12. Their houses will be turned over to othersas will their fields and their wives.For I will unleash my poweragainst those who live in this land,”says the Lord.
13. “That is because, from the least important to the most important of them,all of them are greedy for dishonest gain.Prophets and priests alike,all of them practice deceit.
14. They offer only superficial help for the harm my people have suffered.They say, ‘Everything will be all right!’But everything is not all right!
15. Are they ashamed because they have done such shameful things?No, they are not at all ashamed.They do not even know how to blush!So they will die, just like others have died.They will be brought to ruin when I punish them,”says the Lord.
16. The Lord said to his people:“You are standing at the crossroads. So consider your path.Ask where the old, reliable paths are.Ask where the path is that leads to blessing and follow it.If you do, you will find rest for your souls.”But they said, “We will not follow it!”
17. The Lord said, “I appointed prophets as watchmen to warn you, saying:‘Pay attention to the warning sound of the trumpet!’”But they said, “We will not pay attention!”
18. So the Lord said, “Hear, you nations!Be witnesses and take note of what will happen to these people.
19. Hear this, you peoples of the earth:‘Take note! I am about to bring disaster on these people.It will come as punishment for their scheming.For they have paid no attention to what I have said,and they have rejected my law.
20. I take no delight when they offer up to me frankincense that comes from Sheba or sweet-smelling cane imported from a faraway land.I cannot accept the burnt offerings they bring me.I get no pleasure from the sacrifices they offer to me.’
21. So, this is what the Lord says:‘I will assuredly make these people stumble to their doom.Parents and children will stumble and fall to their destruction.Friends and neighbors will die.’
22. “This is what the Lord says:‘Beware! An army is coming from a land in the north.A mighty nation is stirring into action in faraway parts of the earth.
23. Its soldiers are armed with bows and spears.They are cruel and show no mercy.They sound like the roaring seaas they ride forth on their horses.Lined up in formation like men going into battleto attack you, Daughter Zion.’”
24. The people cry out, “We have heard reports about them!We have become helpless with fear!Anguish grips us,agony like that of a woman giving birth to a baby!
25. Do not go out into the countryside.Do not travel on the roads.For the enemy is there with sword in hand.They are spreading terror everywhere.”
26. So I said, “Oh, my dear people, put on sackclothand roll in ashes.Mourn with painful sobsas though you had lost your only child.For any moment now that destructive armywill come against us.”
27. The Lord said to me, “I have made you like a metal assayerto test my people like ore.You are to observe themand evaluate how they behave.”
28. I reported, “All of them are the most stubborn of rebels!They are as hard as bronze or iron.They go about telling lies.They all deal corruptly.
29. The fiery bellows of judgment burn fiercely.But there is too much dross to be removed.The process of refining them has proved useless.The wicked have not been purged.