For a destroyer is attacking Babylon. Her warriors will be captured; their bows will be broken. For the Lord is a God who punishes; he pays back in full.

For messengers are coming, heralding disaster, from the city of Dan and from the hills of Ephraim.

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

Then I said to the people of Judah, “Listen and pay attention! Do not be arrogant! For the Lord has spoken.

Lord, we confess that we have been wicked. We confess that our ancestors have done wrong. We have indeed sinned against you.

Lord, grant me relief from my suffering so that I may have some relief. Rescue me from those who persecute me so that I may be rescued.

When you seek me in prayer and worship, you will find me available to you. If you seek me with all your heart and soul,

“You say, ‘The Lord has raised up prophets of good news for us here in Babylon.’

Moreover, the Lord says to the people of Zion, “Your injuries are incurable; your wounds are severe.

I will fully satisfy the needs of those who are weary and fully refresh the souls of those who are faint.

Why will your soldiers be defeated? They will not stand because I, the Lord, will thrust them down.

Moab will be destroyed and no longer be a nation, because she has vaunted herself against the Lord.

The Lord says to Edom, “I will certainly make you small among nations. I will make you despised by all humankind.

And you, Zion, city doomed to destruction, you accomplish nothing by wearing a beautiful dress, decking yourself out in jewels of gold, and putting on eye shadow! You are making yourself beautiful for nothing. Your lovers spurn you. They want to kill you.

If people want to boast, they should boast about this: They should boast that they understand and know me. They should boast that they know and understand that I, the Lord, act out of faithfulness, fairness, and justice in the earth and that I desire people to do these things,” says the Lord.

But you should take careful note of this: If you put me to death, you will bring on yourselves and this city and those who live in it the guilt of murdering an innocent man. For the Lord has sent me to speak all this where you can hear it. That is the truth!”

Once again there will be sounds of joy and gladness and the glad celebrations of brides and grooms. Once again people will bring their thank offerings to the temple of the Lord and will say, “Give thanks to the Lord who rules over all. For the Lord is good and his unfailing love lasts forever.” For I, the Lord, affirm that I will restore the land to what it was in days of old.’

So these officials said to the king, “This man must be put to death. For he is demoralizing the soldiers who are left in the city as well as all the other people there by these things he is saying. This man is not seeking to help these people but is trying to harm them.”

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

Do not be afraid of those to whom I send you, for I will be with you to protect you,” says the Lord.