The sovereign master decreed judgment on Jacob, and it fell on Israel.

“At that time I will summon my servant Eliakim, son of Hilkiah.

I can clothe the sky in darkness; I can cover it with sackcloth.”

So the sovereign master will afflict the foreheads of Zion’s women with skin diseases, the Lord will make the front of their heads bald.”

I am the one who forms light and creates darkness; the one who brings about peace and creates calamity. I am the Lord, who accomplishes all these things.

They will stay away from all the hills that were cultivated, for fear of the thorns and briers. Cattle will graze there and sheep will trample on them.

Yet he too is wise and he will bring disaster; he does not retract his decree. He will attack the wicked nation, and the nation that helps those who commit sin.

In the same way, the promise that I make does not return to me, having accomplished nothing. No, it is realized as I desire and is fulfilled as I intend.”

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

and the Lord has sent the people off to a distant place, and the very heart of the land is completely abandoned.

Wail, for the Lord’s day of judgment is near; it comes with all the destructive power of the sovereign judge.

Lament, you residents of the coast, you merchants of Sidon who travel over the sea, whose agents sail over

Look, the Lord is ready to devastate the earth and leave it in ruins; he will mar its surface and scatter its inhabitants.

I will threaten Ariel, and she will mourn intensely and become like an altar hearth before me.

Their slain will be left unburied, their corpses will stink; the hills will soak up their blood.

A crushed reed he will not break, a dim wick he will not extinguish; he will faithfully make just decrees.

Bring out the people who are blind, even though they have eyes, those who are deaf, even though they have ears!

I, I have spoken – yes, I have summoned him; I lead him and he will succeed.

But the wicked are like a surging sea that is unable to be quiet; its waves toss up mud and sand.

So I will choose severe punishment for them; I will bring on them what they dread, because I called, and no one responded, I spoke and they did not listen. They did evil before me; they chose to do what displeases me.”