But then one of the seraphs flew toward me. In his hand was a hot coal he had taken from the altar with tongs.

<p class="poetry">For this is what the sovereign master<n id="1" /> has told me:p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Go, post a guard!p> <p class="poetry">He must report what he sees.p>

<t /><p class="poetry">Here is a message about Dumah:<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Someone calls to me from Seir,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Watchman, what is left of the night?p> <p class="poetry">Watchman, what is left of the night?&#8221;<n id="3" />p>

<t /><p class="poetry">&#8220;Listen to me in silence, you coastlands!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Let the nations find renewed strength!p> <p class="poetry">Let them approach and then speak;p> <p class="poetry">let us come together for debate!<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">I remove the guilt of your rebellious deeds as if they were a cloud,p> <p class="poetry">the guilt of your sins as if they were a cloud.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Come back to me, for I protect<n id="2" /> you.&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">Turn to me so you can be delivered,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">all you who live in the earth&#8217;s remote regions!p> <p class="poetry">For I am God, and I have no peer.p>

<p class="poetry">Listen to me, O Jacob,p> <p class="poetry">Israel, whom I summoned!p> <p class="poetry">I am the one;p> <p class="poetry">I am present at the very beginningp> <p class="poetry">and at the very end.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">The one who vindicates me is close by.p> <p class="poetry">Who dares to argue with me? Let us confront each other!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Who is my accuser?<n id="2" /> Let him challenge me!<n id="3" />p>

Then the <sc>Lordsc> said, &#8220;You have observed correctly. This means<n id="1" /> I am watching to make sure my threats are carried out.&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

Then the <sc>Lordsc> said, &#8220;This means<n id="1" /> destruction will break out from the north on all who live in the land.

Then the <sc>Lordsc> said to me, &#8220;Under the circumstances, wayward Israel could even be considered less guilty than unfaithful Judah.<n id="1" />p>

But your ancestors<n id="1" /> did not listen to me nor pay attention to me. They became obstinate<n id="2" /> and were more wicked than even their own forefathers.&#8217;&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">The <sc>Lordsc> said to me, &#8220;The people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem have plotted rebellion against me!<n id="1" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">Then the <sc>Lordsc> said to me, &#8220;Do not pray for good to come to these people!<n id="1" />

<p class="poetry">Listen to what they are saying to me.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">They are saying, &#8220;Where are the things the <sc>Lordsc> threatens us with?p> <p class="poetry">Come on! Let&#8217;s see them happen!&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

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>

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.

&#8216;Call on me in prayer and I will answer you. I will show you great and mysterious<n id="1" /> things which you still do not know about.&#8217;

<p class="poetry">Why do you brag about your great power?p> <p class="poetry">Your power is ebbing away,<n id="1" /> you rebellious people of Ammon,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">who trust in your riches and say,p> <p class="poetry">&#8216;Who would dare to attack us?&#8217;p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">He said to me, &#8220;Son of man,<n id="1" /> stand on your feet and I will speak with you.&#8221;