“Take the harp, go through the city, forgotten prostitute! Play it well, play lots of songs, so you’ll be noticed!” ¹ 

Turn aside from the way, stray off the path. ¹  Remove from our presence the Holy One of Israel.” ² 

The mind that acts rashly will possess discernment ¹  and the tongue that stutters will speak with ease and clarity.

We have rebelled and tried to deceive the Lord; we turned back from following our God. We stir up ¹  oppression and rebellion; we tell lies we concocted in our minds. ² 

They are saying, ¹  ‘Announce to the surrounding nations, ²  “The enemy is coming!” ³  Proclaim this message ⁴  to Jerusalem: “Those who besiege cities ⁵  are coming from a distant land. They are ready to raise the battle cry against ⁶  the towns in Judah.”’

The Lord says, ¹  “I saw the prophets of Samaria ²  doing something that was disgusting. ³  They prophesied in the name of the god Baal and led my people Israel astray. ⁴ 

When they have drunk it, they will stagger to and fro ¹  and act insane. For I will send wars sweeping through them.” ² 

A drought will come upon her land; her rivers and canals will be dried up. ¹  All of this will happen because her land is filled with idols. ²  Her people act like madmen because of ³  those idols they fear. ⁴ 

I will do this in order to capture the hearts of the house of Israel, who have alienated themselves from me on account of all their idols.’

He changes times and seasons, deposing some kings and establishing others. ¹  He gives wisdom to the wise; he imparts knowledge to those with understanding; ² 

While I was watching in my mind’s visions ¹  on my bed, a holy sentinel ²  came down from heaven.

They do not realize ¹  that I remember all of their wicked deeds. Their evil deeds have now surrounded them; their sinful deeds are always before me. ² 

But they do not know what the Lord is planning; they do not understand his strategy. He has gathered them like stalks of grain to be threshed ¹  at the threshing floor.

All of them intend ¹  to do violence; every face is determined. ²  They take prisoners as easily as one scoops up sand. ³ 

If ¹  you had known what this means: ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice,’ ²  you would not have condemned the innocent.

Offspring of vipers! How are you able to say anything good, since you are evil? For the mouth speaks from what fills the heart.

But ¹  the twelve ²  understood none of these things. This ³  saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp ⁴  what Jesus meant. ⁵ 

All these continued together in prayer with one mind, together with the women, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. ¹ 

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

One person regards one day holier than other days, and another regards them all alike. ¹  Each must be fully convinced in his own mind.