¹⁵ “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Listen! I am going to bring on this city and all the villages around it every disaster^(A) I pronounced against them, because they were stiff-necked^(B) and would not listen^(C) to my words.’”

²⁶ But they did not listen to me or pay attention.^(A) They were stiff-necked^(B) and did more evil than their ancestors.’^(C)

²³ Yet they did not listen or pay attention;^(A) they were stiff-necked^(B) and would not listen or respond to discipline.^(C)

¹⁵ Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets^(A) to you. They said, “Each of you must turn^(B) from your wicked ways and reform^(C) your actions; do not follow other gods^(D) to serve them. Then you will live in the land^(E) I have given to you and your ancestors.” But you have not paid attention or listened^(F) to me. ¹⁶ The descendants of Jehonadab son of Rekab have carried out the command their forefather^(G) gave them, but these people have not obeyed me.’

¹⁷ “Therefore this is what the Lord God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Listen! I am going to bring on Judah and on everyone living in Jerusalem every disaster^(H) I pronounced against them. I spoke to them, but they did not listen;^(I) I called to them, but they did not answer.’”^(J)

¹⁶ But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed^(A) at his prophets until the wrath^(B) of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy.^{(C) 17} He brought up against them the king of the Babylonians,^[a](D) who killed their young men with the sword in the sanctuary, and did not spare young men^(E) or young women, the elderly or the infirm.^(F) God gave them all into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar.^(G)

⁵¹ “You stiff-necked people!^(A) Your hearts^(B) and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! ⁵² Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute?^(C) They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him^(D)—

¹¹ “But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly^(A) they turned their backs^(B) and covered their ears.^{(C) 12} They made their hearts as hard as flint^(D) and would not listen to the law or to the words that the Lord Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets.^(E) So the Lord Almighty was very angry.^(F)

¹³ “‘When I called, they did not listen;^(G) so when they called, I would not listen,’^(H) says the Lord Almighty.^{(I) 14} ‘I scattered^(J) them with a whirlwind^(K) among all the nations, where they were strangers. The land they left behind them was so desolate that no one traveled through it.^(L) This is how they made the pleasant land desolate.^(M)’”