All who know you among the peoples are shocked at you; you have become terrified and will be no more.’”

They will know that I am the Lord when I ignite a fire in Egypt and all her allies are defeated.

I made it beautiful with its many branches; all the trees of Eden, in the garden of God, envied it.

None of the sins he has committed will be counted against him. He has done what is just and right; he will certainly live.

This is what the sovereign Lord says: While the whole earth rejoices, I will turn you into a desolation.

I will multiply your people – the whole house of Israel, all of it. The cities will be populated and the ruins rebuilt.

The desolate land will be plowed, instead of being desolate in the sight of everyone who passes by.

All the people of the land will bury them, and it will be a memorial for them on the day I magnify myself, declares the sovereign Lord.

No priest may drink wine when he enters the inner court.

The priests will not eat any bird or animal that has died a natural death or was torn to pieces by a wild animal.

All the people of the land will contribute to this offering for the prince of Israel.

On that day the prince will provide for himself and for all the people of the land a bull for a sin offering.

Because of this the king got furiously angry and gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.

Now at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and brought malicious accusations against the Jews.

The tree grew large and strong. Its top reached far into the sky; it could be seen from the borders of all the land.

So King Darius issued the written interdict.

Many will be purified, made clean, and refined, but the wicked will go on being wicked. None of the wicked will understand, though the wise will understand.

I will put an end to all her celebration: her annual religious festivals, monthly new moon celebrations, and weekly Sabbath festivities – all her appointed festivals.

They do not realize that I remember all of their wicked deeds. Their evil deeds have now surrounded them; their sinful deeds are always before me.

Wake up, you drunkards, and weep! Wail, all you wine drinkers, because the sweet wine has been taken away from you.