There are people among you who hate anyone who stands for justice in court. They hate those who tell the truth.

你们怨恨那在城门口责备人的，憎恶那说正直话的。

你们怨恨那在城门口断是非的，憎恶那说正直话的。

你们怨恨那在城门口断是非的，憎恶那说正直话的。

你们憎恨在城门口主持公道的人，厌恶正直的人。

他们讨厌那在城门口主持公道的人，恨恶说正直话的。

你們怨恨那在城門口責備人的，憎惡那說正直話的。

你們怨恨那在城門口斷是非的，憎惡那說正直話的。

你們怨恨那在城門口斷是非的，憎惡那說正直話的。

你們憎恨在城門口主持公道的人，厭惡正直的人。

他們討厭那在城門口主持公道的人，恨惡說正直話的。

他們恨那在城門口責備人的，厭惡那說正直話的人。

督責於邑門者、爾憎之、言正直者、亦惡之、

凡在公庭、正言讒論、督責人者、為人所憾、

於邑門邑門或作公庭責人者、斯民憾之、以正而言者、以正而言者或作言正直者為彼所厭、

There are those who hate the one who upholds justice in court and detest the one who tells the truth.

They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks the truth.

How you hate honest judges! How you despise people who tell the truth!

They hate the one who convicts the guilty at the city gate, and they despise the one who speaks with integrity.

They hate him who rebukes in the gate, And they despise him who speaks with integrity.

They hate the one who rebukes in the gate, And they abhor the one who speaks uprightly.

They hate him that reproveth in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly.

They hate the one who convicts the guilty at the city gate and despise the one who speaks with integrity.

They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly.

The Israelites hate anyone who arbitrates at the city gate; they despise anyone who speaks honestly.

They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks blamelessly.

The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat. He said,“ There is still one other man we can go to. We can ask the Lord for advice through him. But I hate him. He never prophesies anything good about me. He only prophesies bad things. His name is Micaiah. He’s the son of Imlah.”“ You shouldn’t say bad things about him,” Jehoshaphat replied.

Without any proof, they claim that a person is guilty. In court they try to trap the one who speaks up for others. By using dishonest witnesses they keep people who aren’t guilty from being treated fairly.

I haven’t run away from being the shepherd of your people. You know I haven’t wanted the day of Jerusalem’s fall to come. You are aware of every word that comes from my lips.Don’t be a terror to me. When I’m in trouble, I go to you for safety.

But because I tell the truth, you don’t believe me!Can any of you prove I am guilty of sinning? Am I not telling the truth? Then why don’t you believe me?Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you don’t hear is that you don’t belong to God.”

When you correct someone who makes fun of others, you might be laughed at. When you warn a sinner, you might get hurt.Don’t warn those who make fun of others, or they will hate you. Warn those who are wise, and they will love you.

If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have no excuse for their sin.Whoever hates me hates my Father also.I did works among them that no one else did. If I hadn’t, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen those works. And still they have hated both me and my Father.

The people of the world can’t hate you. But they hate me. This is because I am a witness that their works are evil.

Then the Spirit of God came on Zechariah the priest. He was the son of Jehoiada. Zechariah stood in front of the people. He told them,“ God says,‘ Why do you refuse to obey my commands? You will not have success. You have deserted me. So I have deserted you.’ ”But the people made evil plans against Zechariah. The king ordered them to kill Zechariah by throwing stones at him. They did it in the courtyard of the Lord’ s temple.King Joash didn’t remember how kind Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had been to him. So he killed Jehoiada’s son. As Zechariah was dying he said,“ May the Lord see this. May he hold you responsible.”

Ahab said to Elijah,“ My enemy! You have found me!”“ I have found you,” he answered.“ That’s because you gave yourself over to do evil things. You did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.

Those who live on the earth will be happy about this. That’s because those two prophets had made them suffer. The people will celebrate by sending one another gifts.

When he saw Elijah, he said to him,“ Is that you? You are always stirring up trouble in Israel.”

Amaziah was priest of Bethel. He sent a message to Jeroboam, the king of Israel. He said,“ Amos is making evil plans against you right here in Israel. The people in the land can’t stand to listen to what he’s saying.Amos is telling them,“‘ Jeroboam will be killed by a sword. The people of Israel will be taken away as prisoners. They will be carried off from their own land.’ ”Then Amaziah said to Amos,“ Get out of Israel, you prophet! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your living there. Do your prophesying there.Don’t prophesy here at Bethel anymore. This is where the king worships. The main temple in the kingdom is located here.”Amos answered Amaziah,“ I was not a prophet. I wasn’t even the son of a prophet. I was a shepherd. I also took care of sycamore- fig trees.But the Lord took me away from taking care of the flock. He said to me,‘ Go. Prophesy to my people Israel.’Now then, listen to the Lord’ s message. You say,“‘ Don’t prophesy against Israel. Stop preaching against the people of Isaac.’“ But the Lord says,“‘ Your wife will become a prostitute in the city of Bethel. Your sons and daughters will be killed by swords. Your land will be measured and divided up. And you yourself will die in another country. The people of Israel will surely be taken away as prisoners. They will be carried off from their own land.’ ”

But God’s people made fun of his messengers. They hated his words. They laughed at his prophets. Finally the Lord’ s great anger was stirred up against his people. Nothing could save them.

You tricked me, Lord, and I was tricked. You overpowered me and won. People make fun of me all day long. Everyone laughs at me.Every time I speak, I cry out. All you ever tell me to talk about is fighting and trouble. Your message has brought me nothing but dishonor. It has made me suffer shame all day long.Sometimes I think,“ I won’t talk about his message anymore. I’ll never speak in his name again.” But then your message burns in my heart. It’s like a fire deep inside my bones. I’m tired of holding it in. In fact, I can’t.I hear many people whispering,“ There is terror on every side! Bring charges against Jeremiah! Let’s bring charges against him!” All my friends are waiting for me to slip. They are saying,“ Perhaps he will be tricked into making a mistake. Then we’ll win out over him. We’ll get even with him.”

Everyone who does evil deeds hates the light. They will not come into the light. They are afraid that what they do will be seen.

If you belonged to the world, it would love you like one of its own. But you do not belong to the world. I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

While the prophet was still speaking, the king spoke to him. He said,“ Did I ask you for advice? Stop! If you don’t, you will be struck down.” So the prophet stopped. But then he said,“ I know that God has decided to destroy you. That’s because you have worshiped other gods. You haven’t listened to my advice.”