以賽亞書9:8-21

9:8 主使一言入於雅各家，落於以色列家。

9:9 這眾百姓，就是以法蓮和撒馬利亞的居民，都要知道；他們憑驕傲自大的心說：

9:10 磚牆塌了，我們卻要鑿石頭建築；桑樹砍了，我們卻要換香柏樹。

9:11 因此，耶和華要高舉利汛的敵人來攻擊以色列，並要激動以色列的仇敵。

9:12 東有亞蘭人，西有非利士人；他們張口要吞吃以色列。雖然如此，耶和華的怒氣還未轉消；他的手仍伸不縮。

9:13 這百姓還沒有歸向擊打他們的主，也沒有尋求萬軍之耶和華。

9:14 因此，耶和華一日之間必從以色列中剪除頭與尾，棕枝與蘆葦─

9:15 長老和尊貴人就是頭，以謊言教人的先知就是尾。

9:16 因為，引導這百姓的使他們走錯了路；被引導的都必敗亡。

9:17 所以，主必不喜悅他們的少年人，也不憐恤他們的孤兒寡婦；因為，各人是褻瀆的，是行惡的，並且各人的口都說愚妄的話。雖然如此，耶和華的怒氣還未轉消；他的手仍伸不縮。

9:18 邪惡像火焚燒，燒滅荊棘和蒺藜，在稠密的樹林中著起來，就成為煙柱，旋轉上騰。

9:19 因萬軍之耶和華的烈怒，地都燒遍；百姓成為火柴；無人憐愛弟兄。

9:20 有人右邊搶奪，仍受飢餓，左邊吞吃，仍不飽足；各人吃自己膀臂上的肉。

9:21 瑪拿西吞吃（或譯：攻擊；下同）以法蓮；以法蓮吞吃瑪拿西，又一同攻擊猶大。雖然如此，耶和華的怒氣還未轉消；他的手仍伸不縮。

8

The Lord has sent a message against Jacob;

    it will fall on Israel.

9

All the people will know it—

    Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria—

who say with pride

    and arrogance of heart,

10

“The bricks have fallen down,

    but we will rebuild with dressed stone;

the fig trees have been felled,

    but we will replace them with cedars.”

11

But the Lord has strengthened Rezin’s foes against them

    and has spurred their enemies on.

12

Arameans from the east and Philistines from the west

    have devoured Israel with open mouth.

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,

    his hand is still upraised.

13

But the people have not returned to him who struck them,

    nor have they sought the Lord Almighty.

14

So the Lord will cut off from Israel both head and tail,

    both palm branch and reed in a single day;

15

the elders and dignitaries are the head,

    the prophets who teach lies are the tail.

16

Those who guide this people mislead them,

    and those who are guided are led astray.

17

Therefore the Lord will take no pleasure in the young men,

    nor will he pity the fatherless and widows,

for everyone is ungodly and wicked,

    every mouth speaks folly.

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,

    his hand is still upraised.

18

Surely wickedness burns like a fire;

    it consumes briers and thorns,

it sets the forest thickets ablaze,

    so that it rolls upward in a column of smoke.

19

By the wrath of the Lord Almighty

    the land will be scorched

and the people will be fuel for the fire;

    they will not spare one another.

20

On the right they will devour,

    but still be hungry;

on the left they will eat,

    but not be satisfied.

Each will feed on the flesh of their own offspring[b]:

21

    Manasseh will feed on Ephraim, and Ephraim on Manasseh;

    together they will turn against Judah.

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,

    his hand is still upraised.

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    以色列和猶大都是上帝的選民，但是上帝恨惡以色列。因為他們悖逆上帝去拜偶像，不僅如此還聯合亞蘭人，來攻擊自己的兄弟猶大。上帝對這樣的行徑，實在看不下去了！

    同樣在教會中作威作福的人，上帝也是看不下去！上帝部喜悅祂的家中，充滿不義的事情，祂要他的家中是可以培育信徒，使信徒有真正的信仰並且信心堅固，使基督真正在教會做主。

    所以，親愛的弟兄姊妹，我們在教會中務要真正的彼此相愛，榮耀上帝的名，讓上帝的心得著滿足，如此才不會承受上帝的憤怒，如同以色列所承受的一般。