“ How terrible it will be for the Babylonians! They build their kingdom with money that they gained by cheating others. They have tried to make the kingdom as secure as possible. After all, they did not want to be destroyed.

为本家积蓄不义之财、在高处搭窝、指望免灾的有祸了！

祸哉！那为本家积蓄不义之财、在高处搭窝、指望得免灾祸的人！

祸哉！那为本家积蓄不义之财、在高处搭窝、指望得免灾祸的人！

“为自己的家积蓄不义之财、在高处搭窝躲避灾祸的人啊，你们有祸了！

你这为自己的家积聚不义之财，在高处搭窝，以逃避灾害的，有祸了！

為本家積蓄不義之財、在高處搭窩、指望免災的有禍了！

禍哉！那為本家積蓄不義之財、在高處搭窩、指望得免災禍的人！

禍哉！那為本家積蓄不義之財、在高處搭窩、指望得免災禍的人！

「為自己的家積蓄不義之財、在高處搭窩躲避災禍的人啊，你們有禍了！

你這為自己的家積聚不義之財，在高處搭窩，以逃避災害的，有禍了！

為自己的家積蓄着不義的臭錢，去在高處搭窩，指望着安穩、免受災禍之掌握的、有禍啊！

獲不義之財、以富其家、營巢於高處、以避凶暴之手、其人禍哉、

爾貪不義之利、以富其家、營巢甚高、求免災害、禍必不遠、

禍哉爾歟、為己家積不義之財、結巢於高處、求免災害、

“ Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, setting his nest on high to escape the clutches of ruin!

“ Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house, to set his nest on high, to be safe from the reach of harm!

“ What sorrow awaits you who build big houses with money gained dishonestly! You believe your wealth will buy security, putting your family’s nest beyond the reach of danger.

Woe to him who dishonestly makes wealth for his house to place his nest on high, to escape the grasp of disaster!

“ Woe to him who makes evil profit for his household, To put his nest on high, To be saved from the hand of catastrophe!

“ Woe to him who covets evil gain for his house, That he may set his nest on high, That he may be delivered from the power of disaster!

Woe to him that getteth an evil gain for his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the hand of evil!

Woe to him who dishonestly makes wealth for his house to place his nest on high, to escape from the reach of disaster!

Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!

The one who builds his house by unjust gain is as good as dead. He does this so he can build his nest way up high and escape the clutches of disaster.

Woe to him who gets an evil gain for his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the hand of evil!

You live in the safety of the rocks. You live on top of the hills. But the terror you stir up has now turned against you. Your proud heart has tricked you. You build your nest as high as an eagle does. But I will bring you down from there,” announces the Lord.

I looked up again and saw a flying scroll.“ What do you see?” the angel asked me.“ A scroll flying in the air,” I replied.“ It’s 30 feet long and 15 feet wide.”He said to me,“ A curse sent by the Lord is written on it. It is going out over the whole land. Every thief will be driven out of the land. That is what it says on one side of the scroll. Everyone who lies when promising to tell the truth will also be driven out. That is what it says on the other side.The Lord who rules over all announces,‘ I will send the curse out. It will enter the house of the thief. It will also enter the house of anyone who lies when making a promise in my name. It will remain in that house and destroy it completely. It will pull down its beams and stones.’ ”

Gehazi was the servant of Elisha, the man of God. Gehazi said to himself,“ My master was too easy on Naaman from Aram. He should have accepted the gift Naaman brought. I’m going to run after him. I’m going to get something from him. And that’s just as sure as the Lord is alive.”Gehazi hurried after Naaman. Naaman saw him running toward him. So he got down from the chariot to greet him.“ Is everything all right?” he asked.“ Everything is all right,” Gehazi answered.“ My master sent me to say,‘ Two young men from the group of the prophets have just come to me. They’ve come from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them 75 pounds of silver and two sets of clothes.’ ”“ I wish you would take twice as much silver,” said Naaman. He begged Gehazi to accept it. Then Naaman tied up 150 pounds of silver in two bags. He also gave Gehazi two sets of clothes. He gave all of it to two of his own servants. They carried it ahead of Gehazi.Gehazi came to the hill where Elisha lived. Then the servants handed the things over to Gehazi. He put them away in Elisha’s house. He sent the men away, and they left.Then he went back inside the house. He stood in front of his master Elisha.“ Gehazi, where have you been?” Elisha asked.“ I didn’t go anywhere,” Gehazi answered.But Elisha said to him,“ Didn’t my spirit go with you? I know that the man got down from his chariot to greet you. Is this the time for you to accept money or clothes? Is it the time to take olive groves, vineyards, flocks or herds? Is it the time to accept male and female slaves?You and your children after you will have Naaman’s skin disease forever.” Then Gehazi left Elisha. And he had Naaman’s skin disease. His skin had become as white as snow.

I saw a beautiful robe from Babylonia among the things we had taken. I saw five pounds of silver. And I saw a gold bar that weighed 20 ounces. I wanted them, so I took them. I hid them in the ground inside my tent. The silver is on the bottom.”So Joshua sent some messengers. They ran to Achan’s tent. And there was everything, hidden in his tent! The silver was on the bottom.They brought the things out of the tent. They took them to Joshua and all the Israelites. And they spread them out in the sight of the Lord.Then Joshua and all the people grabbed Achan, the son of Zerah. They took the silver, the robe and the gold bar. They took Achan’s sons and daughters. They took his cattle, donkeys and sheep. They also took his tent and everything he had. They carried all of it out to the Valley of Achor.Joshua said to Achan,“ Why have you brought this trouble on us? The Lord will bring trouble on you today.” Then all the people killed Achan by throwing stones at him. They also killed the rest of his family with stones. They burned all of them up.They placed a large pile of rocks on top of Achan’s body. The place has been called the Valley of Achor ever since. That pile is still there to this day. After the people killed Achan, the Lord was no longer angry with them.

He brags about what his heart desires. He speaks well of those who always want more. He attacks the Lord with his words.Because he is proud, that evil person doesn’t turn to the Lord. There is no room for God in any of his thoughts.Everything always goes well for him. So he is proud. He doesn’t want to have anything to do with God’s laws. He makes fun of all his enemies.He says to himself,“ I will always be secure.” He promises himself,“ No one will ever harm me.”

Their tombs will remain their houses forever. Their graves will be their homes for all time to come. Naming lands after themselves won’t help either.

But Lot’s wife looked back. When she did, she became a pillar made out of salt.Early the next morning Abraham got up. He returned to the place where he had stood in front of the Lord.He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and the whole valley. He saw thick smoke rising from the land. It looked like smoke from a furnace.So when God destroyed the cities of the valley, he showed concern for Abraham. He brought Lot out safely when he destroyed the cities where Lot had lived.Lot and his two daughters left Zoar. They went to live in the mountains because Lot was afraid to stay in Zoar. So he and his daughters lived in a cave.One day the older daughter spoke to the younger one. She said,“ Our father is old. People all over the earth have men to marry and have children with. We do not.So let’s get our father to drink wine. Then we can sleep with him. We can use our father to continue our family line.”That night they got their father to drink wine. Then the older daughter went in and slept with him. He wasn’t aware when she lay down or when she got up.The next day the older daughter spoke to the younger one again. She said,“ Last night I slept with my father. Let’s get him to drink wine again tonight. Then you go in and sleep with him. We can use our father to continue our family line.”So they got their father to drink wine that night also. Then the younger daughter slept with him. Again he wasn’t aware when she lay down or when she got up.So both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father.The older daughter had a son. She named him Moab. He’s the father of the Moabites of today.The younger daughter also had a son. She named him Ben- Ammi. He’s the father of the Ammonites of today.

Burn the statues of their gods in the fire. Don’t wish for the silver and gold on those statues. Don’t take it for yourselves. If you do, it will be a trap for you. The Lord your God hates it.Don’t bring anything he hates into your house. If you do, you will be completely destroyed along with it. So hate it with all your heart. It is set apart to be destroyed.

You said,‘ I am queen forever!’ But you did not think about what you were doing. You did not consider how things might turn out.“ So listen, you who love pleasure. You think you are safe and secure. You say to yourself,‘ I am like a god. No one is greater than I am. I’ll never be a widow. And my children will never be taken away from me.’But both of these things will happen to you in a moment. They will take place on a single day. You will lose your children. And you will become a widow. That is what will happen to you. All your evil magic and powerful spells will not save you.

Lot looked around. He saw that the whole Jordan River valley toward the town of Zoar had plenty of water. It was like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.So Lot chose the whole Jordan River valley for himself. Then he started out toward the east. The two men separated.Abram lived in the land of Canaan. Lot lived among the cities of the Jordan River valley. He set up his tents near Sodom.The people of Sodom were evil. They were sinning greatly against the Lord.

“ Just look at this fellow! He didn’t depend on God for his safety. He put his trust in all his wealth. He grew strong by destroying others!”

