⁴ Do not be like your ancestors,^(A) to whom the earlier prophets^(B) proclaimed: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil ways^(C) and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me,^(D) declares the Lord.^(E)

¹¹ Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.^(A) Turn!^(B) Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’^(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.

³ Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return^(A) to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’^(B) says the Lord Almighty.

⁶ The Lord said to me, “Proclaim^(A) all these words in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem: ‘Listen to the terms of this covenant and follow^(B) them. ⁷ From the time I brought your ancestors up from Egypt until today, I warned them again and again,^(C) saying, “Obey me.” ⁸ But they did not listen or pay attention;^(D) instead, they followed the stubbornness of their evil hearts.^(E) So I brought on them all the curses^(F) of the covenant I had commanded them to follow but that they did not keep.^(G)’”

The Fall of Jerusalem^(A)(B)

¹⁵ The Lord, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers^(C) again and again,^(D) because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. ¹⁶ But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed^(E) at his prophets until the wrath^(F) of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy.^(G)