The Skeptics Annotated Bible (711 page)

12
Ye Ethiopians
also, ye
shall be slain by my sword.

(2.12)
“Ye Ethiopians … shall be slain by my sword.”

13
And he will
stretch out his hand against the north, and
destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation,
and dry like a wilderness.

(2.13)
“And he will … destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation.”

14 And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both
the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it
; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work.

(2.14)
“The cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it.”
A prophecy for birdwatchers.

15 This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in!
every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.

(2.15)
“Every one that passeth by her
[Assyria]
shall hiss, and wag his hand.”

3
Woe to her that is filthy and polluted
, to the oppressing city!

(3.1) “Woe to her that her that is filthy and polluted.” (Only women are filthy and polluted.)

2 She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.

3 Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.

4 Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.

5 The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.

6
I have cut off the nations
: their towers are desolate;
I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant.

(3.6)
“I have cut off the nations … I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant.”

7 I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings.

8 Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that
I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

(3.8) “I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.”

9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.

10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.

11 In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.

12 I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.

13 The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

14 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.

15 The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.

16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.

17 The LORD thy
God
in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he
will joy over thee with singing.

(3.17) The Singing God: “God … will joy over thee with singing.”