The least of you will multiply into a thousand; the smallest of you will become a large nation. When the right time comes, I the Lord will quickly do this!”

You will be a majestic crown in the hand of the Lord, a royal turban in the hand of your God.

But those who harvest the grain will eat it, and will praise the Lord. Those who pick the grapes will drink the wine in the courts of my holy sanctuary.”

They will be called, “The Holy People, the Ones Protected by the Lord.” You will be called, “Sought After, City Not Abandoned.”

Why, Lord, do you make us stray from your ways, and make our minds stubborn so that we do not obey you? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your inheritance!

Yet, Lord, you are our father. We are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the product of your labor.

In light of all this, how can you still hold back, Lord? How can you be silent and continue to humiliate us?

Your names will live on in the curse formulas of my chosen ones. The sovereign Lord will kill you, but he will give his servants another name.

The sound of battle comes from the city; the sound comes from the temple! It is the sound of the Lord paying back his enemies.

“Do I bring a baby to the birth opening and then not deliver it?” asks the Lord. “Or do I bring a baby to the point of delivery and then hold it back?” asks your God.

I answered, “Oh, Lord God, I really do not know how to speak well enough for that, for I am too young.”

Do not be afraid of those to whom I send you, for I will be with you to protect you,” says the Lord.

Then the Lord said, “You have observed correctly. This means I am watching to make sure my threats are carried out.”

Then the Lord said, “This means destruction will break out from the north on all who live in the land.

They will attack you but they will not be able to overcome you, for I will be with you to rescue you,” says the Lord.

Now listen to what the Lord has to say, you descendants of Jacob, all you family groups from the nation of Israel.

“So, once more I will state my case against you,” says the Lord. “I will also state it against your children and grandchildren.

Be amazed at this, O heavens! Be shocked and utterly dumbfounded,” says the Lord.

You have brought all this on yourself, Israel, by deserting the Lord your God when he was leading you along the right path.

Then the Lord said to me, “Under the circumstances, wayward Israel could even be considered less guilty than unfaithful Judah.