9-10 Ten men are in a house, all dead. A relative comes and gets the bodies to prepare them for a decent burial. He discovers a survivor huddled in a closet and asks, “Are there any more?” The answer: “Not a soul. But hush! God must not be mentioned in this desecrated place.”

11 Note well: God issues the orders.
    He’ll knock large houses to smithereens.
    He’ll smash little houses to bits.

12-13 Do you hold a horse race in a field of rocks?
    Do you plow the sea with oxen?
You’d cripple the horses
    and drown the oxen.
And yet you’ve made a shambles of justice,
    a bloated corpse of righteousness,
Bragging of your trivial pursuits,
    beating up on the weak and crowing, “Look what I’ve done!”

Read full chapter

Bible Gateway Recommends

The Message New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs - eBook
The Message New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs - eBook
Retail: $9.99
Our Price: $7.49
Save: $2.50 (25%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars
The Message Bible--soft leather-look, sky blue
The Message Bible--soft leather-look, sky blue
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $39.99
Save: $10.00 (20%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars
The Message The Book of Psalms
The Message The Book of Psalms
Retail: $8.99
Our Price: $7.49
Save: $1.50 (17%)
The Message Compact, Leather-Look
The Message Compact, Leather-Look
Retail: $29.99
Our Price: $9.99
Save: $20.00 (67%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars