Should you not have obeyed the words that the <sc>Lordsc> cried out through the former prophets when Jerusalem<n id="1" /> was peacefully inhabited and her surrounding cities, the Negev, and the Shephelah<n id="2" /> were also populated?p>

These are the things you must do: Speak the truth, each of you, to one another. Practice true and righteous judgment in your courts.<n id="1" />

Indeed, they made their heart as hard as diamond,<n id="1" /> so that they could not obey the Torah and the other words the <sc>Lordsc> who rules over all had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore, the <sc>Lordsc> who rules over all had poured out great wrath.p>

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;The <sc>Lordsc> who rules over all also says, &#8216;Gather strength, you who are listening to these words today from the mouths of the prophets who were there at the founding of the house of the <sc>Lordsc> who rules over all,<n id="1" /> so that the temple might be built.