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.