For the <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel who rules over all<n id="1" /> says, &#8220;Houses, fields, and vineyards will again be bought in this land.&#8221;&#8217;<n id="2" />p>

The city is sure to fall into the hands of the Babylonians.<n id="1" /> Yet, in spite of this,<n id="2" /> you, Lord <sc>Godsc>,<n id="3" /> have said to me, &#8220;Buy that field with silver and have the transaction legally witnessed.&#8221;&#8217;&#8221;<n id="4" />p>

You and your people<n id="1" /> are saying that this land will become desolate, uninhabited by either people or animals. You are saying that it will be handed over to the Babylonians.<n id="2" /> But fields<n id="3" /> will again be bought in this land.<n id="4" />

The sword is outside; pestilence and famine are inside the house. Whoever is in the open field will die by the sword, and famine and pestilence will consume everyone in the city.

I made you plentiful like sprouts in a field; you grew tall and came of age so that you could wear jewelry. Your breasts had formed and your hair had grown, but you were still naked and bare.p>

<p class="poetry">In a good field, by abundant waters, it was plantedp> <p class="poetry">to grow branches, bear fruit, and become a beautiful vine.p>

&#8220;Son of man, turn toward<n id="1" /> the south,<n id="2" /> and speak out against the south.<n id="3" /> Prophesy against the open scrub<n id="4" /> land of the Negev,

He will kill your daughters in the field with the sword. He will build a siege wall against you, erect a siege ramp against you, and raise a great shield against you.

<p class="poetry">The water made it grow;p> <p class="poetry">underground springs made it grow tall.p> <p class="poetry">Rivers flowed all around the place it was planted,p> <p class="poetry">while smaller channels watered all the trees of the field.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">Therefore it grew taller than all the trees of the field;p> <p class="poetry">its boughs grew large and its branches grew long,p> <p class="poetry">because of the plentiful water in its shoots.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">All the birds of the sky nested in its boughs;p> <p class="poetry">under its branches all the beasts of the field gave birth,p> <p class="poetry">in its shade all the great<n id="1" /> nations lived.p>

<p class="poetry">I will leave you on the ground,p> <p class="poetry">I will fling you on the open field,p> <p class="poetry">I will allow<n id="1" /> all the birds of the sky to settle<n id="2" /> on you,p> <p class="poetry">and I will permit<n id="3" /> all the wild animals<n id="4" /> to gorge themselves on you.p>

I will multiply the fruit of the trees and the produce of the fields, so that you will never again suffer the disgrace of famine among the nations.

You will fall dead on the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the people who are with you. I give you as food to every kind of bird and every wild beast.

<p class="poetry">I will destroy her vines and fig trees,p> <p class="poetry">about which she said, &#8220;These are my wages for prostitution<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">that my lovers gave to me!&#8221;p> <p class="poetry">I will turn her cultivated vines and fig trees<n id="2" /> into an uncultivated thicket,p> <p class="poetry">so that wild animals<n id="3" /> will devour them.p>

<p class="poetry">Therefore the land will mourn,p> <p class="poetry">and all its inhabitants will perish.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">The wild animals,<n id="2" /> the birds of the sky,p> <p class="poetry">and even the fish in the sea will perish.p>

<p class="poetry">Is there idolatry<n id="1" /> in Gilead?<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Certainly its inhabitants<n id="3" /> will come to nothing!<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal?p> <p class="poetry">Surely their altars will be like stones heaped up on a plowed field!p>

<p class="poetry">The vine has dried up;p> <p class="poetry">the fig tree languishes &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">the pomegranate, date, and apple<n id="1" /> as well.p> <p class="poetry">In fact,<n id="2" /> all the trees of the field have dried up.p> <p class="poetry">Indeed, the joy of the people<n id="3" /> has dried up!p>

<p class="poetry">To you, O <sc>Lordsc>, I call out for help,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">for fire<n id="2" /> has burned up<n id="3" /> the grassy pastures,<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">flames have razed<n id="5" /> all the trees in the fields.p>

<p class="poetry">Even the wild animals<n id="1" /> cry out to you;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">for the river beds<n id="3" /> have dried up;p> <p class="poetry">fire has destroyed<n id="4" /> the grassy pastures.<n id="5" />p>