Verse 1

Judah is Justly Deserving of Coming Judgment The LORD said,“Go up and down through the streets of Jerusalem. Look around and see for yourselves. Search through its public squares. See if any of you can find a single person who deals honestly and tries to be truthful. If you can, then I will not punish this city.

Referenced Verses

  • 2 Chr 16:9 : 9 Certainly the LORD watches the whole earth carefully and is ready to strengthen those who are devoted to him. You have acted foolishly in this matter; from now on you will have war.”
  • Ezek 22:30 : 30 “I looked for a man from among them who would repair the wall and stand in the gap before me on behalf of the land, so that I would not destroy it, but I found no one.
  • Gen 18:23-32 : 23 Abraham approached and said,“Will you really sweep away the godly along with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty godly people in the city? Will you really wipe it out and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty godly people who are in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing– to kill the godly with the wicked, treating the godly and the wicked alike! Far be it from you! Will not the judge of the whole earth do what is right?” 26 So the LORD replied,“If I find in the city of Sodom fifty godly people, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” 27 Then Abraham asked,“Since I have undertaken to speak to the Lord(although I am but dust and ashes), 28 what if there are five less than the fifty godly people? Will you destroy the whole city because five are lacking?” He replied,“I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” 29 Abraham spoke to him again,“What if forty are found there?” He replied,“I will not do it for the sake of the forty.” 30 Then Abraham said,“May the Lord not be angry so that I may speak! What if thirty are found there?” He replied,“I will not do it if I find thirty there.” 31 Abraham said,“Since I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty are found there?” He replied,“I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.” 32 Finally Abraham said,“May the Lord not be angry so that I may speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He replied,“I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”
  • Isa 59:4 : 4 No one is concerned about justice; no one sets forth his case truthfully. They depend on false words and tell lies; they conceive of oppression and give birth to sin.
  • Isa 59:14-15 : 14 Justice is driven back; godliness stands far off. Indeed, honesty stumbles in the city square and morality is not even able to enter. 15 Honesty has disappeared; the one who tries to avoid evil is robbed. The LORD watches and is displeased, for there is no justice.
  • Dan 12:4 : 4 “But you, Daniel, close up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will dash about, and knowledge will increase.”
  • Ps 12:1 : 1 For the music director; according to the sheminith style; a psalm of David. Deliver, LORD! For the godly have disappeared; people of integrity have vanished.
  • Ps 14:3 : 3 Everyone rejects God; they are all morally corrupt. None of them does what is right, not even one!
  • Ps 53:2-4 : 2 God looks down from heaven at the human race, to see if there is anyone who is wise and seeks God. 3 Everyone rejects God; they are all morally corrupt. None of them does what is right, not even one! 4 All those who behave wickedly do not understand– those who devour my people as if they were eating bread, and do not call out to God.
  • Mic 7:1-2 : 1 Micah Laments Judah’s Sin Woe is me! For I am like those gathering fruit, and those harvesting grapes, when there is no grape cluster to eat, and no fresh figs that my stomach craves. 2 Faithful men have disappeared from the land; there are no godly men left. They all wait in ambush to shed blood; they hunt their own brother with a net.
  • Zech 2:4 : 4 and said to him,“Hurry, speak to this young man as follows:‘Jerusalem will no longer be enclosed by walls because of the multitude of people and animals there.
  • Luke 14:21 : 21 So the slave came back and reported this to his master. Then the master of the household was furious and said to his slave,‘Go out quickly to the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’
  • 2 Thess 2:10 : 10 and with every kind of evil deception directed against those who are perishing, because they found no place in their hearts for the truth so as to be saved.
  • Prov 2:4-6 : 4 if you seek it like silver, and search for it like hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand how to fear the LORD, and you will discover knowledge about God. 6 For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.
  • Prov 8:3 : 3 beside the gates opening into the city, at the entrance of the doorways she cries out:
  • Prov 20:6 : 6 Many people profess their loyalty, but a faithful person– who can find?
  • Prov 23:23 : 23 Acquire truth and do not sell it– wisdom, and discipline, and understanding.
  • Song 3:2 : 2 “I will arise and look all around throughout the town, and throughout the streets and squares; I will search for my beloved.” I searched for him but I did not find him.
  • Joel 2:9 : 9 They rush into the city; they scale its walls. They climb up into the houses; they go in through the windows like a thief.
  • Amos 8:12 : 12 People will stagger from sea to sea, and from the north around to the east. They will wander about looking for a message from the LORD, but they will not find any.
  • 1 Kgs 19:10 : 10 He answered,“I have been absolutely loyal to the LORD God of Heaven’s Armies, even though the Israelites have abandoned the covenant they made with you, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and now they want to take my life.”