TSK · Ecclesiastes 4:1

“When you assist the Hebrew women in childbirth, observe at the delivery: If it is a son, kill him, but if it is a daughter, she may live.”

The Call of the Deliverer During that long period of time the king of Egypt died, and the Israelites groaned because of the slave labor. They cried out, and their desperate cry because of their slave labor went up to God.

So now, get back to work! You will not be given straw, but you must still produce your quota of bricks!”

instead in hunger, thirst, nakedness, and poverty you will serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you. They will place an iron yoke on your neck until they have destroyed you.

The LORD was furious with Israel and turned them over to the Philistines and Ammonites.

Relent, let there be no falsehood; reconsider, for my righteousness is intact!

I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could pile up words against you and I could shake my head at you.

They spend the night naked because they lack clothing; they have no covering against the cold.

“People cry out because of the excess of oppression; they cry out for help because of the power of the mighty.

“Because of the violence done to the oppressed, because of the painful cries of the needy, I will spring into action,” says the LORD.“I will provide the safety they so desperately desire.”

I will pray to God, my high ridge:“Why do you ignore me? Why must I walk around mourning because my enemies oppress me?”

They put bitter poison into my food, and to quench my thirst they give me vinegar to drink.

All day long my enemies taunt me; those who mock me use my name in their curses.

I cry out to you, O LORD; I say,“You are my shelter, my security in the land of the living.”

A poor person who oppresses the weak is like a driving rain without food.

When the righteous become numerous, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.

Government Corruption If you see the extortion of the poor, or the perversion of justice and fairness in the government, do not be astonished by the matter. For the high official is watched by a higher official, and there are higher ones over them!

Indeed Israel is the vineyard of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the people of Judah are the cultivated place in which he took delight. He waited for justice, but look what he got– disobedience! He waited for fairness, but look what he got– cries for help!

They are eager to do evil, quick to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful; they crush and destroy.

ב(Bet) She weeps bitterly at night; tears stream down her cheeks. She has no one to comfort her among all her lovers. All her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies.

ע(Ayin) I weep because of these things; my eyes flow with tears. For there is no one in sight who can comfort me or encourage me. My children are desolated because an enemy has prevailed.

Samaria Will Fall Make this announcement in the fortresses of Ashdod and in the fortresses in the land of Egypt. Say this:“Gather on the hills around Samaria! Observe the many acts of violence taking place within the city, the oppressive deeds occurring in it.”

You also do this: You cover the altar of the LORD with tears as you weep and groan, because he no longer pays any attention to the offering nor accepts it favorably from you.

Then once more you will see that I make a distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and the one who does not.

At my first defense no one appeared in my support; instead they all deserted me– may they not be held accountable for it.