The answer will come back, &#8220;It is because they broke their covenant with the <sc>Lordsc> their God and worshiped and served other gods.&#8221;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">Under his rule<n id="1" /> Judah will enjoy safety<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">and Israel will live in security.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">This is the name he will go by:p> <p class="poetry">&#8216;The <sc>Lordsc> has provided us with justice.&#8217;<n id="4" />p>

<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>

<p class="poetry">But just watch!<n id="1" /> The wrath of the <sc>Lordsc>p> <p class="poetry">will come like a storm!<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Like a raging storm it will rage down<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">on the heads of those who are wicked.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" />

I, the <sc>Lord, affirmsc><n id="1" /> that I am opposed to those prophets who are using their own tongues to declare, &#8216;The <sc>Lordsc> declares&#8230;.&#8217;<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>

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;Therefore, the <sc>Lordsc> who rules over all<n id="1" /> says, &#8216;You have not listened to what I said.<n id="2" />

<p class="poetry">Listen to the cries of anguish of the leaders.p> <p class="poetry">Listen to the wails of the shepherds of the flocks.p> <p class="poetry">They are wailing because the <sc>Lordsc>p> <p class="poetry">is about to destroy their lands.<n id="1" />p>

The <sc>Lordsc> told me,<n id="1" /> &#8220;Make a yoke<n id="2" /> out of leather straps and wooden crossbars and put it on your neck.

&#8220;The <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel who rules over all<n id="1" /> says, &#8216;I will break the yoke of servitude<n id="2" /> to the king of Babylon.

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;The <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel who rules over all<n id="1" /> says to all those he sent<n id="2" /> into exile to Babylon from Jerusalem,<n id="3" />

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>

&#8216;So pay attention to what I, the <sc>Lordsc>, have said,<n id="1" /> all you exiles whom I have sent to Babylon from Jerusalem.&#8217;p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">So here is what the <sc>Lordsc> has to say about Israel and Judah.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="bodytext">Yes,<n id="1" /> here is what he says:p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;You hear cries of panic and of terror;p> <p class="poetry">there is no peace in sight.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Just watch! The wrath of the <sc>Lordsc>p> <p class="poetry">will come like a storm.p> <p class="poetry">Like a raging storm it will rage downp> <p class="poetry">on the heads of those who are wicked.p>