You rescue me from a hostile army; ¹  you make me ²  a leader of nations; people over whom I had no authority are now my subjects. ³ 

as well as wine that makes people feel so good, ¹  and so they can have oil to make their faces shine, ²  as well as food that sustains people’s lives. ³ 

The officials of Zoan are fools, the officials of Memphis ¹  are misled; the rulers ²  of her tribes lead Egypt astray.

A crushed reed he will not break, a dim wick he will not extinguish; ¹  he will faithfully make just decrees. ² 

(just as many were horrified by the sight of you) ¹  he was so disfigured ²  he no longer looked like a man; ³ 

He says, ¹  “Build it! Build it! Clear a way! Remove all the obstacles out of the way of my people!”

They offer only superficial help for the harm my people have suffered. ¹  They say, ‘Everything will be all right!’ But everything is not all right! ² 

I will give away your wealth and your treasures as plunder. I will give it away free of charge for the sins you have committed throughout your land.

Her officials are like wolves in her midst rending their prey – shedding blood and destroying lives – so they can get dishonest profit.

“‘But you, mountains of Israel, will grow your branches, and bear your fruit for my people Israel; for they will arrive soon. ¹ 

For Samaria’s ¹  disease ²  is incurable. It has infected ³  Judah; it has spread to ⁴  the leadership ⁵  of my people and has even contaminated Jerusalem! ⁶ 

yet you ¹  hate what is good, ²  and love what is evil. ³  You flay my people’s skin ⁴  and rip the flesh from their bones. ⁵ 

Many nations have now assembled against you. They say, “Jerusalem must be desecrated, ¹  so we can gloat over Zion!” ² 

After assembling all the chief priests and experts in the law, ¹  he asked them where the Christ ²  was to be born.

Now Simon, when he saw that the Spirit ¹  was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, offered them money,

And God, who knows the heart, ¹  has testified ²  to them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, ³ 

Therefore, although God has overlooked ¹  such times of ignorance, ²  he now commands all people ³  everywhere to repent, ⁴ 

Do not lay hands on anyone ¹  hastily and so identify with the sins of others. ²  Keep yourself pure.

They have strayed from the truth ¹  by saying that the resurrection has already occurred, and they are undermining some people’s faith.

correcting ¹  opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance and then knowledge of the truth ²