Suppose I go into the country. Then I see people who have been killed by swords. Or suppose I go into the city. Then I see people who have died of hunger. Prophet and priest alike have gone to a land they hadn’t known about before.’ ”

我若出往田间，就见有被刀杀的；我若进入城内，就见有因饥荒患病的；连先知带祭司在国中往来，也是毫无知识。’”

我若出到田间，看哪，有被刀杀的；我若进入城内，看哪，有因饥荒患病的；先知和祭司也在各地往来经商，不知如何是好。

我若出到田间，看哪，有被刀杀的；我若进入城内，看哪，有因饥荒患病的；先知和祭司也在各地往来经商，不知如何是好。

我走到田间，眼前是具具被杀的尸体；我进入城里，见饥荒肆虐，祭司和先知也流亡异乡。’”

如果我出到田间，就看见那些被刀剑所杀的人；如果我走进城里，就看见因饥荒而来的各种疾病。连先知和祭司也流亡到他们素不认识的地方。’”

我若出往田間，就見有被刀殺的；我若進入城內，就見有因饑荒患病的；連先知帶祭司在國中往來，也是毫無知識。

我若出到田間，看哪，有被刀殺的；我若進入城內，看哪，有因饑荒患病的；先知和祭司也在各地往來經商，不知如何是好。

我若出到田間，看哪，有被刀殺的；我若進入城內，看哪，有因饑荒患病的；先知和祭司也在各地往來經商，不知如何是好。

我走到田間，眼前是具具被殺的屍體；我進入城裡，見饑荒肆虐，祭司和先知也流亡異鄉。』」

如果我出到田間，就看見那些被刀劍所殺的人；如果我走進城裡，就看見因饑荒而來的各種疾病。連先知和祭司也流亡到他們素不認識的地方。’”

我若出去到田間，就見有那些被刀劍刺殺的人！我若進入城裏，就見有那些因饑荒而生病的人！連神言人帶祭司在這地都忙於他們的生意經，也不知不覺！」』

我若往於田、則見為刃所戮者、我若入於邑、則見因饑而病者、先知祭司、遊於未識之地、○

往於田、所見無非殺戮、入於邑、觸目盡是餓殍、先知祭司、往來貿易、不以為意。

我若往於田、則見被刃殺戮者、若入於邑、則見因饑困憊者、先知祭司飄流於地、不知將若之何、先知祭司飄流於地不知將若之何或作先知祭司飄流於素不識之地

If I go into the country, I see those slain by the sword; if I go into the city, I see the ravages of famine. Both prophet and priest have gone to a land they know not.’”

If I go out into the field, behold, those pierced by the sword! And if I enter the city, behold, the diseases of famine! For both prophet and priest ply their trade through the land and have no knowledge.’”

If I go out into the fields, I see the bodies of people slaughtered by the enemy. If I walk the city streets, I see people who have died of starvation. The prophets and priests continue with their work, but they don’t know what they’re doing.”

If I go out to the field, look— those slain by the sword! If I enter the city, look— those ill from famine! For both prophet and priest travel to a land they do not know.

If I go out to the country, There are those killed by the sword! Or if I enter the city, There are diseases from famine! For both prophet and priest Have wandered around in the land that they do not know.’ ”

If I go out to the field, Then behold, those slain with the sword! And if I enter the city, Then behold, those sick from famine! Yes, both prophet and priest go about in a land they do not know.’”

If I go forth into the field, then, behold, the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then, behold, they that are sick with famine! for both the prophet and the priest go about in the land, and have no knowledge.

If I go out to the field, look— those slain by the sword! If I enter the city, look— those ill from famine! For both prophet and priest travel to a land they do not know.

If I go forth into the field, then behold the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then behold them that are sick with famine! yea, both the prophet and the priest go about into a land that they know not.

If I go out into the countryside, I see those who have been killed in battle. If I go into the city, I see those who are sick because of starvation. For both prophet and priest go about their own business in the land without having any real understanding.’”

If I go out into the field, then, behold, the slain with the sword! If I enter into the city, then, behold, those who are sick with famine! For both the prophet and the priest go about in the land, and have no knowledge.’”

“‘ There is trouble everywhere. War is outside the city. Plague and hunger are inside it. Those out in the country will die in battle. Those in the city will be destroyed by hunger and plague.

“ Lord, see how upset I am! I am suffering deep down inside. My heart is troubled. Again and again I have refused to obey you. Outside the city, people are being killed by swords. Inside, there is nothing but death.

I will give their wives to other men. I will give their fields to new owners. Everyone wants to get richer and richer. Everyone is greedy, from the least important to the most important. Prophets and priests alike try to fool everyone they can.

The prophets prophesy lies. The priests rule by their own authority. And my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?”

By the ninth day of the fourth month, there wasn’t any food left in the city. So the people didn’t have anything to eat.Then the Babylonians broke through the city wall. Judah’s whole army ran away. They left the city at night. They went out through the gate between the two walls that were near the king’s garden. They escaped even though the Babylonians surrounded the city. Judah’s army ran toward the Arabah Valley.

The Lord will drive you out of the land. And he will drive out the king you place over yourselves. All of you will go to another nation. You and your people of long ago didn’t know anything about them. There you will worship other gods. They will be made out of wood and stone.

Everyone wants to get richer and richer, from the least important of them to the most important. Prophets and priests alike try to fool everyone they can.

I did not send these prophets. But they have run to tell you their message anyway. I did not speak to them. But they have still prophesied.

The priests did not ask,‘ Where is the Lord?’ Those who taught my law did not know me. The leaders refused to obey me. The prophets prophesied in the name of Baal. They worshiped worthless statues of gods.

It happened because Jerusalem’s prophets had sinned. Her priests had done evil things. All of them spilled the blood of those who did what was right.Now those prophets and priests have to feel their way along the streets as if they were blind. The blood of those they killed has made them“ unclean.” So no one dares to touch their clothes.“ Go away! You are‘ unclean’!” people cry out to them.“ Go away! Get out of here! Don’t touch us!” So they run away and wander around. Then people among the nations say,“ They can’t stay here anymore.”The Lord himself has scattered them. He doesn’t watch over them anymore. No one shows the priests any respect. No one honors the elders.

Israel’s leaders are drunk from wine. They can’t walk straight. They are drunk from beer. They are unsteady on their feet. Priests and prophets drink beer. They can’t walk straight. They are mixed up from drinking too much wine. They drink too much beer. They are unsteady on their feet. The prophets see visions but don’t really understand them. The priests aren’t able to make good decisions.

Then the Lord will scatter you among all the nations. He’ll spread you around from one end of the earth to the other. There you will worship statues of gods made out of wood and stone. You and your people of long ago hadn’t known anything about those gods.

Those killed by swords are better off than those who die of hunger. Those who are hungry waste away to nothing. They don’t have any food from the fields.

These teachers are never satisfied. They want to get something out of you. So they make up stories to take advantage of you. They have been under a sentence of death for a long time. The God who will destroy them has not been sleeping.

Your judges take money from people who want special favors. Your priests teach only if they get paid for it. Your prophets won’t tell fortunes unless they receive money. But you still look for the Lord’ s help. You say,“ The Lord is with us. No trouble will come on us.”