The prophets will prove to be full of wind. The Lord has not spoken through them. So, let what they say happen to them.’”

But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts. They have turned aside and gone their own way.

I reported, “All of them are the most stubborn of rebels! They are as hard as bronze or iron. They go about telling lies. They all deal corruptly.

Why, then, do these people of Jerusalem continually turn away from me in apostasy? They hold fast to their deception. They refuse to turn back to me.

The people of those nations are both stupid and foolish. Instruction from a wooden idol is worthless!

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

There at home they will say, ‘Pharaoh king of Egypt is just a big noise! He has let the most opportune moment pass by.’

Egypt is like a beautiful young cow. But northern armies will attack her like swarms of stinging flies.

I will establish my sovereignty over Elam. I will destroy their king and their leaders,” says the Lord.

ט (Tet) The Lord is good to those who trust in him, to the one who seeks him.

I will do this in order to capture the hearts of the house of Israel, who have alienated themselves from me on account of all their idols.’

this is the interpretation, O king! It is the decision of the Most High that this has happened to my lord the king.

The holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will take possession of the kingdom forever and ever.’

At an appointed time he will again invade the south, but this latter visit will not turn out the way the former one did.

Therefore, I will soon fence her in with thorns; I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way.

The more the priests increased in numbers, the more they rebelled against me. They have turned their glorious calling into a shameful disgrace!

They consume their alcohol, then engage in cult prostitution; they dearly love their shameful behavior.

Those who revolt are knee-deep in slaughter, but I will discipline them all.

I have seen a disgusting thing in the temple of Israel: there Ephraim practices temple prostitution and Judah defiles itself.

For you took my silver and my gold and brought my precious valuables to your own palaces.