A paraphrasticall explication of the twelve minor prophets. Viz. Hoseah. Joel. Amos. Obadiah. Jonah. Micah. Nahum. Habakkuk. Zephaniah. Haggai. Zechariah. Malachi. / By Da. Stokes. D.D.

CHAP. III.

1 WO to her that is filthy and pollu∣ted, to the oppressing city.

2 She obeyed not the voice: she received not cor∣rection: she trusted not in the Lord: she drew not near to her God.

3 Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves, they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.

4 Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.

5 The just Lord is in the midst thereof: he will not do iniquity: every morn∣ing doth he bring his judge∣ment to light, he faileth not, but the unjust knoweth no shame.

6 I have cut off the na∣tions: their towers are de∣solate, I made their streets wast, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant.

7 I said, Surely thou wilt fear me: thou wilt receive instruction, so their dwelling should not be cut off, howso∣ever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrup∣ted all their doings.

8 Therefore wait ye up∣on me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determina∣tion is to gather the nati∣ons, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousie.

9 For then will I turn to the people a pure lan∣guage, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord,

to serve him with one con∣sent.

10 From beyond the ri∣vers of Ethiopia, my sup∣pliants, even the daughter of my dispersed shall bring mine offering.

11 In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee, them that rejoyce in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of mine holy mountain.

12 I will also leave in the midst of thee an af∣flicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord.

13 The remnant of Is∣rael shall not do iniquity, nor speaks lies: neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them a∣fraid.

14 Sing, O daughter of Zion, shout O Israel: be glad and rejoyce with all the heart, O daughter of Ierusalem.

15 The Lord hath ta∣ken away thy judgements, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the Lord is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.

16 In that day it shall be said to Ierusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine•• hands be s••ack.

17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is migh∣ty: he will save, he will re∣joyce over thee with joy: he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with sing∣ing.

18 I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.

19 Behold, at that time I will undo all that af∣flict thee, and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out, and I will get them praise and fame in every land,

where they have been put to shame.

20 At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you•• for I will make you a name and a praise among all peo∣ple of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord.