Good News [1976], GOOD NEWS BIBLE WITH DEUTEROCANONICALS / APOCRYPHA Today's English Version (AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY, New York) [word count] [B15000].
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ADDITIONAL PROPHECIES
The Coming Disasters
1 The Lord says, “Proclaim to
my people the prophetic messages
that I will give you,
2 and then
-- --
have them written down, because
they are true and will be fulfilled.
3 Do not be afraid of those who plot
against you or be disturbed by their
unbelief.
4 Every unbeliever will die
because of his belief.”
5 The Lord says, “I am going to
bring terrible disasters on the whole
world—war and famine, death and
destruction,
6 because wickedness
has spread everywhere, and evil has
reached its limit.”
7 “Therefore,” the Lord says,
8 “I
will no longer remain silent about
the wickedness of these godless people;
I will no longer tolerate it. They
have murdered innocent people, and
the blood they have spilled cries out
to me for revenge; the souls of the
righteous are constantly pleading for
vengeance.
9 Let there be no doubt,”
says the Lord, “I will hear the plea of
all the innocent people who have
been murdered and I will take vengeance
for what has been done to
them.
10 “My people are being led to the
slaughter like a flock of sheep. They
will no longer have to live in Egypt;
11 I will use all my strength and
power to bring them out of that land.
I will bring disasters upon the Egyptians,
as I did earlier, and I will destroy
their country.
12 The whole
land will be in mourning; it will be
shaken to its foundations when I, the
Lord, strike it and pound on it.
13 The
farmers will mourn because their
seed will fail to sprout, and their
trees will be destroyed by blight,
hail, and terrible storms.
14 “The world and the people in it
are doomed.
15 The war that will
bring their destruction is very near.
Nations will arm themselves and
fight against other nations.
16 There
will be great political turmoil, with
one group trying to overpower another
and gain control, while ignoring
the legitimate government.
17 There will no longer be free access
to the cities,
18 because the struggle
for power will bring destruction, terror,
and total confusion wherever
people live.
19 Driven by famine and
terrible suffering, men will assault
their neighbors and mercilessly
plunder their possessions.”
20 God says, “I am calling together
all the kings of the earth to come
from north, south, east, and west to
turn back and restore what they
have taken.
21 I will pay them back
with the same harsh treatment they
have always given to my chosen
people.” The Lord says,
22 “I will use
my power, and there will be no mercy
for sinners; I will put to death all
who have murdered innocent people.
23 My anger has become so fierce
that fire has blazed out to burn up
the foundations of the earth and to
burn up sinners like straw.
24 Sinners
who do not keep my commands are
doomed,” says the Lord.
25 “I will
have no mercy on them! Out of my
sight, you rebels! Do not defile my
holy Temple.”
A Terrifying Vision
26 God is aware of all those who
sin against him, and he will hand
them over to death and destruction.
27 Terrible disasters have already
come upon the world, and there is
no escape. You have sinned against
God, and he will not rescue you.
28 Then in the east you will suddenly
see a fearsome sight.
29 Arab
armies with many chariots will advance
like dragons. As soon as they
start out, the sound of their hissing
will spread across the world and
bring fear and trembling to everyone
who hears it.
30 The Carmonians will
come out of the forest in a fierce
rage like wild boars advancing in full
strength to attack the dragons. With
their tusks they will tear up a large
part of Assyria,
31 but the dragons
will unite their forces, regain their
former strength, and win the victory.
They will turn and pursue the
wild boars,
32 who will be thrown
into panic, beaten into silence, and
forced to turn and run.
33 The wild
boars will be ambushed in Assyria,
and one of them will be killed. This
will bring fear and panic to their
army and indecision to their kings.
34 Then suddenly clouds—terrible,
angry storm clouds—will cover the
sky from one end to the other.
35 They will collide head-on and release
their violence upon the earth.
-- --
The blood of war will be as deep as a
horse's belly
36 or a man's thigh or a
camel's knee.
37 Everywhere on
earth people will tremble in fear at
the horrible sight.
38 Then great
storm clouds will move in from the
north and the south, and others from
the west.
39 But the winds from the
east will prevail and push back those
angry storm clouds that were about
to bring destruction. note
40
41 Huge,
powerful, angry storm clouds will
arise and ruin the whole world and
its people. A terrible storm of fire,
hail, and flashing swords will come
sweeping down on those who have
power and authority. noteEvery river
will overflow into the fields, and the
floods
42 will demolish cities, walls,
mountains, hills, forests, and crops.
43
44 This destruction will press on
until it reaches Babylon and engulfs
it in a raging storm of ruin. The dust
and the smoke will form a great
cloud reaching to the sky, and all the
neighboring cities will mourn for
Babylon.
45 Anyone who survives
will become a slave to those who destroyed
the city.
Asia Is Doomed
46
47 You, Asia, are to be pitied.
You are doomed! You have enjoyed
the splendor and glory of Babylon.
You have imitated her and dressed
up your daughters to look like prostitutes
to please and gratify your
lovers, who have always lusted for
you.
48 Because you have imitated
that vile prostitute in everything she
has done or planned, God has this to
say: note
49 “I will send disasters upon
you. I will make you a widow and
send poverty, famine, war, and epidemics
to destroy your homes and
bring ruin and death.
50 The power of
which you boast will wither like a
flower when the burning heat is sent
upon you.
51 You will be a wretched,
weak woman so bruised, beaten, and
wounded that you will no longer attract
your wealthy lovers.
52 I would
not punish you so severely,” says
the Lord,
53 “if you had not murdered
my chosen people. But you
took great delight in striking them,
and when you were drunk, you
boasted about killing them.
54 “Paint your face!
55 You will be
paid for your work as a prostitute;
you will get what you have earned.
56 I will pay you back,” says the
Lord, “for what you have done to my
chosen people. I will bring disaster
on you.
57 You will be put to death,
and your children will starve. Your
cities will be torn down, and the people
out in the country will be killed.
58 Those in the mountains will
starve; their hunger and thirst will
drive them to eat their own flesh and
drink their own blood.
59 You will be
more miserable than anyone has
ever been, but there will be still
more punishment to come.
60 The
army that destroyed Babylon will
march back through your country
and devastate your peaceful city;
they will destroy your beautiful
country and leave most of it in ruins.
61 Your country will be destroyed
like straw in a fire.
62 They will burn
up all your forests and orchards. All
over your land, your cities and
mountains will be covered with
ruins.
63 Your splendor will vanish;
your children will be carried off as
prisoners; your possessions will be
plundered.”
Good News [1976], GOOD NEWS BIBLE WITH DEUTEROCANONICALS / APOCRYPHA Today's English Version (AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY, New York) [word count] [B15000].
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