¹² Who is wise^(A) enough to understand this? Who has been instructed by the Lord and can explain it? Why has the land been ruined and laid waste like a desert that no one can cross?

³ Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it,^(A) because the time is near.^(B)

¹⁵ “So when you see standing in the holy place^(A) ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’^[a](B) spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand—

²⁵ There is a conspiracy^(A) of her princes^[a] within her like a roaring lion^(B) tearing its prey; they devour people,^(C) take treasures and precious things and make many widows^(D) within her. ²⁶ Her priests do violence to my law^(E) and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common;^(F) they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean;^(G) and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned^(H) among them.^{(I) 27} Her officials^(J) within her are like wolves^(K) tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people^(L) to make unjust gain.^{(M) 28} Her prophets whitewash^(N) these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations.^(O) They say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says’—when the Lord has not spoken.^{(P) 29} The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery;^(Q) they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the foreigner,^(R) denying them justice.^(S)

³⁰ “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall^(T) and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.^{(U) 31} So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger,^(V) bringing down^(W) on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.^(X)”

²³ You will be consoled when you see their conduct and their actions, for you will know that I have done nothing in it without cause, declares the Sovereign Lord.^(A)”