<p class="bodytext">&#8220;For this is what the sovereign <sc>Lordsc> says: How much worse will it be when I send my four terrible judgments &#8211; sword, famine, wild animals, and plague &#8211; to Jerusalem<n id="1" /> to kill both people and animals!

They will console you when you see their behavior and their deeds, because you will know that it was not without reason that I have done everything which I have done in it, declares the sovereign <sc>Lordsc>.&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;Therefore, this is what the sovereign <sc>Lordsc> says: Like the wood of the vine is among the trees of the forest which I have provided as fuel for the fire &#8211; so I will provide the residents of Jerusalem<n id="1" /> as fuel.<n id="2" />

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;&#8216;Then I passed by you and watched you, noticing<n id="1" /> that you had reached the age for love.<n id="2" /> I spread my cloak<n id="3" /> over you and covered your nakedness. I swore a solemn oath to you and entered into a marriage covenant with you, declares the sovereign <sc>Lordsc>, and you became mine.p>

This is what the sovereign <sc>Lordsc> says: Because your lust<n id="1" /> was poured out and your nakedness was uncovered in your prostitution with your lovers, and because of all your detestable idols, and because of the blood of your children you have given to them,

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;&#8216;Because you did not remember the days of your youth and have enraged me with all these deeds, I hereby repay you for what you have done,<n id="1" /> declares the sovereign <sc>Lordsc>. Have you not engaged in prostitution on top of all your other abominable practices?p>

Then you will remember, be ashamed, and remain silent<n id="1" /> when I make atonement for all you have done,<n id="2" /> declares the sovereign <sc>Lordsc>.&#8217;&#8221;p>

Say to them: &#8216;This is what the sovereign <sc>Lordsc> says:<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;&#8216;A great eagle<n id="2" /> with broad wings, long feathers,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">with full plumage which was multi-hued,<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">came to Lebanon<n id="5" /> and took the top of the cedar.p>

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;&#8216;Say to them: This is what the sovereign <sc>Lordsc> says:p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;&#8216;Will it prosper?p> <p class="poetry">Will he not rip out its rootsp> <p class="poetry">and cause its fruit to rot<n id="1" /> and wither?p> <p class="poetry">All its foliage<n id="2" /> will wither.p> <p class="poetry">No strong arm or large armyp> <p class="poetry">will be needed to pull it out by its roots.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;&#8216;This is what the sovereign <sc>Lordsc> says:p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;&#8216;I will take a sprig<n id="1" /> from the lofty top of the cedar and plant it.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">I will pluck from the top one of its tender twigs;p> <p class="poetry">I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.p>

and say to them:p> <p class="bodytext">&#8220;&#8216;This is what the sovereign <sc>Lordsc> says: On the day I chose Israel I swore<n id="1" /> to the descendants<n id="2" /> of the house of Jacob and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt. I swore<n id="3" /> to them, &#8220;I am the <sc>Lordsc> your God.&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;Therefore, speak to the house of Israel, son of man, and tell them, &#8216;This is what the sovereign <sc>Lordsc> says: In this way too your fathers blasphemed me when they were unfaithful to me.

When you present your sacrifices<n id="1" /> &#8211; when you make your sons pass through the fire &#8211; you defile yourselves with all your idols to this very day. Will I allow you to seek me,<n id="2" /> O house of Israel? As surely as I live, declares the sovereign <sc>Lordsc>, I will not allow you to seek me!<n id="3" />p>

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;&#8216;As for you, O house of Israel, this is what the sovereign <sc>Lordsc> says: Each of you go and serve your idols,<n id="1" /> if you will not listen to me.<n id="2" /> But my holy name will not be profaned<n id="3" /> again by your sacrifices<n id="4" /> and your idols.

For there on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the sovereign <sc>Lordsc>, all the house of Israel will serve me, all of them<n id="1" /> in the land. I will accept them there, and there I will seek your contributions and your choice gifts, with all your holy things.

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;Therefore this is what the sovereign <sc>Lordsc> says: &#8216;Because you have brought up<n id="1" /> your own guilt by uncovering your transgressions and revealing your sins through all your actions, for this reason you will be taken by force.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;As for you, son of man, prophesy and say, &#8216;This is what the sovereign <sc>Lordsc> says concerning the Ammonites and their coming humiliation;<n id="1" /> say:p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;&#8216;A sword, a sword drawn for slaughter,p> <p class="poetry">polished to consume,<n id="2" /> to flash like lightning &#8211;p>

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;Therefore, Oholibah, this is what the sovereign <sc>Lordsc> says: Look here,<n id="1" /> I am about to stir up against you the lovers with whom you were disgusted; I will bring them against you from every side:

<p class="poetry">&#8220;&#8216;Therefore this is what the sovereign <sc>Lordsc> says:p> <p class="poetry">Woe to the city of bloodshed,p> <p class="poetry">the pot whose rot<n id="1" /> is in it,p> <p class="poetry">whose rot has not been removed<n id="2" /> from it!p> <p class="poetry">Empty it piece by piece.p> <p class="poetry">No lot has fallen on it.<n id="3" />p>

Say to the house of Israel, &#8216;This is what the sovereign <sc>Lordsc> says: Realize I am about to desecrate my sanctuary &#8211; the source of your confident pride,<n id="1" /> the object in which your eyes delight,<n id="2" /> and your life&#8217;s passion.<n id="3" /> Your very own sons and daughters whom you have left behind will die<n id="4" /> by the sword.