1. The Lord says, “Family of Jacob, listen to me.You are called Israel.You come from the family of Judah.You use the Lord’s name to make promises.You praise the God of Israel,but you are not honest or sincere.
2. You call yourselves people of the holy city.You depend on the God of Israel.He is named the Lord of heaven’s armies.
3. Long ago I told you what would happen.I said these things and made them known.Suddenly I acted, and these things happened.
4. I did that because I knew you were stubborn.Your neck was like an iron muscle.It was as if your head were made of bronze.
5. So a long time ago I told you about these things.I told you about them before they happened.I did this so you couldn’t say, ‘My idols did this.My wooden and metal statues made these things happen.’
6. “You heard and saw all the things that happened.So you should tell this news to others.Now I will tell you about new things.These are hidden things that you don’t know yet.
7. These things are happening now, not long ago.You have not heard about them before today.So you cannot say, ‘We already knew about that.’