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12     house of David!
    Thus says the Lord:
Each morning dispense justice,
    rescue the oppressed from the hand of the oppressor,
Or my fury will break out like fire
    and burn with no one to quench it
    because of your evil deeds.(A)
13 Beware! I am against you, Ruler of the Valley,
    Rock of the Plain[a]—oracle of the Lord.
You say, “Who will attack us,
    who can storm our defenses?”
14 I will punish you—oracle of the Lord
    as your deeds deserve!
I will kindle a fire in its forest[b]
    that shall devour all its surroundings.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 21:13 Ruler of the Valley, Rock of the Plain: Mount Zion, surrounded by valleys, was regarded by the royal house as impregnable. Despite this natural fortification, God derides it as no more than a rock rising from the plain, useless against the attack of his fury.
  2. 21:14 Its forest: probably the royal palace, built of cedar wood; cf. 22:14; in 1 Kgs 7:2 the palace is called “the house of the forest of Lebanon.”

12 This is what the Lord says to you, house of David:

“‘Administer justice(A) every morning;
    rescue from the hand of the oppressor(B)
    the one who has been robbed,
or my wrath will break out and burn like fire(C)
    because of the evil(D) you have done—
    burn with no one to quench(E) it.
13 I am against(F) you, Jerusalem,
    you who live above this valley(G)
    on the rocky plateau, declares the Lord
you who say, “Who can come against us?
    Who can enter our refuge?”(H)
14 I will punish you as your deeds(I) deserve,
    declares the Lord.
I will kindle a fire(J) in your forests(K)
    that will consume everything around you.’”

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