³⁶ “You are saying about this city, ‘By the sword, famine and plague^(A) it will be given into the hands of the king of Babylon’; but this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says:

³ Now Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him there, saying, “Why do you prophesy^(A) as you do? You say, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am about to give this city into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will capture^(B) it.

²⁸ Therefore this is what the Lord says: I am about to give this city into the hands of the Babylonians and to Nebuchadnezzar^(A) king of Babylon, who will capture it.^(B)

³ All of us also lived among them at one time,^(A) gratifying the cravings of our flesh^[a](B) and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. ⁴ But because of his great love for us,^(C) God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions^(D)—it is by grace you have been saved.^(E)

²⁰ The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase.^(A) But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,^(B)

³¹ Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices.^{(A) 32} I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign Lord. Be ashamed^(B) and disgraced for your conduct, people of Israel!^(C)

¹² But you have behaved more wickedly than your ancestors.^(A) See how all of you are following the stubbornness of your evil hearts^(B) instead of obeying me. ¹³ So I will throw you out of this land^(C) into a land neither you nor your ancestors have known,^(D) and there you will serve other gods^(E) day and night, for I will show you no favor.’^(F)

¹⁴ “However, the days are coming,”^(G) declares the Lord, “when it will no longer be said, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,’^{(H) 15} but it will be said, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of the north^(I) and out of all the countries where he had banished them.’^(J) For I will restore^(K) them to the land I gave their ancestors.^(L)