3. You may no longer stay here in the lord’s land.Instead, you will return to Egypt,and in Assyria you will eat foodthat is ceremonially unclean.
4. There you will make no offerings of wine to the lord.None of your sacrifices there will please him.They will be unclean, like food touched by a person in mourning.All who present such sacrifices will be defiled.They may eat this food themselves,but they may not offer it to the lord.
5. What then will you do on festival days?How will you observe the lord’s festivals?
6. Even if you escape destruction from Assyria,Egypt will conquer you, and Memphis will bury you.Nettles will take over your treasures of silver;thistles will invade your ruined homes.
7. The time of Israel’s punishment has come;the day of payment is here.Soon Israel will know this all too well.Because of your great sin and hostility,you say, “The prophets are crazyand the inspired men are fools!”
8. The prophet is a watchman over Israel for my God,yet traps are laid for him wherever he goes.He faces hostility even in the house of God.
9. The things my people do are as depravedas what they did in Gibeah long ago.God will not forget.He will surely punish them for their sins.
10. The lord says, “O Israel, when I first found you,it was like finding fresh grapes in the desert.When I saw your ancestors,it was like seeing the first ripe figs of the season.But then they deserted me for Baal-peor,giving themselves to that shameful idol.Soon they became vile,as vile as the god they worshiped.
11. The glory of Israel will fly away like a bird,for your children will not be bornor grow in the wombor even be conceived.
12. Even if you do have children who grow up,I will take them from you.It will be a terrible day when I turn awayand leave you alone.
13. I have watched Israel become as beautiful as Tyre.But now Israel will bring out her children for slaughter.”