are three things too wonderful for me, four that I cannot understand:

Four things on earth are small, yet they are exceedingly wise:

There are three things that are stately in their stride, and four that are impressive in their walk:

All the rivers flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full; to the place from which the streams come, there again they flow.

I said to myself, “As for the sons of men, God tests them so that they may see for themselves that they are but beasts.”

So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive.

Only this have I found: I have discovered that God made mankind upright, but they have sought out many schemes.”

Turn your eyes away from me, for they have overcome me. Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down from Gilead.

There are sixty queens and eighty concubines, and maidens without number,

Listen, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the LORD has spoken: “I have raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me.

Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh; together they turn against Judah. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.

They raise their voices, they shout for joy; from the west they proclaim the majesty of the LORD.

Egypt’s help is futile and empty; therefore I have called her Rahab Who Sits Still.

It will bloom profusely and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.

They have cast their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods, but only wood and stone—the work of human hands.

One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place.

In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’”

All makers of idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses fail to see or comprehend, so they are put to shame.

Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are only human. Let them all assemble and take their stand; they will all be brought to terror and shame.

Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who has begotten these for me? I was bereaved and barren; I was exiled and rejected. So who has reared them? Look, I was left all alone, so where did they come from?’”

Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain:

Your portion is among the smooth stones of the valley; indeed, they are your lot. Even to them you have poured out a drink offering and offered a grain offering. Should I relent because of these?

Their descendants will be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the LORD has blessed.

For He said, “They are surely My people, sons who will not be disloyal.” So He became their Savior.

But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He turned and became their enemy, and He Himself fought against them.

They will not labor in vain or bear children doomed to disaster; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD—they and their descendants with them.

Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear.

Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who slays a man; whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; whoever offers frankincense is like one who blesses an idol. Indeed, they have chosen their own ways and delighted in their abominations.

You who tremble at His word, hear the word of the LORD: “Your brothers who hate you and exclude you because of My name have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified that we may see your joy!’ But they will be put to shame.”

Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But My people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols.

As the thief is ashamed when he is caught, so the house of Israel is disgraced. They, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets

“In those days, when you multiply and increase in the land,” declares the LORD, “they will no longer discuss the ark of the covenant of the LORD. It will never come to mind, and no one will remember it or miss it, nor will another one be made.

In those days the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel, and they will come together from the land of the north to the land that I gave to your fathers as an inheritance.

“For My people are fools; they have not known Me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but they know not how to do good.”

Then I said, “They are only the poor; they have played the fool, for they do not know the way of the LORD, the justice of their God.

I will go to the powerful and speak to them. Surely they know the way of the LORD, the justice of their God.” But they too, with one accord, had broken the yoke and torn off the chains.

Go up through her vineyards and ravage them, but do not finish them off. Strip off her branches, for they do not belong to the LORD.

“Yet even in those days,” declares the LORD, “I will not make a full end of you.

All are hardened rebels, walking around as slanderers. They are bronze and iron; all of them are corrupt.

Do not trust in deceptive words, saying: ‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.’