^45 [a]Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ⁴⁶ “Son of man, set your face toward the south, and speak prophetically against the ^(A)south and ^(B)prophesy against the ^(C)forest ^[b]land of the Negev, ⁴⁷ and say to the forest of the Negev, ‘Hear the word of the Lord: this is what the Lord God says: “Behold, I am going to ^(D)kindle a fire in you, and it will consume every ^[c]green tree in you, as well as every dry tree; the blazing flame will not go out and ^[d](E)the entire surface from south to north will be scorched by it. ⁴⁸ And all ^[e]mankind will see that I, the Lord, have kindled it; it will ^(F)not go out.”’” ⁴⁹ Then I said, “Oh, Lord God! They are saying of me, ‘Is he not just speaking in ^(G)riddles?’”