1. Listen to this, family of Israel,this Message I’m sending in bold print, this tragic warning:
2. “Virgin Israel has fallen flat on her face.She’ll never stand up again.She’s been left where she’s fallen.No one offers to help her up.”
3. This is the Message, God’s Word:“The city that marches out with a thousandwill end up with a hundred.The city that marches out with a hundredwill end up with ten. Oh, family of Israel!”
4-5. God’s Message to the family of Israel:“Seek me and live.Don’t fool around at those shrines of Bethel,Don’t waste time taking trips to Gilgal,and don’t bother going down to Beer-sheba.Gilgal is here today and gone tomorrowand Bethel is all show, no substance.”
6. So seek God and live! You don’t want to end upwith nothing to show for your lifeBut a pile of ashes, a house burned to the ground.For God will send just such a fire,and the firefighters will show up too late.