³⁶ Whenever it came to rest, he said,

⁷ “‘When any of the Israelites or any foreigner^(A) residing in Israel separate themselves from me and set up idols in their hearts and put a wicked stumbling block^(B) before their faces and then go to a prophet to inquire^(C) of me, I the Lord will answer them myself. ⁸ I will set my face against^(D) them and make them an example^(E) and a byword.^(F) I will remove them from my people. Then you will know that I am the Lord.^(G)

⁹ “‘And if the prophet^(H) is enticed^(I) 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.^(J)

¹¹ For this reason God sends them^(A) a powerful delusion^(B) so that they will believe the lie^{(C) 12} and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.^(D)

¹⁸ Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.^(A)

¹⁹ One of you will say to me:^(B) “Then why does God still blame us?^(C) For who is able to resist his will?”^{(D) 20} But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God?^(E) “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it,^(F) ‘Why did you make me like this?’”^[a](G)

¹² Then the angel of the Lord said, “Lord Almighty, how long^(A) will you withhold mercy^(B) from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judah,^(C) which you have been angry with these seventy^(D) years?”