<p class="poetry">For the nations of Israel and Judah<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">have been very unfaithful to me,&#8221;p> <p class="bodytext">says the <sc>Lordsc>.p>

<p class="bodytext">Yet even then<n id="1" /> I will not completely destroy you,&#8221; says the <sc>Lordsc>.

But I am not really the one being troubled!&#8221;<n id="1" /> says the <sc>Lordsc>. &#8220;Rather they are bringing trouble on themselves to their own shame!<n id="2" />

<p class="poetry">They do one act of violence after another,p> <p class="poetry">and one deceitful thing after another.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">They refuse to pay attention to me,&#8221;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">says the <sc>Lordsc>.p>

<p class="bodytext">The <sc>Lordsc> says, &#8220;Watch out!<n id="1" /> The time is soon coming when I will punish all those who are circumcised only in the flesh.<n id="2" />

But I will completely uproot and destroy any of those nations that will not pay heed,&#8217;&#8221;<n id="1" /> says the <sc>Lordsc>.p>

<p class="poetry">This is your fate,p> <p class="poetry">the destiny to which I have appointed you,p> <p class="poetry">because you have forgotten mep> <p class="poetry">and have trusted in false gods.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.

<p class="poetry">But I will punish you as your deeds deserve,&#8217;p> <p class="poetry">says the <sc>Lordsc>.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8216;I will set fire to your palace;p> <p class="poetry">it will burn up everything around it.&#8217;&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">He upheld the cause of the poor and needy.p> <p class="poetry">So things went well for Judah.&#8217;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc> says,p> <p class="poetry">&#8216;That is a good example of what it means to know me.&#8217;<n id="2" />p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">The <sc>Lordsc> says,<n id="1" /> &#8220;The leaders of my people are sure to be judged.<n id="2" /> They were supposed to watch over my people like shepherds watch over their sheep. But they are causing my people to be destroyed and scattered.<n id="3" />

<p class="poetry">Moreover,<n id="1" /> the <sc>Lordsc> says,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Both the prophets and priests are godless.p> <p class="poetry">I have even found them doing evil in my temple!p>

My message is like a fire that purges dross!<n id="1" /> It is like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces!<n id="2" /> I, the <sc>Lordsc>, so affirm it!<n id="3" />

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" />

So, now the <sc>Lordsc> says,<n id="1" /> &#8216;You have not listened to me. But<n id="2" /> you have made me angry by the things that you have done.<n id="3" /> Thus you have brought harm on yourselves.&#8217;p>

They are prophesying lies to you and claiming my authority to do so.<n id="1" /> But I did not send them. I, the <sc>Lordsc>, affirm it!&#8217;<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">I will provide the priests with abundant provisions.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">My people will be filled to the full with the good things I provide.&#8221;p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">&#8220;Indeed a time is coming,&#8221;<n id="1" /> says the <sc>Lordsc>,<n id="2" /> &#8220;when the city of Jerusalem<n id="3" /> will be rebuilt as my special city.<n id="4" /> It will be built from the Tower of Hananel westward to the Corner Gate.<n id="5" />

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