Even if Babylon climbs high into the sky and fortifies her elevated stronghold, I will send destroyers against her,” says the Lord.

The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and hard-hearted, and you must say to them, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says.’

I did this because they did not observe my regulations, they rejected my statutes, they desecrated my Sabbaths, and their eyes were fixed on their fathers’ idols.

They have treated father and mother with contempt within you; they have oppressed the foreigner among you; they have wronged the orphan and the widow within you.

You will drain it dry, gnaw its pieces, and tear out your breasts, for I have spoken, declares the sovereign Lord.

To arouse anger, to take vengeance, I have placed her blood on an exposed rock so that it cannot be covered up.

The wise men replied to the king: [What follows is in Aramaic] “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will disclose its interpretation.”

But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we don’t serve your gods, and we will not pay homage to the golden statue that you have erected.”

The tree that you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached to the sky, and which could be seen in all the land,

So all the king’s wise men came in, but they were unable to read the writing or to make known its interpretation to the king.

After entering into an alliance with him, he will behave treacherously; he will ascend to power with only a small force.

Foreigners are consuming what his strenuous labor produced, but he does not recognize it! His head is filled with gray hair, but he does not realize it!

They will not remain in the Lord’s land. Ephraim will return to Egypt; they will eat ritually unclean food in Assyria.

When I please, I will discipline them; I will gather nations together to attack them, to bind them in chains for their two sins.

But Ephraim bitterly provoked him to anger; so he will hold him accountable for the blood he has shed, his Lord will repay him for the contempt he has shown.

Draw yourselves water for a siege! Strengthen your fortifications! Trample the mud and tread the clay! Make mud bricks to strengthen your walls!

So now we consider the arrogant to be happy; indeed, those who practice evil are successful. In fact, those who challenge God escape!’”

When it was evening, many demon-possessed people were brought to him. He drove out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick.

no bag for the journey, or an extra tunic, or sandals or staff, for the worker deserves his provisions.

And if the house is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.