<p class="poetry">I take no delight<n id="1" /> when they offer up to me<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">frankincense that comes from Shebap> <p class="poetry">or sweet-smelling cane imported from a faraway land.p> <p class="poetry">I cannot accept the burnt offerings they bring me.p> <p class="poetry">I get no pleasure from the sacrifices they offer to me.&#8217;<n id="3" />p>

I will purify them from all the sin that they committed against me. I will forgive all their sins which they committed in rebelling against me.<n id="1" />

<p class="poetry">Even now you say to me, &#8216;You are my father!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">You have been my faithful companion ever since I was young.p>

<p class="poetry">Do not cause me dismay!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">You are my source of safety in times of trouble.p>

As to my case, I am in your power.<n id="1" /> Do to me what you deem fair and proper.

<p class="poetry">Then you will again be my peoplep> <p class="poetry">and I will be your God.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">Then they will say, &#8216;Under these conditions I can enjoy sweet sleepp> <p class="poetry">when I wake up and look around.&#8217;&#8221;<n id="1" />p>

They will be my people, and I will be their God.<n id="1" />

<p class="poetry">I planted you in the landp> <p class="poetry">like a special vine of the very best stock.p> <p class="poetry">Why in the world have you turned into something like a wild vinep> <p class="poetry">that produces rotten, foul-smelling grapes?<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">No,<n id="1" /> a wind too strong for that will come at my bidding.p> <p class="poetry">Yes, even now I, myself, am calling down judgment on them.&#8217;<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">And I cried out,<n id="1" /> &#8220;We are doomed!<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Our wound is severe!p> <p class="poetry">We once thought, &#8216;This is only an illness.p> <p class="poetry">And we will be able to bear it!&#8217;<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">The people I call my own<n id="1" /> have turned on mep> <p class="poetry">like a lion<n id="2" /> in the forest.p> <p class="poetry">They have roared defiantly<n id="3" /> at me.p> <p class="poetry">So I will treat them as though I hate them.<n id="4" />p>

<t /><p class="poetry"><sc>Lordsc>, you coerced me into being a prophet,p> <p class="poetry">and I allowed you to do it.p> <p class="poetry">You overcame my resistance and prevailed over me.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Now I have become a constant laughingstock.p> <p class="poetry">Everyone ridicules me.p>

<p class="poetry">For he did not kill me before I came from the womb,p> <p class="poetry">making my pregnant mother&#8217;s womb my grave forever.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">In a far-off land the <sc>Lordsc> will manifest himself to them.p> <p class="poetry">He will say to them, &#8216;I have loved you with an everlasting love.p> <p class="poetry">That is why I have continued to be faithful to you.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">&#8220;Babylon,<n id="1" /> you are my war club,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">my weapon for battle.p> <p class="poetry">I used you to smash nations.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">I used you to destroy kingdoms.p>

<p class="poetry">&#8220;I thought to myself,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8216;Oh what a joy it would be for me to treat you like a son!<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">What a joy it would be for me to give<n id="3" /> you a pleasant land,p> <p class="poetry">the most beautiful piece of property there is in all the world!&#8217;<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">I thought you would call me, &#8216;Father&#8217;<n id="5" />p> <p class="poetry">and would never cease being loyal to me.<n id="6" />p>

<p class="bodytext">I said,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Oh, the feeling in the pit of my stomach!<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">I writhe in anguish.p> <p class="poetry">Oh, the pain in my heart!<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">My heart pounds within me.p> <p class="poetry">I cannot keep silent.p> <p class="poetry">For I hear the sound of the trumpet;<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">the sound of the battle cry pierces my soul!<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">The people I call my own attack me like birds of prey or like hyenas.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">But other birds of prey are all around them.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Let all the nations gather together like wild beasts.p> <p class="poetry">Let them come and destroy these people I call my own.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">Their widows will become in my sight more numerous<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">than the grains of sand on the seashores.p> <p class="poetry">At noontime I will bring a destroyerp> <p class="poetry">against the mothers of their young men.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">I will cause anguish<n id="3" /> and terrorp> <p class="poetry">to fall suddenly upon them.<n id="4" />p>