15. I will scatter you among the nations. I will force you to go to many countries. I will completely destroy the filthy things in this city.
16. But Jerusalem, you will become unclean. And the other nations will see all these things happen. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
17. The word of the Lord came to me. He said,
18. “Son of man, bronze, iron, lead, and tin are important metals, but when a worker melts silver to make it pure, those metals are poured off as waste. Israel has become like that waste to me.
19. So this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘All of you have become like worthless waste. So I will gather you into Jerusalem.
20. Workers put silver, bronze, iron, lead, and tin into a fire. They blow on the fire to make it hotter. Then the metals begin to melt. In the same way I will put you in my fire and melt you. That fire is my hot anger.
21. I will put you in my fire of anger and blow on it, and you will begin to melt.
22. In that city, you will be like silver melting in a fire. Then you will know that I am the Lord, and that I poured out my anger on you.’”
23. The word of the Lord came to me. He said,
24. “Son of man, speak to Israel. Tell her that she is not pure. I am angry at that country, so that country has not received its rain.
25. The prophets in Jerusalem are making evil plans. They are like a lion—it roars when it begins to eat the animal it caught. They have destroyed many lives. They have taken many valuable things and made widows of many of the women in Jerusalem.
26. “The priests have really hurt my teachings. They don’t treat my holy things right—they don’t show they are important. They treat holy things the same as things that are not holy. They treat clean things like things that are unclean. They don’t teach the people about these things. They refuse to respect my special days of rest. They treat me as though I am not important.
27. “The leaders in Jerusalem are like a wolf eating the animal it has caught. They attack people and kill them just to get rich.
28. “The prophets don’t warn the people—they cover up the truth. They are like workers who don’t really repair a wall—they only put plaster over the holes. They only see lies. They do their magic to learn the future, but they only tell lies. They say, ‘This is what the Lord GOD said.’ But they are only lying—the Lord did not speak to them!
29. “The common people take advantage of each other. They cheat and steal from each other. They get rich by taking advantage of poor, helpless beggars, and they really cheat the foreigners. They are not fair to them at all!
30. “I asked the people to change their lives and protect their country. I asked people to fix the walls. I wanted them to stand by those holes in the wall and fight to protect their city. But no one came to help!