I gave them my statutes and revealed my regulations to them. The one who carries them out will live by them!

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

“‘As for you, profane and wicked prince of Israel, whose day has come, the time of final punishment,

I will scatter you among the nations and disperse you among various countries; I will remove your impurity from you.

Then I said about the one worn out by adultery, ‘Now they will commit immoral acts with her.’

Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your clients; they exchanged slaves and bronze items for your merchandise.

No human foot will pass through it, and no animal’s foot will pass through it; it will be uninhabited for forty years.

According to their uncleanness and rebellion I have dealt with them, and I hid my face from them.

There were porches all around, 43¾ feet long and 8¾ feet wide.

Below these chambers was a passage on the east side as one enters from the outer court.

At the celebration of their king, his princes become inflamed with wine; they conspire with evildoers.

Threshing floors and wine vats will not feed the people, and new wine only deceives them.

Ephraim will be like a bird; what they value will fly away. They will not bear children – they will not enjoy pregnancy – they will not even conceive!

You sold Judeans and Jerusalemites to the Greeks, removing them far from their own country.

Listen and warn the family of Jacob! The sovereign Lord, the God who commands armies, is speaking!

The Israelites turn justice into bitterness; they throw what is fair and right to the ground.

“My people, how have I wronged you? How have I wearied you? Answer me!

I will strike you brutally and destroy you because of your sin.

The earth will become desolate because of what its inhabitants have done.

But with an overwhelming flood he will make a complete end of Nineveh; he will drive his enemies into darkness.