All the birds of the sky nested in its boughs; under its branches all the beasts of the field gave birth, in its shade all the great ¹  nations lived.

“When they return to it, they will remove from it all its detestable things and all its abominations.

They will descend from their ships – all who handle the oar, the sailors and all the sea captains – they will stand on the land.

On its ruins all the birds of the sky will live, and all the wild animals ¹  will walk ²  on its branches.

therefore, take note: I am about to gather all your lovers whom you enjoyed, both all those you loved and all those you hated. I will gather them against you from all around, and I will expose your nakedness to them, and they will see all your nakedness. ¹ 

when they grasped you with their hand, ¹  you broke and tore ²  their shoulders, and when they leaned on you, you splintered and caused their legs to be unsteady. ³ 

I will leave you on the ground, I will fling you on the open field, I will allow ¹  all the birds of the sky to settle ²  on you, and I will permit ³  all the wild animals ⁴  to gorge themselves on you.

My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over the entire face of the earth with no one looking or searching for them.

All of their hands will hang limp; their knees will be wet with urine. ¹ 

“‘Observe – everyone who quotes proverbs will quote this proverb about you: “Like mother, like daughter.”

Look, you are wiser than Daniel; ¹  no secret is hidden from you. ² 

The first of all the first fruits and all contributions of any kind ¹  will be for the priests; you will also give to the priest the first portion of your dough, so that a blessing may rest on your house.

Every living creature which swarms where the river ¹  flows will live; there will be many fish, for these waters flow there. It will become fresh ²  and everything will live where the river flows.

Then you will know that I am the Lord – when their dead lie among their idols around their altars, on every high hill and all the mountaintops, under every green tree and every leafy oak, ¹  the places where they have offered fragrant incense to all their idols.

When they ask you, ‘Why are you groaning?’ you will reply, ‘Because of the report that has come. Every heart will melt with fear and every hand will be limp; everyone ¹  will faint and every knee will be wet with urine.’ ²  Pay attention – it is coming and it will happen, declares the sovereign Lord.”

When they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the temple, its pattern, its exits and entrances, and its whole design – all its statutes, its entire design, and all its laws; write it all down in their sight, so that they may observe its entire design and all its statutes and do them.

“I will make you desolate and an object of scorn among the nations around you, in the sight of everyone who passes by.

“They have blown the trumpet and everyone is ready, but no one goes to battle, because my anger is against their whole crowd. ¹ 

They will wear sackcloth, terror will cover them; shame will be on all their faces, and all of their heads will be shaved bald. ¹ 

So I told the exiles everything ¹  the Lord had shown me.