“The Lord has been very angry with your fathers. Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Return (A)to Me,” says the Lord of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts. “Do not be like your fathers, (B)to whom the former prophets preached, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: (C)“Turn now from your evil ways and your evil deeds.” ’ But they did not hear nor heed Me,” says the Lord.

“Your fathers, where are they?
And the prophets, do they live forever?
Yet surely (D)My words and My statutes,
Which I commanded My servants the prophets,
Did they not overtake your fathers?

“So they returned and said:

(E)‘Just as the Lord of hosts determined to do to us,
According to our ways and according to our deeds,
So He has dealt with us.’ ” ’ ”

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“The Lord was very angry(A) with your ancestors. Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return(B) to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’(C) says the Lord Almighty. Do not be like your ancestors,(D) to whom the earlier prophets(E) proclaimed: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil ways(F) and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me,(G) declares the Lord.(H) Where are your ancestors now? And the prophets, do they live forever? But did not my words(I) and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, overtake your ancestors?(J)

“Then they repented and said, ‘The Lord Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve,(K) just as he determined to do.’”(L)

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