18. “Son of man, the people of Israel have become worthless to me. All of them are like copper, tin, iron, and lead in a smelting furnace. They are like the impurities left from silver.
19. This is what the Almighty Lord says: All of you have become worthless. That is why I’m going to gather you in Jerusalem.
20. People gather silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin together in a smelting furnace to melt them with a fiery blast. In the same way, in my anger and fury I will gather you and put you in the city. I will melt you there.
21. Yes, I will gather you, breathe on you with my fiery anger, and melt you in the city.
22. You will be melted in the city like silver that is melted in a furnace. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have poured out my fury on you.”
23. The Lord spoke his word to me. He said,