But Judas was one of us. He shared with us in our work for God.”Judas bought a field with the payment he received for the evil thing he had done. He fell down headfirst in the field. His body burst open. All his insides spilled out.Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this. So they called that field Akeldama. In their language, Akeldama means the Field of Blood.Peter said,“ Here is what is written in the Book of Psalms. It says,“‘ May his home be deserted. May no one live in it.’( Psalm 69:25) The Psalms also say,“‘ Let someone else take his place as leader.’( Psalm 109:8)So we need to choose someone to take his place. It will have to be a man who was with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us.That time began when John was baptizing. It ended when Jesus was taken up from us. The one we choose must join us in telling people that Jesus rose from the dead.”So they suggested the names of two men. One was Joseph, who was called Barsabbas. He was also called Justus. The other man was Matthias.Then the believers prayed. They said,“ Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen.Show us who should take the place of Judas as an apostle. He gave up being an apostle to go where he belongs.”

How terrible it will be for them! They have followed the way of Cain. They have rushed into the same mistake Balaam made. They did it because they loved money. They are like Korah. He turned against his leaders. These people will certainly be destroyed, just as Korah was.

Tell him,‘ The Lord says,“ Haven’t you murdered a man? Haven’t you taken over his property?” ’ Then tell Ahab,‘ The Lord says,“ Dogs licked up Naboth’s blood. In that same place dogs will lick up your blood. Yes, I said your blood!” ’ ”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.So the Lord says,‘ I am going to bring horrible trouble on you. I will destroy your children after you. I will destroy every male in Israel who is related to you. It does not matter whether they are slaves or free.I will make your royal house like the house of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. I will make it like the house of Baasha, the son of Ahijah. You have made me very angry. You have caused Israel to sin.’“ The Lord also says,‘ Dogs will eat up Jezebel near the wall of Jezreel.’“ Some of the people who belong to Ahab will die in the city. Dogs will eat them up. Others will die in the country. The birds will eat them.”

Ahab said to Naboth,“ Let me have your vineyard. It’s close to my palace. I want to use it for a vegetable garden. I’ll trade you a better vineyard for it. Or, if you prefer, I’ll pay you what it’s worth.”But Naboth replied,“ May the Lord keep me from giving you the land my family handed down to me.”So Ahab went home. He was angry. He was in a bad mood because of what Naboth from Jezreel had said. He had told Ahab,“ I won’t give you the land my family handed down to me.” So Ahab lay on his bed. He was in a very bad mood. He wouldn’t even eat anything.

You brag,“ We have entered into a covenant with the place of the dead. We have made an agreement with the grave. When a terrible plague comes to punish us, it can’t touch us. That’s because we depend on lies to keep us safe. We hide behind what isn’t true.”

The wealth of rich people is like a city that makes them feel safe. They think of it as a city with walls that can’t be climbed.If a person’s heart is proud, they will be destroyed. So don’t be proud if you want to be honored.

The Lord says,“ How terrible it will be for King Jehoiakim! He builds his palace by mistreating his people. He builds its upstairs rooms with money gained by sinning. He makes his own people work for nothing. He does not pay them for what they do.He says,‘ I will build myself a great palace. It will have large rooms upstairs.’ So he makes big windows in it. He covers its walls with cedar boards. He decorates it with red paint.“ Jehoiakim, does having more and more cedar boards make you a king? Your father Josiah had enough to eat and drink. He did what was right and fair. So everything went well with him.He stood up for those who were poor or needy. So everything went well with him. That is what it means to know me,” announces the Lord.“ Jehoiakim, the only thing on your mind is to get rich by cheating others. You would even kill people who are not guilty of doing anything wrong. You would mistreat them. You would take everything they own.”So the Lord speaks about King Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah. He says,“ His people will not mourn for him. They will not say,‘ My poor brother! My poor sister!’ They will not mourn for him. They will not say,‘ My poor master! How sad that his glory is gone!’In fact, he will be buried like a donkey. His body will be dragged away and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem.”

They’ve crushed poor people and left them with nothing. They’ve taken over houses they didn’t even build.“ No matter how much they have, they always long for more. But their treasure can’t save them.There isn’t anything left for them to eat up. Their success won’t last.While they are enjoying the good life, trouble will catch up with them. Terrible suffering will come on them.When they’ve filled their stomachs, God will pour out his great anger on them. He’ll strike them down with blow after blow.They might run away from iron weapons. But arrows that have bronze tips will wound them.They will pull the arrows out of their backs. They will remove the shining tips from their livers. They will be filled with terror.Total darkness hides and waits for their treasures. God will send a fire that will destroy them. It will burn up everything that’s left in their tents.Heaven will show their guilt to everyone. The earth will be a witness against them.A flood will carry their houses away. Rushing water will wash them away on the day when God judges.

You have built your home as high as an eagle does. You have made your nest among the stars. But I will bring you down from there,” announces the Lord.