The Skeptics Annotated Bible (569 page)

4 Therefore I said,
Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the LORD
, nor the judgment of their God.

(5.4)
“Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the LORD.”
Those who don’t follow or know God are “poor” and “foolish.”

5 I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the LORD, and the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.

6 Wherefore
a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces
: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.

(5.6)
“A lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces.”
God will send lions, wolves, and leopards to tear people to pieces.

7
How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have
forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then
committed adultery
, and assembled themselves by troops
in the harlots’ houses
.

(5.7)
“How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have … committed adultery … in the harlots’ houses.”

8 They were
as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour’s wife.

(5.8)
“As fed horses in the morning: everyone neighed after his neighbor’s wife.”

9 Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

10 Go ye up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her battlements; for they are not the LORD’S.

11 For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, saith the LORD.

12
They have belied the LORD, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine:

13
And the prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them: thus shall it be done unto them.

(5.12-13)
“They have belied the LORD, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine: And the prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them. thus shall it be done unto them.”
The people of Israel and Judah finally look behind the curtain and see that there is no god and the prophets are liars.