²⁰ “Announce this to the descendants of Jacob
    and proclaim^(A) it in Judah:
²¹ Hear this, you foolish and senseless people,^(B)
    who have eyes^(C) but do not see,
    who have ears but do not hear:^(D)
22 Should you not fear^(E) me?” declares the Lord.
    “Should you not tremble^(F) in my presence?
I made the sand a boundary for the sea,^(G)
    an everlasting barrier it cannot cross.
The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail;
    they may roar,^(H) but they cannot cross it.
²³ But these people have stubborn and rebellious^(I) hearts;
    they have turned aside^(J) and gone away.
²⁴ They do not say to themselves,
    ‘Let us fear^(K) the Lord our God,
who gives autumn and spring rains^(L) in season,
    who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.’^(M)
25 Your wrongdoings have kept these away;
    your sins have deprived you of good.^(N)

²⁶ “Among my people are the wicked^(O)
    who lie in wait^(P) like men who snare birds
    and like those who set traps^(Q) to catch people.
²⁷ Like cages full of birds,
    their houses are full of deceit;^(R)
they have become rich^(S) and powerful
²⁸     and have grown fat^(T) and sleek.
Their evil deeds have no limit;
    they do not seek justice.
They do not promote the case of the fatherless;^(U)
    they do not defend the just cause of the poor.^(V)
29 Should I not punish them for this?”
    declares the Lord.
“Should I not avenge^(W) myself
    on such a nation as this?

³⁰ “A horrible^(X) and shocking thing
    has happened in the land:
³¹ The prophets prophesy lies,^(Y)
    the priests^(Z) rule by their own authority,
and my people love it this way.
    But what will you do in the end?^(AA)

“In the time of my favor I heard you,
    and in the day of salvation I helped you.”^[b](H)

“I will live with them
    and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.”^[d](AL)

“Come out from them^(AM)
    and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
    and I will receive you.”^[e](AN)

“I will be a Father to you,
    and you will be my sons and daughters,^(AO)
says the Lord Almighty.”^[f](AP)

⁴ “Prepare for battle against her!
    Arise, let us attack at noon!^(I)
But, alas, the daylight is fading,
    and the shadows of evening grow long.
⁵ So arise, let us attack at night
    and destroy her fortresses!”

“Cut down the trees^(J)
    and build siege ramps^(K) against Jerusalem.
This city must be punished;
    it is filled with oppression.^(L)
7 As a well pours out its water,
    so she pours out her wickedness.
Violence^(M) and destruction^(N) resound in her;
    her sickness and wounds are ever before me.
⁸ Take warning, Jerusalem,
    or I will turn away^(O) from you
and make your land desolate
    so no one can live in it.”

“Let them glean the remnant^(P) of Israel
    as thoroughly as a vine;
pass your hand over the branches again,
    like one gathering grapes.”

¹⁰ To whom can I speak and give warning?
    Who will listen^(Q) to me?
Their ears are closed^[a](R)
    so they cannot hear.^(S)
The word^(T) of the Lord is offensive to them;
    they find no pleasure in it.
¹¹ But I am full of the wrath^(U) of the Lord,
    and I cannot hold it in.^(V)

“Pour it out on the children in the street
    and on the young men^(W) gathered together;
both husband and wife will be caught in it,
    and the old, those weighed down with years.^(X)
12 Their houses will be turned over to others,^(Y)
    together with their fields and their wives,^(Z)
when I stretch out my hand^(AA)
    against those who live in the land,”
declares the Lord.
¹³ “From the least to the greatest,
    all^(AB) are greedy for gain;^(AC)
prophets and priests alike,
    all practice deceit.^(AD)
14 They dress the wound of my people
    as though it were not serious.
‘Peace, peace,’ they say,
    when there is no peace.^(AE)
15 Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct?
    No, they have no shame at all;
    they do not even know how to blush.^(AF)
So they will fall among the fallen;
    they will be brought down when I punish^(AG) them,”
says the Lord.

“Stand at the crossroads and look;
    ask for the ancient paths,^(AH)
ask where the good way^(AI) is, and walk in it,
    and you will find rest^(AJ) for your souls.
    But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
¹⁷ I appointed watchmen^(AK) over you and said,
    ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’^(AL)
    But you said, ‘We will not listen.’^(AM)
18 Therefore hear, you nations;
    you who are witnesses,
    observe what will happen to them.
¹⁹ Hear, you earth:^(AN)
    I am bringing disaster^(AO) on this people,
    the fruit of their schemes,^(AP)
because they have not listened to my words^(AQ)
    and have rejected my law.^(AR)
20 What do I care about incense from Sheba^(AS)
    or sweet calamus^(AT) from a distant land?
Your burnt offerings are not acceptable;^(AU)
    your sacrifices^(AV) do not please me.”^(AW)

“I will put obstacles before this people.
    Parents and children alike will stumble^(AX) over them;
    neighbors and friends will perish.”