If the snake should bite before it is charmed, the snake charmer is in trouble.

But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” Know for certain that the Lord has spoken.

Then you must recall the Lord’s instructions and the prophetic testimony of what would happen. Certainly they say such things because their minds are spiritually darkened.

The watchman replies, “Morning is coming, but then night. If you want to ask, ask; come back again.”

Look, I have decreed: I will not keep silent, but will pay them back; I will pay them back exactly what they deserve,

“Do I bring a baby to the birth opening and then not deliver it?” asks the Lord. “Or do I bring a baby to the point of delivery and then hold it back?” asks your God.

“Israel is not a slave, is he? He was not born into slavery, was he? If not, why then is he being carried off?

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.”

The Lord said to me, “Tell them, ‘The Lord says, Do people not get back up when they fall down? Do they not turn around when they go the wrong way?

But I will completely uproot and destroy any of those nations that will not pay heed,’” says the Lord.

Does the snow ever completely vanish from the rocky slopes of Lebanon? Do the cool waters from those distant mountains ever cease to flow?

But if they had stood in my inner circle, they would have proclaimed my message to my people. They would have caused my people to turn from their wicked ways and stop doing the evil things they are doing.

Rather, each person will die for his own sins. The teeth of the person who eats the sour grapes will themselves grow numb.

But if you refuse to surrender, the Lord has shown me a vision of what will happen. Here is what I saw:

“You must not disobey the Lord your God by saying, ‘We will not stay in this land.’

The Lord who rules over all has solemnly sworn, ‘I will fill your land with enemy soldiers. They will swarm over it like locusts. They will raise up shouts of victory over it.’

Even if you offer me burnt and grain offerings, I will not be satisfied; I will not look with favor on your peace offerings of fattened calves.

The Lord confirms this oath by the arrogance of Jacob: “I swear I will never forget all you have done!

All your fortifications will be like fig trees with first-ripe fruit: If they are shaken, their figs will fall into the mouth of the eater!

Now, if you will show faithful love to my master, tell me. But if not, tell me as well, so that I may go on my way.”