## Yahweh Will Not Answer 

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And I said, "Hear now, heads of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel. Is it not for you to know justice? 

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You who hate good and love evil, Who tear off their skin from them And their flesh from their bones, 

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And who eat the flesh of my people, Strip off their skin from them, Break their bones, And spread _them_ out as for the pot And as meat in a caldron." 

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Then they will cry out to Yahweh, But He will not answer them. Instead, He will hide His face from them at that time Because they have practiced evil deeds. 

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Thus says Yahweh concerning the prophets who lead my people astray; When they have _something_ to bite with their teeth, They call out, "Peace," But against him who puts nothing in their mouths, They set _themselves_ apart for war. 

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Therefore _it will be_ night for you--without vision, And darkness for you--without divination. The sun will go down on the prophets, And the day will grow black over them. 

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The seers will be ashamed, And the diviners will be humiliated. Indeed, they will all cover _their_ mouths Because there is no answer from God. 

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On the other hand I am filled with power-- With the Spirit of Yahweh-- And with justice and might To declare to Jacob his transgression, Even to Israel his sin. 

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Now hear this, heads of the house of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel, Who abhor justice And twist everything that is straight, 

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Who build Zion with bloodshed And Jerusalem with violent injustice. 

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Her heads pronounce judgment for a bribe, And her priests instruct for a price, And her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on Yahweh saying, "Is not Yahweh in our midst? Evil will not come upon us." 

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Therefore, on account of you Zion will be plowed as a field; Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins, And the mountain of the house _of God will become_ high places of a forest.