10. They say to the visionaries, “See no more visions!”and to the seers, “Don’t relate messages to us about what is right!Tell us nice things,relate deceptive messages.
11. Turn aside from the way,stray off the path.Remove from our presence the Holy One of Israel.”
12. For this reason this is what the Holy One of Israel says:“You have rejected this message;you trust instead in your ability to oppress and trick,and rely on that kind of behavior.
13. So this sin will become your downfall.You will be like a high wall that bulges and cracks and is ready to collapse;it crumbles suddenly, in a flash.
14. It shatters in pieces like a clay jar,so shattered to bits that none of it can be salvaged.Among its fragments one cannot find a shard large enoughto scoop a hot coal from a fireor to skim off water from a cistern.”
15. For this is what the master, the Lord, the Holy One of Israel says:“If you repented and patiently waited for me, you would be delivered;if you calmly trusted in me you would find strength,but you are unwilling.
16. You say, ‘No, we will flee on horses,’so you will indeed flee.You say, ‘We will ride on fast horses,’so your pursuers will be fast.
17. One thousand will scurry at the battle cry of one enemy soldier; at the battle cry of five enemy soldiers you will all run away,until the remaining few are as isolatedas a flagpole on a mountaintopor a signal flag on a hill.”
18. For this reason the Lord is ready to show you mercy;he sits on his throne, ready to have compassion on you. Indeed, the Lord is a just God;all who wait for him in faith will be blessed.
19. For people will live in Zion;in Jerusalem you will weep no more.When he hears your cry of despair, he will indeed show you mercy;when he hears it, he will respond to you.