1-2. “And when the time comes”—God’s Decree!—“I’ll see to it that they dig up the bones of the kings of Judah, the bones of the princes and priests and prophets, and yes, even the bones of the common people. They’ll dig them up and spread them out like a congregation at worship before sun, moon, and stars, all those sky gods they’ve been so infatuated with all these years, following their ‘lucky stars’ in doglike devotion. The bones will be left scattered and exposed, to reenter the soil as fertilizer, like manure.
3. “Everyone left—all from this evil generation unlucky enough to still be alive in whatever godforsaken place I will have driven them to—will wish they were dead.” Decree of God-of-the-Angel-Armies.
4-7. “Tell them this, God’s Message:“‘Do people fall down and not get up?Or take the wrong road and then just keep going?So why does this people go backward,and just keep on going—backward!They stubbornly hold on to their illusions,refuse to change direction.I listened carefullybut heard not so much as a whisper.No one expressed one word of regret.Not a single “I’m sorry” did I hear.They just kept at it, blindly and stupidlybanging their heads against a brick wall.Cranes know when it’s timeto move south for winter.And robins, warblers, and bluebirdsknow when it’s time to come back again.But my people? My people know nothing,not the first thing of God and his rule.
8-9. “‘How can you say, “We know the score.We’re the proud owners of God’s revelation”?Look where it’s gotten you—stuck in illusion.Your religion experts have taken you for a ride!Your know-it-alls will be unmasked,caught and shown up for what they are.Look at them! They know everything but God’s Word.Do you call that “knowing”?
10-12. “‘So here’s what will happen to the know-it-alls:I’ll make them wifeless and homeless.Everyone’s after the dishonest dollar,little people and big people alike.Prophets and priests and everyone in betweentwist words and doctor truth.My dear Daughter—my people—broken, shattered,and yet they put on Band-Aids,Saying, “It’s not so bad. You’ll be just fine.”But things are not “just fine”!Do you suppose they are embarrassedover this outrage?Not really. They have no shame.They don’t even know how to blush.There’s no hope for them. They’ve hit bottomand there’s no getting up.As far as I’m concerned,they’re finished.’” God has spoken.
13. “‘I went out to see if I could salvage anything’”—God’s Decree—“‘but found nothing:Not a grape, not a fig,just a few withered leaves.I’m taking backeverything I gave them.’”