I, the <sc>Lordsc>, affirm<n id="1" /> that I am opposed to those prophets who dream up lies and report them. They are misleading my people with their reckless lies.<n id="2" /> I did not send them. I did not commission them. They are not helping these people at all.<n id="3" /> I, the <sc>Lordsc>, affirm it!&#8221;<n id="4" />p>

I will make myself available to you,&#8217;<n id="1" /> says the <sc>Lordsc>.<n id="2" /> &#8216;Then I will reverse your plight<n id="3" /> and will regather you from all the nations and all the places where I have exiled you,&#8217; says the <sc>Lordsc>.<n id="4" /> &#8216;I will bring you back to the place from which I exiled you.&#8217;p>

For they have not paid attention to what I said to them through my servants the prophets whom I sent to them over and over again,&#8217;<n id="1" /> says the <sc>Lordsc>.<n id="2" /> &#8216;And you exiles<n id="3" /> have not paid any attention to them either,&#8217; says the <sc>Lordsc>.<n id="4" />

and said, &#8220;&#8216;I solemnly swear by my own name,&#8217;<n id="1" /> decrees the <sc>Lordsc>,<n id="2" /> &#8216;that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,

Say to them, &#8216;As I live,<n id="1" /> says<n id="2" /> the <sc>Lordsc>, I will surely do to you just what you have spoken in my hearing.<n id="3" />

<p class="poetry">the oracle of the one who hears the words of God,p> <p class="poetry">and who knows the knowledge of the Most High,p> <p class="poetry">who sees a vision from the Almighty,p> <p class="poetry">although falling flat on the ground with eyes open:p>

<t /><p class="psasuper">For the music director; written by the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s servant, David; an oracle.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">An evil man is rebellious to the core.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">He does not fear God,<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">Fortified cities will disappear from Ephraim,p> <p class="poetry">and Damascus will lose its kingdom.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">The survivors in Syriap> <p class="poetry">will end up like the splendor of the Israelites,&#8221;p> <p class="poetry">says the <sc>Lordsc> who commands armies.p>

<p class="poetry">There will be some left behind,p> <p class="poetry">like when an olive tree is beaten &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">two or three ripe olives remain toward the very top,p> <p class="poetry">four or five on its fruitful branches,&#8221;p> <p class="poetry">says the <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel.p>

<p class="poetry">I will hand Egypt over to a harsh master;p> <p class="poetry">a powerful king will rule over them,&#8221;p> <p class="poetry">says the sovereign master,<n id="1" /> the <sc>Lordsc> who commands armies.p>

<t /><p class="poetry">&#8220;The rebellious<n id="1" /> children are as good as dead,&#8221;<n id="2" /> says the <sc>Lordsc>,p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;those who make plans without consulting me,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">who form alliances without consulting my Spirit,<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">and thereby compound their sin.<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">They will surrender their stronghold<n id="1" /> because of fear;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">their officers will be afraid of the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s battle flag.&#8221;<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">This is what the <sc>Lordsc> says &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">the one whose fire is in Zion,p> <p class="poetry">whose firepot is in Jerusalem.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">Don&#8217;t be afraid, despised insignificant Jacob,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">men of<n id="2" /> Israel.p> <p class="poetry">I am helping you,&#8221; says the <sc>Lordsc>,p> <p class="poetry">your protector,<n id="3" /> the Holy One of Israel.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">I decreed and delivered and proclaimed,p> <p class="poetry">and there was no other god among you.p> <p class="poetry">You are my witnesses,&#8221; says the <sc>Lordsc>, &#8220;that I am God.p>

<p class="poetry">Look all around you!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">All of them gather to you.p> <p class="poetry">As surely as I live,&#8221; says the <sc>Lordsc>,p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;you will certainly wear all of them like jewelry;p> <p class="poetry">you will put them on as if you were a bride.p>

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;As for those who consecrate and ritually purify themselves so they can follow their leader and worship in the sacred orchards,<n id="1" /> those who eat the flesh of pigs and other disgusting creatures, like mice<n id="2" /> &#8211; they will all be destroyed together,&#8221;<n id="3" /> says the <sc>Lordsc>.

&#8220;For just as the new heavens and the new earth I am about to make will remain standing before me,&#8221; says the <sc>Lordsc>, &#8220;so your descendants and your name will remain.

Israel was set apart to the <sc>Lordsc>; they were like the first fruits of a harvest to him.<n id="1" /> All who tried to devour them were punished; disaster came upon them,&#8221; says the <sc>Lordsc>.&#8217;&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">You can try to wash away your guilt with a strong detergent.p> <p class="poetry">You can use as much soap as you want.p> <p class="poetry">But the stain of your guilt is still there for me to see,&#8221;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">says the Lord <sc>Godsc>.<n id="2" />p>

In spite of all this,<n id="1" /> Israel&#8217;s sister, unfaithful Judah, has not turned back to me with any sincerity; she has only pretended to do so,&#8221;<n id="2" /> says the <sc>Lordsc>.