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Well-Deserved Judgment

14 Then some men from Israel’s elders came to me and sat down in front of me. The Lord’s message came to me: “Son of man, these men have erected their idols in their hearts and placed the obstacle leading to their iniquity[a] right before their faces. Should I really allow them to seek[b] me? Therefore speak to them and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When anyone from the house of Israel erects his idols in his heart and sets the obstacle leading to his iniquity before his face, and then consults a prophet, I the Lord am determined to answer him personally according to the enormity of his idolatry.[c] I will do this in order to capture the hearts of the house of Israel, who have alienated themselves from me on account of all their idols.’

“Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Return! Turn from your idols, and turn your faces away from your abominations. For when anyone from the house of Israel, or the resident foreigner[d] who lives in Israel, separates himself from me and erects his idols in his heart and sets the obstacle leading to his iniquity before his face, and then consults a prophet to seek something from me, I the Lord am determined to answer him personally. I will set my face against that person and will make him an object lesson and a byword[e] and will cut him off from among my people. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

“‘As for the prophet, if he is made a fool by being deceived into speaking a prophetic word—I, the Lord, have made a fool of[f] that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand against him and destroy him from among my people Israel. 10 They will bear their punishment;[g] the punishment of the one who sought an oracle will be the same as the punishment of the prophet who gave it[h] 11 so that the house of Israel will no longer go astray from me, nor continue to defile themselves by all their sins. They will be my people, and I will be their God,[i] declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

12 The Lord’s message came to me: 13 “Son of man, suppose a country sins against me by being unfaithful, and I stretch out my hand against it, cut off its bread supply,[j] cause famine to come on it, and kill both people and animals. 14 Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel,[k] and Job, were in it, they would save only their own lives by their righteousness, declares the Sovereign Lord.

15 “Suppose I were to send wild animals through the land and kill its children, leaving it desolate, without travelers due to the wild animals. 16 Even if these three men were in it, as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, they could not save their own sons or daughters; they would save only their own lives, and the land would become desolate.

17 “Or suppose I were to bring a sword against that land and say, ‘Let a sword pass through the land,’ and I were to kill both people and animals. 18 Even if these three men were in it, as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, they could not save their own sons or daughters—they would save only their own lives.

19 “Or suppose I were to send a plague into that land and pour out my rage on it with bloodshed, killing both people and animals. 20 Even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, they could not save their own son or daughter; they would save only their own lives by their righteousness.

