³ And now give this parable to these rebels, Israel; tell them, ‘The Lord God says: Put a pot of water on the fire to boil. ⁴ Fill it with choicest mutton, the rump and shoulder and all the most tender cuts. ⁵ Use only the best sheep from the flock, and heap fuel on the fire beneath the pot. Boil the meat well, until the flesh falls off the bones.’”

⁶ For the Lord God says: “Woe to Jerusalem, City of Murderers; you are a pot that is pitted with rust and with wickedness. So take out the meat chunk by chunk in whatever order it comes—for none is better than any other.^{[a] 7} For her wickedness is evident to all—she boldly murders, leaving blood upon the rocks in open view for all to see; she does not even try to cover it. ⁸ And I have left it there, uncovered, to shout to me against her and arouse my wrath and vengeance.

⁹ “Woe to Jerusalem, City of Murderers. I will pile on the fuel beneath her. ¹⁰ Heap on the wood; let the fire roar and the pot boil. Cook the meat well, and then empty the pot and burn the bones. ¹¹ Now set it empty on the coals to scorch away the rust and corruption. ¹² But all for naught—it all remains despite the hottest fire. ¹³ It is the rust and corruption of your filthy lewdness, of worshiping your idols. And now, because I wanted to cleanse you and you refused, remain filthy until my fury has accomplished all its terrors upon you! ¹⁴ I, the Lord, have spoken it; it shall come to pass and I will do it.”