¹² But because they served them in the presence of their idols and made the people of Israel fall^(A) into sin, therefore I have sworn with uplifted hand^(B) that they must bear the consequences of their sin, declares the Sovereign Lord.^(C)

³ “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts^(A) and put wicked stumbling blocks^(B) before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all?^{(C) 4} Therefore speak to them and tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When any of the Israelites set up idols in their hearts and put a wicked stumbling block before their faces and then go to a prophet, I the Lord will answer them myself in keeping with their great idolatry.

¹⁰ Then King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria. He saw an altar in Damascus and sent to Uriah^(A) the priest a sketch of the altar, with detailed plans for its construction. ¹¹ So Uriah the priest built an altar in accordance with all the plans that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus and finished it before King Ahaz returned. ¹² When the king came back from Damascus and saw the altar, he approached it and presented offerings^[a](B) on it. ¹³ He offered up his burnt offering^(C) and grain offering,^(D) poured out his drink offering,^(E) and splashed the blood of his fellowship offerings^(F) against the altar. ¹⁴ As for the bronze altar^(G) that stood before the Lord, he brought it from the front of the temple—from between the new altar and the temple of the Lord—and put it on the north side of the new altar.

¹⁵ King Ahaz then gave these orders to Uriah the priest: “On the large new altar, offer the morning^(H) burnt offering and the evening grain offering, the king’s burnt offering and his grain offering, and the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their grain offering and their drink offering. Splash against this altar the blood of all the burnt offerings and sacrifices. But I will use the bronze altar for seeking guidance.”^{(I) 16} And Uriah the priest did just as King Ahaz had ordered.

¹⁰ “‘The Levites who went far from me when Israel went astray^(A) and who wandered from me after their idols must bear the consequences of their sin.^(B)

²³ Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter^(A) them through the countries,

¹⁵ Also with uplifted hand I swore^(A) to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands^(B)—

⁵ Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land^(A) raised his right hand to heaven.^{(B) 6} And he swore^(C) by him who lives for ever and ever,^(D) who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it,^(E) and said, “There will be no more delay!^(F)

⁸ But you have turned from the way^(A) and by your teaching have caused many to stumble;^(B) you have violated the covenant^(C) with Levi,”^(D) says the Lord Almighty. ⁹ “So I have caused you to be despised^(E) and humiliated^(F) before all the people, because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality^(G) in matters of the law.”^(H)