Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard, took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.

צ (Tsade) Our enemies hunted us down at every step so that we could not walk about in our streets. Our end drew near, our days were numbered, for our end had come!

He said to me, “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak my words to them.

A wind lifted me up and carried me away. I went bitterly, my spirit full of fury, and the hand of the Lord rested powerfully on me.

“They have blown the trumpet and everyone is ready, but no one goes to battle, because my anger is against their whole crowd.

But those whose hearts are devoted to detestable things and abominations, I hereby repay them for what they have done, says the sovereign Lord.”

Say, ‘I am an object lesson for you. Just as I have done, it will be done to them; they will go into exile and captivity.’

Have you not copied their behavior and practiced their abominable deeds? In a short time you became even more depraved in all your conduct than they were!

He walked about among the lions; he became a young lion. He learned to tear prey; he devoured people.

I am the Lord your God; follow my statutes, observe my regulations, and carry them out.

The young men of On and of Pi-beseth will die by the sword; and the cities will go into captivity.

Then I will make their waters calm, and will make their streams flow like olive oil, declares the sovereign Lord.

I will put my Spirit within you; I will take the initiative and you will obey my statutes and carefully observe my regulations.

He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he led me back to the bank of the river.

He said, “Go, Daniel. For these matters are closed and sealed until the time of the end.

So Hosea married Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim. Then she conceived and gave birth to a son for him.

However, in the future I will allure her; I will lead her back into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.

Although they bring their flocks and herds to seek the favor of the Lord, They will not find him – he has withdrawn himself from them!

Ephraim will be oppressed, crushed under judgment, because he was determined to pursue worthless idols.

Then I will return again to my lair until they have suffered their punishment. Then they will seek me; in their distress they will earnestly seek me.