8. You despise my holy things and violate my Sabbath days of rest.
9. People accuse others falsely and send them to their death. You are filled with idol worshipers and people who do obscene things.
10. Men sleep with their fathers’ wives and force themselves on women who are menstruating.
11. Within your walls live men who commit adultery with their neighbors’ wives, who defile their daughters-in-law, or who rape their own sisters.
12. There are hired murderers, loan racketeers, and extortioners everywhere. They never even think of me and my commands, says the Sovereign lord.
13. “But now I clap my hands in indignation over your dishonest gain and bloodshed.
14. How strong and courageous will you be in my day of reckoning? I, the lord, have spoken, and I will do what I said.
15. I will scatter you among the nations and purge you of your wickedness.
16. And when I have been dishonored among the nations because of you, you will know that I am the lord.”
17. Then this message came to me from the lord:
18. “Son of man, the people of Israel are the worthless slag that remains after silver is smelted. They are the dross that is left over—a useless mixture of copper, tin, iron, and lead.
19. So tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign lord says: Because you are all worthless slag, I will bring you to my crucible in Jerusalem.
20. Just as silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin are melted down in a furnace, I will melt you down in the heat of my fury.