wearing belts on their waists and flowing turbans on their heads, all of them looking like officers, the image of Babylonians ¹  whose native land is Chaldea.

So I poured my anger on them ¹  because of the blood they shed on the land and because of the idols with which they defiled it. ² 

Recite a proverb to this rebellious house ¹  and say to them, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: “‘Set on the pot, ²  set it on, pour water in it too;

On that day a fugitive will come to you to report the news. ¹ 

Its porches faced the outer court, it had decorative palm trees on its jambs, and its stairway had eight steps.

I adorned you with jewelry. I put bracelets on your hands and a necklace around your neck.

I will execute judgments on Egypt. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’”

clothed in blue, governors and officials, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses.

The priest will take some of the blood of the sin offering and place it on the doorpost of the temple, on the four corners of the ledge of the altar, and on the doorpost of the gate of the inner court.

“These are the exits of the city: On the north side, one and one-half miles ¹  by measure,

No eye took pity on you to do even one of these things for you to spare you; ¹  you were thrown out into the open field ²  because you were detested on the day you were born.

In a good pasture I will feed them; the mountain heights of Israel will be their pasture. There they will lie down in a lush ¹  pasture, and they will feed on rich grass on the mountains of Israel.

By means of divine visions ¹  he brought me to the land of Israel and placed me on a very high mountain, ²  and on it was a structure like a city, to the south.

When the prescribed period is over, ¹  on the eighth day and thereafter the priests will offer up on the altar your burnt offerings and your peace offerings; ²  I will accept you, declares the sovereign Lord.”

Cut sharply on the right! Swing to ¹  the left, wherever your edge ²  is appointed to strike.

In the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, ¹  the word of the Lord came to me:

In the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month, ¹  the word of the Lord came to me:

The sound of a carefree crowd accompanied her, ¹  including all kinds of men; ²  even Sabeans ³  were brought from the desert. The sisters ⁴  put bracelets on their wrists and beautiful crowns on their heads.

Groan in silence for the dead, ¹  but do not perform mourning rites. ²  Bind on your turban ³  and put your sandals on your feet. Do not cover your lip ⁴  and do not eat food brought by others.” ⁵ 

On that day messengers will go out from me in ships to frighten overly confident Ethiopia; panic will overtake them on the day of Egypt’s doom; ¹  for beware – it is coming!