21 “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: How much worse will it be when I send my four terrible judgments—sword, famine, wild animals, and plague—to Jerusalem to kill both people and animals! 22 Yet some survivors will be left in it, sons and daughters who will be brought out. They will come out to you, and when you see their behavior and their deeds, you will be consoled about the catastrophe I have brought on Jerusalem—for everything I brought on it. 23 They will console you when you see their behavior and their deeds, because you will know that it was not without reason that I have done everything that I have done in it, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 14:3 tn Heb “the stumbling block of their iniquity.” This phrase is unique to the prophet Ezekiel.
  2. Ezekiel 14:3 tn Or “I will not reveal myself to them.” The Hebrew word is used in a technical sense here of seeking an oracle from a prophet (2 Kgs 1:16; 3:11; 8:8).
  3. Ezekiel 14:4 tn Heb “in accordance with the multitude of his idols.”
  4. Ezekiel 14:7 sn The ger (גֵּר) “resident foreigner” had a different status in different countries. In Israel the foreigners going by this term are (or are supposed to be) fully integrated into Israel’s social fabric and worshipers of Yahweh. Such an attachment to the Lord is a prior condition to the possibility of separating from the Lord. See also the notes at Exod 12:19 and Deut 29:11.
  5. Ezekiel 14:8 tn Heb “proverbs.”
  6. Ezekiel 14:9 tn The translation is uncertain due to difficulty both in determining the meaning of the verb’s stem and its conjugation in this context. In the Qal stem the basic meaning of the verbal root פָּתַה (patah) is “to be gullible, foolish.” The doubling stems (the Pual and Piel used in this verse) typically give such stative verbs a factitive sense, hence either “make gullible” (i.e., “entice”) or “make into a fool” (i.e., “to show to be a fool”). The latter represents the probable meaning of the term in Jer 20:7, 10 and is followed here (see L. C. Allen, Ezekiel [WBC], 1:193; R. Mosis “Ez 14, 1-11 - ein Ruf zur Umkehr,” BZ 19 [1975]: 166-69; and ThWAT 4:829-31). In this view, if a prophet speaks when not prompted by God, he will be shown to be a fool, but this does not reflect negatively on the Lord because it is God who shows him to be a fool. Secondly, the verb is in the perfect conjugation and may be translated as “I have made a fool of him” or “I have enticed him,” or to show determination (see IBHS 439-41 §27.2f and g), or in certain syntactical constructions as future. Any of these may be plausible if the doubling stems used are understood in the sense of “making a fool of.” But if understood as “to make gullible,” more factors come into play. As the Hebrew verbal form is a perfect, it is often translated as present perfect: “I have enticed.” In this case the Lord states that he himself enticed the prophet to cooperate with the idolaters. Such enticement to sin would seem to be a violation of God’s moral character, but sometimes he does use such deception and enticement to sin as a form of punishment against those who have blatantly violated his moral will (see, e.g., 2 Sam 24). If one follows this line of interpretation in Ezek 14:9, one would have to assume that the prophet had already turned from God in his heart. However, the context gives no indication of this. Therefore, it is better to take the perfect as indicating certitude and to translate it with the future tense: “I will entice.” In this case the Lord announces that he will judge the prophet appropriately. If a prophet allows himself to be influenced by idolaters, then the Lord will use deception as a form of punishment against that deceived prophet. A comparison with the preceding oracles also favors this view. In 14:4 the perfect of certitude is used for emphasis (see “I will answer”), though in v. 7 a participle is employed. For a fuller discussion of this text, see R. B. Chisholm, Jr., “Does God Deceive?” BSac 155 (1998): 23-25.
  7. Ezekiel 14:10 tn Or “They will bear responsibility for their iniquity.” The Hebrew term “iniquity” (three times in this verse) often refers by metonymy to the consequence of sin (see Gen 4:13).
  8. Ezekiel 14:10 tn Or “As is the guilt of the inquirer, so is the guilt of the prophet.”
  9. Ezekiel 14:11 sn I will be their God. See Exod 6:7; Lev 26:12; Jer 7:23; 11:4.
  10. Ezekiel 14:13 tn Heb “break its staff of bread.”
  11. Ezekiel 14:14 sn Traditionally this has been understood as a reference to the biblical Daniel, though he was still quite young when Ezekiel prophesied. One wonders if he had developed a reputation as an intercessor by this point. For this reason some prefer to see a reference to a ruler named Danel, known in Canaanite legend for his justice and wisdom. In this case all three of the individuals named would be non-Israelites, however the Ugaritic Danel is not known to have qualities of faith in the Lord that would place him in the company of the other men. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 1:447-50.

14 Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.

And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?

Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the Lord will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;

That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.

Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.

For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the Lord will answer him by myself:

And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.

And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the Lord have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.

10 And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him;

11 That the house of Israel may go no more astray from me, neither be polluted any more with all their transgressions; but that they may be my people, and I may be their God, saith the Lord God.

12 The word of the Lord came again to me, saying,

13 Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:

14 Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God.

15 If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts:

16 Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate.

17 Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it:

18 Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves.

19 Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast:

20 Though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

21 For thus saith the Lord God; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?

22 Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it.

23 And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord God.

Idolaters Condemned

14 Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of me.(A) Then the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts(B) and put wicked stumbling blocks(C) before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all?(D) 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. I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of Israel, who have all deserted(E) me for their idols.’(F)

“Therefore say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Repent!(G) Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!(H)

“‘When any of the Israelites or any foreigner(I) residing in Israel separate themselves from me and set up idols in their hearts and put a wicked stumbling block(J) before their faces and then go to a prophet to inquire(K) of me, I the Lord will answer them myself. I will set my face against(L) them and make them an example(M) and a byword.(N) I will remove them from my people. Then you will know that I am the Lord.(O)

“‘And if the prophet(P) is enticed(Q) to utter a prophecy, I the Lord have enticed that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand against him and destroy him from among my people Israel.(R) 10 They will bear their guilt—the prophet will be as guilty as the one who consults him. 11 Then the people of Israel will no longer stray(S) from me, nor will they defile themselves anymore with all their sins. They will be my people,(T) and I will be their God, declares the Sovereign Lord.(U)’”

Jerusalem’s Judgment Inescapable

12 The word of the Lord came to me: 13 “Son of man, if a country sins(V) against me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food supply(W) and send famine upon it and kill its people and their animals,(X) 14 even if these three men—Noah,(Y) Daniel[a](Z) and Job(AA)—were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness,(AB) declares the Sovereign Lord.

