<p class="poetry">Like a cage filled with the birds that have been caught,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">their houses are filled with the gains of their fraud and deceit.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">That is how they have gotten so rich and powerful.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">I, the <sc>Lordsc>, affirm that<n id="1" /> I know how arrogant they are.p> <p class="poetry">But their pride is ill-founded.p> <p class="poetry">Their boastings will prove to be false.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">So my heart moans for Moabp> <p class="poetry">like a flute playing a funeral song.p> <p class="poetry">Yes, like a flute playing a funeral song,p> <p class="poetry">my heart moans for the people of Kir Heres.p> <p class="poetry">For the wealth they have gained will perish.p>

<p class="poetry">These people make promises in the name of the <sc>Lordsc>.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">But the fact is,<n id="2" /> what they swear to is really a lie.&#8221;<n id="3" />p>

<p class="bodytext">So the <sc>Lordsc> said,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Hear, you nations!p> <p class="poetry">Be witnesses and take note of what will happen to these people.<n id="2" />p>

<t /><p class="poetry">&#8220;So, once more I will state my case<n id="1" /> against you,&#8221; says the <sc>Lordsc>.p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;I will also state it against your children and grandchildren.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">&#8220;My, how good you have becomep> <p class="poetry">at chasing after your lovers!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Why, you could even teach prostitutes a thing or two!<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">But, you have been unfaithful to me, nation of Israel,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">like an unfaithful wife who has left her husband,&#8221;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">says the <sc>Lordsc>.p>

<p class="poetry">The people I call my own<n id="1" /> have turned on mep> <p class="poetry">like a lion<n id="2" /> in the forest.p> <p class="poetry">They have roared defiantly<n id="3" /> at me.p> <p class="poetry">So I will treat them as though I hate them.<n id="4" />p>

I, the <sc>Lordsc>, say:<n id="1" /> &#8216;That is how I will deal with this city and its citizens. I will make it like Topheth.

So I, the <sc>Lordsc>, affirm<n id="1" /> that I am opposed to those prophets who steal messages from one another that they claim are from me.<n id="2" />

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;Therefore, the <sc>Lordsc> who rules over all<n id="1" /> says, &#8216;You have not listened to what I said.<n id="2" />

<p class="poetry">In a far-off land the <sc>Lordsc> will manifest himself to them.p> <p class="poetry">He will say to them, &#8216;I have loved you with an everlasting love.p> <p class="poetry">That is why I have continued to be faithful to you.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">Yet in days to comep> <p class="poetry">I will reverse Ammon&#8217;s ill fortune.&#8221;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">says the <sc>Lordsc>.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">So her young men will fall in her city squares.p> <p class="poetry">All her soldiers will be destroyed at that time,&#8221;p> <p class="poetry">says the <sc>Lordsc>.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">Just as a thief has to suffer dishonor when he is caught,p> <p class="poetry">so the people of Israel<n id="1" /> will suffer dishonor for what they have done.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">So will their kings and officials,p> <p class="poetry">their priests and their prophets.p>

<p class="poetry">The prophets prophesy lies.p> <p class="poetry">The priests exercise power by their own authority.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">And my people love to have it this way.p> <p class="poetry">But they will not be able to help you when the time of judgment comes!<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">As a well continually pours out fresh waterp> <p class="poetry">so it continually pours out wicked deeds.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Sounds of violence and destruction echo throughout it.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">All I see are sick and wounded people.&#8217;<n id="3" />p>

<p class="bodytext">Therefore the <sc>Lordsc> who rules over all says,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;I will now purify them in the fires of affliction<n id="2" /> and test them.p> <p class="poetry">The wickedness of my dear people<n id="3" /> has left me no choice.p> <p class="poetry">What else can I do?<n id="4" />p>

So then, listen to what I, the <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel who rules over all,<n id="1" /> say.<n id="2" /> &#8216;I will make these people eat the bitter food of suffering and drink the poison water of judgment.<n id="3" />