<p class="poetry">Though all the nations follow their respective gods,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">we will follow<n id="2" /> the <sc>Lordsc> our God forever.p>

<p class="poetry">Many nations will come, saying,p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Come on! Let&#8217;s go up to the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s mountain,p> <p class="poetry">to the temple<n id="1" /> of Jacob&#8217;s God,p> <p class="poetry">so he can teach us his commands<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">and we can live by his laws.&#8221;<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">For Zion will be the source of instruction;p> <p class="poetry">the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s teachings will proceed from Jerusalem.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">But you are the ones who will be forced to leave!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">For this land is not secure!<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Sin will thoroughly destroy it!<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">For this reason I<n id="1" /> will mourn and wail;p> <p class="poetry">I will walk around barefoot<n id="2" /> and without my outer garments.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">I will howl<n id="4" /> like a wild dog,<n id="5" />p> <p class="poetry">and screech<n id="6" /> like an owl.<n id="7" />p>

<p class="poetry">Does the family<n id="1" /> of Jacob say,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8216;The <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s patience<n id="3" /> can&#8217;t be exhausted &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">he would never do such things&#8217;?<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">To be sure, my commands bring a rewardp> <p class="poetry">for those who obey them,<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">If a lying windbag should come and say,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8216;I&#8217;ll promise you blessings of wine and beer,&#8217;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">he would be just the right preacher for these people!<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">You implement the regulations of Omri,p> <p class="poetry">and all the practices of Ahab&#8217;s dynasty;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">you follow their policies.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Therefore I will make you an appalling sight,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">the city&#8217;s<n id="4" /> inhabitants will be taunted derisively,<n id="5" />p> <p class="poetry">and nations will mock all of you.&#8221;<n id="6" />p>

<p class="poetry">Therefore the <sc>Lordsc> says this: &#8220;Look, I am devising disaster for this nation!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">It will be like a yoke from which you cannot free your neck.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">You will no longer<n id="3" /> walk proudly,p> <p class="poetry">for it will be a time of catastrophe.p>

<p class="poetry">He has told you, O man, what is good,p> <p class="poetry">and what the <sc>Lordsc> really wants from you:<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">He wants you to<n id="2" /> promote<n id="3" /> justice, to be faithful,<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">and to live obediently before<n id="5" /> your God.p>