“I will deliver you from the power of the wicked. I will free you from the clutches of violent people.”

They are regarded as ‘rejected silver’ because the Lord rejects them.”

In the seventh month of that very same year the prophet Hananiah died.

I answered, “Oh, Lord God, I really do not know how to speak well enough for that, for I am too young.”

Then the Lord said, “You have observed correctly. This means I am watching to make sure my threats are carried out.”

They will attack you but they will not be able to overcome you, for I will be with you to rescue you,” says the Lord.

You will not always be angry with me, will you? You will not be mad at me forever, will you?’ That is what you say, but you continually do all the evil that you can.”

So take warning, Jerusalem, or I will abandon you in disgust and make you desolate, a place where no one can live.”

Why did I ever come forth from my mother’s womb? All I experience is trouble and grief, and I spend my days in shame.

Zephaniah the priest read that letter to the prophet Jeremiah.

Know for certain that I hereby give you the authority to announce to nations and kingdoms that they will be uprooted and torn down, destroyed and demolished, rebuilt and firmly planted.”

Israel was set apart to the Lord; they were like the first fruits of a harvest to him. All who tried to devour them were punished; disaster came upon them,” says the Lord.’”

In spite of all this, Israel’s sister, unfaithful Judah, has not turned back to me with any sincerity; she has only pretended to do so,” says the Lord.

So put on sackcloth! Mourn and wail, saying, ‘The fierce anger of the Lord has not turned away from us!’”

I will scatter them among nations that neither they nor their ancestors have known anything about. I will send people chasing after them with swords until I have destroyed them.’”

So I went to Perath and dug up the shorts from the place where I had buried them. I found that they were ruined; they were good for nothing.

People of Jerusalem, I have seen your adulterous worship, your shameless prostitution to, and your lustful pursuit of, other gods. I have seen your disgusting acts of worship on the hills throughout the countryside. You are doomed to destruction! How long will you continue to be unclean?’”

Now and then there would be something wrong with the pot he was molding from the clay with his hands. So he would rework the clay into another kind of pot as he saw fit.

I will bring war, starvation, and disease on them until they are completely destroyed from the land I gave them and their ancestors.’”

The Lord is like a lion who has left his lair. So their lands will certainly be laid waste by the warfare of the oppressive nation and by the fierce anger of the Lord.”