15 “Or if I send wild beasts(AC) through that country and they leave it childless and it becomes desolate so that no one can pass through it because of the beasts,(AD) 16 as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, even if these three men were in it, they could not save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved, but the land would be desolate.(AE)

17 “Or if I bring a sword(AF) against that country and say, ‘Let the sword pass throughout the land,’ and I kill its people and their animals,(AG) 18 as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, even if these three men were in it, they could not save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved.

19 “Or if I send a plague into that land and pour out my wrath(AH) on it through bloodshed,(AI) killing its people and their animals,(AJ) 20 as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, even if Noah, Daniel and Job were in it, they could save neither son nor daughter. They would save only themselves by their righteousness.(AK)

21 “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: How much worse will it be when I send against Jerusalem my four dreadful judgments(AL)—sword(AM) and famine(AN) and wild beasts and plague(AO)—to kill its men and their animals!(AP) 22 Yet there will be some survivors(AQ)—sons and daughters who will be brought out of it.(AR) They will come to you, and when you see their conduct(AS) and their actions, you will be consoled(AT) regarding the disaster I have brought on Jerusalem—every disaster I have brought on it. 23 You will be consoled when you see their conduct and their actions, for you will know that I have done nothing in it without cause, declares the Sovereign Lord.(AU)

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 14:14 Or Danel, a man of renown in ancient literature; also in verse 20

Idolatry Will Be Punished

14 Now (A)some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before them (B)that which causes them to stumble into iniquity. (C)Should I let Myself be inquired of at all by them?

“Therefore speak to them, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Everyone of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I the Lord will answer him who comes, according to the multitude of his idols, that I may seize the house of Israel by their heart, because they are all estranged from Me by their idols.” ’

“Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Repent, turn away from your idols, and (D)turn your faces away from all your abominations. For anyone of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell in Israel, who separates himself from Me and sets up his idols in his heart and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, then comes to a prophet to inquire of him concerning Me, I the Lord will answer him by Myself. (E)I will set My face against that man and make him a (F)sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of My people. (G)Then you shall know that I am the Lord.

“And if the prophet is induced to speak anything, I the Lord (H)have induced that prophet, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel. 10 And they shall bear their iniquity; the punishment of the prophet shall be the same as the punishment of the one who inquired, 11 that the house of Israel may (I)no longer stray from Me, nor be profaned anymore with all their transgressions, (J)but that they may be My people and I may be their God,” says the Lord God.’ ”

Judgment on Persistent Unfaithfulness

12 The word of the Lord came again to me, saying: 13 “Son of man, when a land sins against Me by persistent unfaithfulness, I will stretch out My hand against it; I will cut off its (K)supply of bread, send famine on it, and cut off man and beast from it. 14 (L)Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves (M)by their righteousness,” says the Lord God.

15 “If I cause (N)wild beasts to pass through the land, and they [a]empty it, and make it so desolate that no man may pass through because of the beasts, 16 even (O)though these three men were [b]in it, as I live,” says the Lord God, “they would deliver neither sons nor daughters; only they would be delivered, and the land would be (P)desolate.

17 “Or if (Q)I bring a sword on that land, and say, ‘Sword, go through the land,’ and I (R)cut off man and beast from it, 18 even (S)though these three men were in it, as I live,” says the Lord God, “they would deliver neither sons nor daughters, but only they themselves would be delivered.

19 “Or if I send (T)a pestilence into that land and (U)pour out My fury on it in blood, and cut off from it man and beast, 20 even (V)though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live,” says the Lord God, “they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness.”

21 For thus says the Lord God: “How much more it shall be when (W)I send My four [c]severe judgments on Jerusalem—the sword and famine and wild beasts and pestilence—to cut off man and beast from it? 22 (X)Yet behold, there shall be left in it a remnant who will be (Y)brought out, both sons and daughters; surely they will come out to you, and (Z)you will see their ways and their doings. Then you will be comforted concerning the disaster that I have brought upon Jerusalem, all that I have brought upon it. 23 And they will comfort you, when you see their ways and their doings; and you shall know that I have done nothing (AA)without cause that I have done in it,” says the Lord God.

