5:8 Those who accumulate houses are as good as dead, 1
those who also accumulate landed property 2
until there is no land left, 3
and you are the only landowners remaining within the land. 4
5:9 The Lord who commands armies told me this: 5
“Many houses will certainly become desolate,
large, impressive houses will have no one living in them. 6
5:10 Indeed, a large vineyard 7 will produce just a few gallons, 8
and enough seed to yield several bushels 9 will produce less than a bushel.” 10
5:11 Those who get up early to drink beer are as good as dead, 11
those who keep drinking long after dark
until they are intoxicated with wine. 12
5:12 They have stringed instruments, 13 tambourines, flutes,
and wine at their parties.
So they do not recognize what the Lord is doing,
they do not perceive what he is bringing about. 14
5:13 Therefore my 15 people will be deported 16
because of their lack of understanding.
Their 17 leaders will have nothing to eat, 18
their 19 masses will have nothing to drink. 20
5:14 So Death 21 will open up its throat,
and open wide its mouth; 22
Zion’s dignitaries and masses will descend into it,
including those who revel and celebrate within her. 23
5:15 Men will be humiliated,
they will be brought low;
the proud will be brought low. 24
5:16 The Lord who commands armies will be exalted 25 when he punishes, 26
the sovereign God’s authority will be recognized when he judges. 27
5:17 Lambs 28 will graze as if in their pastures,
amid the ruins the rich sojourners will graze. 29
5:18 Those who pull evil along using cords of emptiness are as good as dead, 30
who pull sin as with cart ropes. 31
5:19 They say, “Let him hurry, let him act quickly, 32
so we can see;
let the plan of the Holy One of Israel 33 take shape 34 and come to pass,
then we will know it!”
5:20 Those who call evil good and good evil are as good as dead, 35
who turn darkness into light and light into darkness,
who turn bitter into sweet and sweet into bitter. 36
5:21 Those who think they are wise are as good as dead, 37
those who think they possess understanding. 38
5:22 Those who are champions 39 at drinking wine are as good as dead, 40
who display great courage when mixing strong drinks.
5:23 They pronounce the guilty innocent for a payoff,
they ignore the just cause of the innocent. 41