Yet I had pity on them and did not destroy them, so I did not make an end of them in the wilderness.

“Son of man, turn toward the south, and speak out against the south. Prophesy against the open scrub land of the Negev,

“Son of man, turn toward Jerusalem and speak out against the sanctuaries. Prophesy against the land of Israel

“‘See how each of the princes of Israel living within you has used his authority to shed blood.

But she increased her prostitution. She saw men carved on the wall, images of the Chaldeans carved in bright red,

Your rowers have brought you into surging waters. The east wind has wrecked you in the heart of the seas.

All the inhabitants of the coastlands are shocked at you, and their kings are horribly afraid – their faces are troubled.

For indeed, I am on your side; I will turn to you, and you will be plowed and planted.

The glory of the Lord came into the temple by way of the gate that faces east.

Then he brought me back by way of the outer gate of the sanctuary which faces east, but it was shut.

The Lord said to me: “Son of man, pay attention, watch closely and listen carefully to everything I tell you concerning all the statutes of the Lord’s house and all its laws. Pay attention to the entrances to the temple with all the exits of the sanctuary.

Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the Lord’s house. I noticed women sitting there weeping for Tammuz.

Therefore I will act with fury! My eye will not pity them nor will I spare them. When they have shouted in my ears, I will not listen to them.”

“Take note, son of man, the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees is for distant days; he is prophesying about the far future.’

“‘See here – this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters had majesty, abundance of food, and enjoyed carefree ease, but they did not help the poor and needy.

oppresses the poor and the needy, commits robbery, does not give back what was given in pledge, prays to idols, performs abominable acts,

He does not eat pagan sacrifices on the mountains, does not pray to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor’s wife,

And there you will remember your conduct and all your deeds by which you defiled yourselves. You will despise yourselves because of all the evil deeds you have done.

Then all those living in Egypt will know that I am the Lord because they were a reed staff for the house of Israel;

Then he led me toward the south. I saw a gate on the south. He measured its jambs and its porches; they had the same dimensions as the others.