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 14:15 Lit. bereave it of children
  2. Ezekiel 14:16 Lit. in the midst of it
  3. Ezekiel 14:21 Lit. evil

14 इस्राएल क कछू अग्रज मोरे लगे आएन। उ पचे मोहसे बात करइ बइठि गएन। यहोवा क वचन मोका मिला। उ कहेस, “मनई क पूत, इ सबइ मनई तोहसे बातन करइ आएन ह। उ पचे चाहत रहेन कि तू पचे मोहसे राय ल्या। किन्तु उ सबइ मनई अब तलक आपन गन्दी देवमूरतियन क राखे अहइँ। उ पचे ओन चीजन क रखत हीं जउन ओनसे पाप करावत हीं। उ पचे अब तलक ओन मूरतियन क पूजा करावत हीं। एह बरे मोरे लगे राय लेइ काहे आवत ह का मोका ओनकर सवालन क उत्तर देइ चाही? नाहीं। किन्तु मइँ ओनका उत्तर देब। तू पचन्क ओन लोगन्स इ कहि देइ चाही, ‘मोर सुआमी यहोवा कहत ह: जदि कउनो इस्राएली मनई जउन गन्दी देवमूरतियन क रखत ह जउन ओहसे पाप करावत ह अउर आपन हिरदय मँ ओन मूतियन क पूजा करत ह, नबी क लगे मोहसे राय पावइ बरे आवत ह तउ उ मनई क सवाल क जवाब मइँ खुद देब। मइँ ओका कहब, तू मदद पावइ बरे आपन ढेर सारे गन्दी देवमूरतियन क लगे जा। काहेकि मइँ ओनकर हिरदय क छुअइ चाहत हउँ। मइँ देखावइ चाहत हउँ कि ओनकर गन्दी देवमूरतियन ओन लोगन क मोसे दूर कइ दिहस ह।’

“एह बरे इस्राएल क परिवार स इ सबइ कहा। ओनसे कहा, ‘मोर सुआमी यहोवा कहत ह। मोरे लगे वापस आवा अउर आपन गन्दी देवमूरतियन क तजि द्या। ओन भयंकर लबार देवतन स मुँह मोड़ ल्या। जदि कउनो इस्राएली या इस्राएल मँ रहइवाला विदेसी मोरे लगे राय लेइ आवत ह, तउ मइँ ओका जवाब देब। मइँ ओका तब भी जवाब देब जदपि उ उ गन्दी देवमूरतियन क रखेस ह, जदि उ ओन चिजियन क रखत ह जउन ओहसे पाप करावत हीं अउर जदि उ तब तलक ओन मूरतियन क पूजा करत ह अउर इ जवाब अहइ जेका मइँ ओका देब। मइँ उ मनई क खिलाफ होबउँ। मइँ ओका नस्ट करब। उ दूसर लोगन बरे एक ठु उदाहरण बनी। लोग ओकर हँसी उड़इही। मइँ ओका आपन लोगन स निकार बाहेर करब। तब तू पचे जनब्या कि मइँ यहोवा अहउँ। जदि नबी एतना मूरख अहइ कि उ आपन जवाब देत ह तउ मइँ ओका देखाँइ देब कि उ केतँना बड़का मूरख अहइ, मइँ ओकरे खिलाफ आपन सक्ति क उपयोग करब। मइँ ओका नस्ट करब अउर आपन लोगो, इस्राएल स ओका निकार बाहेर करब। 10 इ तरह उ मनई जउन राय बरे आवा अउर नबी जउन जवाब दिहस दुइनउँ एक ही दण्ड पइहीं। 11 काहेकि इ तरह उ सबइ नबी मोरे इस्राएली लोगन क मोहसे दूर लइ जाब बन्द कइ देइहीं। इ प्रकार मोरे लोग आपन अपराधन स गन्दा होब बन्द कइ देइहीं। तब उ पचे मोर बिसेस लोग होइहीं अउर मइँ ओनकर परमेस्सर होब।’” मोर सुआमी यहोवा उ सबइ बातन कहेस।

