Say, ‘Mountains of Israel, listen to the word of the Lord God. The Lord God says this to the mountains, the hills, the ravines, and the valleys: [^LLook; ^TBehold] I ·will [or am about to] bring a sword against you, and I will destroy your ·places of idol worship [^Lhigh places; ^Cpagan worship sites; Deut. 12; 2 Kin. 23:8].

“So say to them: ‘The Lord God says this: None of my words will be delayed anymore. ·What I have said [^LThe word I speak] will be done, says the Lord God.’”

God Is Fair

The ·Lord spoke his word [^Lword of the Lord came] to me, saying:

Say to that ·forest [or shrubland]: ‘Hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Lord God says: I am ready to start a fire in you that will destroy all your green trees and all your dry trees. The flames that burn will not be put out. Every face from south to north will ·feel their heat [or be scorched by it].

Say to them, ‘Hear the word of the Lord God. This is what the Lord God says: You ·were glad [^Lsaid, “Aha!”] when my ·Temple [sanctuary] was ·dishonored [defiled; profaned; ^Critually], when the land of Israel was ·ruined [made desolate], and when the ·people [^Lhouse] of Judah ·were taken away as captives [went into exile].

“‘So, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Lord God says:

So, mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God. The Lord God speaks to the mountains, hills, ravines, and valleys, to the ·empty ruins [desolate wasteland] and abandoned cities that have ·been ·robbed [plundered] and ·laughed at [ridiculed; derided] by the other nations.