²³ And the word of the Lord came to me: ²⁴ “Son of man, say to her, You are a land that is ^(A)not cleansed ^(B)or rained upon in the day of indignation. ^25 (C)The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is ^(D)like a roaring lion ^(E)tearing the prey; they have devoured human lives; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. ^26 (F)Her priests ^(G)have done violence to my law and ^(H)have profaned my holy things. ^(I)They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and ^(J)they have disregarded my Sabbaths, ^(K)so that I am profaned among them. ^27 (L)Her princes in her midst are like wolves ^(M)tearing the prey, ^(N)shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain. ²⁸ And ^(O)her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, ^(P)seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ when the Lord has not spoken. ²⁹ The people of the land ^(Q)have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and ^(R)have extorted from the sojourner without justice. ^30 (S)And I sought for a man among them ^(T)who should build up the wall ^(U)and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. ³¹ Therefore ^(V)I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned ^(W)their way upon their heads, declares the Lord God.”

³ For ^(A)we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

Judgment on Judah and Jerusalem