12 तब यहोवा क वचन मोका मिला। उ कहेस, 13 “मनई क पूत, मइँ आपन उ रास्ट्र क दण्ड देब जउन मोका तजत ह अउर मोरे विरूद्ध पाप करत ह। मइँ ओनकर भोजन आपूर्ति बन्द कइ देब। मइँ अकाल क समइ उत्पन्न कइ सकत हउँ अउर उ देस स मनइयन अउर पसुअन क बाहर कइ सकत हउँ। 14 मइँ उ देस क दण्ड देब चाहे इ तीनहुँ मनई नूह, दानिय्येल अउर अय्यूब हुआँ कहान रहत ह। उ सबइ लोग केवल आपन जिन्नगी आपन अच्छाइयन स बचाइ सकत हीं, किन्तु उ पचे पूरे देस क नाहीं बचाइ सकतेन।” मोर सुआमी यहोवा इ सबइ कहेस।

15 परमेस्सर कहेस, “या मइ उ पूरे प्रदेस मँ जंगली जनावरन क पठइ सकत हउँ अउर उ सबइ जनावर सबहिं लोगन क मारि सकत हीं। जंगली जनावरन क कारण उ देस स होइके कउनो मनई जात्रा नाहीं करी। 16 जदि नूह, दानिय्येल अउर अय्यूब हुवाँ रहे होतेन, तउ उ तीनहुँ धर्मी मनई केवल स्वंय आपन जिन्नगी ही बचाइ सकतेन। किन्तु मइँ आपन जिन्नगी क किरिया खाइके कहत हउँ कि उ सबइ दूसर लोगन क जिन्नगी नाहीं बचाइ सकतेन हिआँ तलक कि आपन पूत-बिटियन क जिन्नगी भी नाहीं। उ बुरा देस नस्ट कइ दीन्ह जाइ।” मोर सुआमी यहोवा इ सबइ कहेस।

17 परमेस्सर कहेस, “या, उ देस क खिलाफ लड़इ बरे मइँ दुस्मन क फउज क पठइ सकत हउँ। उ सबइ फउजी उ देस क नस्ट कइ देइहीं। मइँ उ देस स सबहिं लोगन अउर जनावरन क निकार बाहेर करब। 18 जदि नूह, दानिय्येल अउर अय्यूब हुवाँ रहतेन, तउ उ तीनहुँ धर्मी मनई केवल आपन जिन्नगी ही बचाइ सकतेन। किन्तु मइँ आपन जिन्नगी क किरिया खाइके कहत हउँ कि दूसर लोगन क जिन्नगी उ पचे बचाइ सकतेन हिआँ तलक कि आपन पूत-बिटियन क जिन्नगी भी नाहीं। उ बुरा देस नस्ट कइ दीन्ह जाइ।” मोर सुआमी यहोवा इ सबइ कहेस।

19 परमेस्सर कहेस, “या, मइँ उ देस क खिलाफ महामारी पठइ सकत हउँ। मइँ ओन लोगन पइ आपन किरोध क बर्खा करब। मइँ सबहिं मनइयन अउर जनावरन क उ देस स हटाइ देब। 20 जदि नूह, दानिय्येल अउर अय्यूब हुवाँ रहतेन, तउ उ तीनहुँ धर्मी मनई केवल आपन जिन्नगी ही बचाइ सकतेन। किन्तु मइँ आपन जिन्नगी क किरिया खाइके कहत हउँ कि दूसर लोगन क जिन्नगी उ पचे नाहीं बचाइ सकत रहेन हिआँ तलक कि आपन पूत-बिटियन क जिन्नगी भी नाहीं।” मोर सुआमी यहोवा इ सबइ कहेस।

21 तब मोर सुआमी यहोवा कहेस, “एह बरे सोचा कि यरूसलेम बरे इ केतना बुरा होइ, मइँ उ नगर क विरूद्ध ओन चारिहुँ दण्डन क पठउब। मइँ सत्रु-सेना, भूखमरी, महामारी अउर जंगली जनावरन क निकारि बाहेर करब। 22 उ देस स कछू लोग बचि निकरिहीं। उ पचे आपन पूत-बिटियन क लइहीं अउर तोहरे पचन्क लगे सहायता क बरे अइहीं। तब तू पचे जनब्या कि उ सबइ लोग फुरइ केतना बुरा अहइँ। तू पचे ओन विपत्तियन क सम्बंध मँ उचित होइक धारणा बनउब्या जेनका मइँ यरूसलेम पइ लिआउब। 23 तू पचे ओनके रहइ क ढंग अउर जउन बुरे काम उ पचे करत हीं, ओनका लखब्या। तब तू पचे समुझब्या कि ओन लोगन क सजा देइ क उचित कारण मोरे बरे रहा।” मोर सुआमी इ सबइ बातन कहेस।