ηα 77, 78.] PBOPHBGY OF ISAIAS. 355 and not with condign punishment, what shall become of those who by offending exhort you, and draw others unto wickedness ? § 77. It is apparent also what befell unto the true prophet, who was sent from Judah to prophesy in Bethel, and forbidden to taste any meat in that place, after the sign which he foretold was fulfilled, and after he had restored to the wicked king his withered hand again, being deceived by another prophet, as he was termed, and so make to take but a little bread and water, his host speaking in this sort unto him : " Thus saith our Lord God : Because thou hast been disobedient to the mouth of our Lord, and hast not observed the precept which the Lord thy God hath commanded, and hast returned, and eaten bread, and drunk water in this place, in which I have charged thee that thou shouldest neither eat bread nor drink water, thy body shall not be buried in the sepulchre of thy forefathers. And so (saith the scripture) it came to pass, that after he had eaten bread and drunk water, he made ready his ass, and departed, and a lion found him in the way and slew him." § 78. Hear ye also the holy prophet Isaias, how he speaketh of priests on this wise. " Woe be to the ungodly, may evil befall him ; for the reward of his hands shall light upon him. Her own exactors have spoiled my people, and women have borne sway over her. Ο my people, they who term thee blessed, themselves deceive thee, and destroy the way of thy footsteps. Our Lord standeth to judge, and standeth to judge the people. Our Lord will come unto judgment with the elders of the people and her princes. Ye have consumed my vine, the spoil of the poor is in your house. Why do ye break in pieces my people, and grind the faces of the poor? saith our Lord of hosts." And also; " Woe be unto them who compose ungodly laws, and in their writing have written injustice, that they may oppress the poor in judgment, and work violence to the cause of the lowly of my people, that widows may be their prey, and they make spoil of the orphans ; what will ye do in the day of visitation and calamity approaching from afar off?" And afterwards : " But these also in regard of wine have been ignorant, and in respect of drunkenness have wandered astray ; the priests have not understood, because of drunkenness, and have been swallowed up in wine, they have erred A A 2