I commanded my servants the prophets what to say. I told them what I planned to do. But your people refused to obey me. So I had to punish them.“ Then they had a change of heart. They said,‘ The Lord who rules over all has punished us because of how we have lived. He was fair and right to do that. He has done to us just what he decided to do.’ ”

只是我的言语和律例，就是所吩咐我仆人众先知的，岂不临到你们列祖吗？他们就回头说：‘万军之耶和华定意按我们的行动作为向我们怎样行，他已照样行了。’”

然而我的言语和律例，就是我所吩咐我仆人众先知的，岂不临到你们的祖先吗？他们就回转，说：万军之耶和华定意按我们的所作所为对待我们，他也已经照样行了。”

然而我的言语和律例，就是我所吩咐我仆人众先知的，岂不临到你们的祖先吗？他们就回转，说：万军之耶和华定意按我们的所作所为对待我们，他也已经照样行了。”

然而，我吩咐我仆人——众先知的训言和律例岂不应验在你们祖先的头上了吗？后来他们悔改了，说，万军之耶和华按着我们的所作所为报应了我们，正如祂所言。’”

然而我吩咐我的仆人众先知的话与条例，不是已报应在你们的列祖身上吗？所以他们就回转，说：万军之耶和华定意按着我们所作所行的对付我们，他已经这样行了。’”

只是我的言語和律例，就是所吩咐我僕人眾先知的，豈不臨到你們列祖嗎？他們就回頭，說：『萬軍之耶和華定意按我們的行動作為向我們怎樣行，他已照樣行了。』」

然而我的言語和律例，就是我所吩咐我僕人眾先知的，豈不臨到你們的祖先嗎？他們就回轉，說：萬軍之耶和華定意按我們的所作所為對待我們，他也已經照樣行了。」

然而我的言語和律例，就是我所吩咐我僕人眾先知的，豈不臨到你們的祖先嗎？他們就回轉，說：萬軍之耶和華定意按我們的所作所為對待我們，他也已經照樣行了。」

然而，我吩咐我僕人——眾先知的訓言和律例豈不應驗在你們祖先的頭上了嗎？後來他們悔改了，說，萬軍之耶和華按著我們的所作所為報應了我們，正如祂所言。』」

然而我吩咐我的僕人眾先知的話與條例，不是已報應在你們的列祖身上嗎？所以他們就回轉，說：萬軍之耶和華定意按著我們所作所行的對付我們，他已經這樣行了。’”

但是我的話、我的律例、就是我所吩咐我僕人眾神言人的、豈不是趕上而捉住了你們列祖，以致他們回轉來、說：萬軍之永恆主定意怎樣照我們的行徑和作為來辦我們，他已經照樣辦我們了』？

然而我吩咐我僕人眾先知的話語和律例，不都追上了你們的祖先嗎？於是他們回轉，說：萬軍之耶和華照著我們的道路和行為決意怎樣對待我們，他就怎樣對待了我們。』」

惟我所命我僕諸先知之言詞典章、豈非及於爾列祖乎、彼則悛改曰、萬軍之耶和華欲依我所行所為、而施行於我、已若是待我矣、○

昔我使我僕先知傅命、言必降災、斯災已及爾祖、彼遂悛悔、自謂萬有之主耶和華所立之旨、欲降以災、罰我所為、今及我躬矣、

但我言我命、我所諭我僕眾先知者、豈不悉臨及爾祖乎、彼遂悛悔、自謂自謂或作曰萬有之主已擬定、擬定或作立志循我道途道途或作動作行為、施報我身、已若是行於我矣、○

But did not my words and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, overtake your ancestors?“ Then they repented and said,‘ The Lord Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve, just as he determined to do.’”

But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers? So they repented and said,‘ As the Lord of hosts purposed to deal with us for our ways and deeds, so has he dealt with us.’”

But everything I said through my servants the prophets happened to your ancestors, just as I said. As a result, they repented and said,‘ We have received what we deserved from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. He has done what he said he would do.’”

But didn’t my words and my statutes that I commanded my servants the prophets overtake your ancestors?’” So the people repented and said,“ As the LORD of Armies decided to deal with us for our ways and our deeds, so he has dealt with us.”

But did My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, not overtake your fathers? Then they repented and said,‘ Just as the Lord of armies planned to do to us in accordance with our ways and our deeds, so He has dealt with us.’ ” ’ ”

Yet surely My words and My statutes, Which I commanded My servants the prophets, Did they not overtake your fathers?“ So they returned and said:‘ 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.’”’”

But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers? and they turned and said, Like as Jehovah of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.

But didn’t My words and My statutes that I commanded My servants the prophets overtake your ancestors? They repented and said: As the Lord of Hosts purposed to deal with us for our ways and deeds, so He has dealt with us.”

But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.

But have my words and statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, not outlived your fathers? Then they paid attention and confessed,‘ The LORD who rules over all has indeed done what he said he would do to us, because of our sinful ways.’”

But my words and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, didn’t they overtake your fathers?“ Then they repented and said,‘ Just as Yahweh of Armies determined to do to us, according to our ways, and according to our practices, so he has dealt with us.’”

The Lord has done what he planned to do. He has made what he said come true. He gave the command long ago. He has destroyed you without pity. He has let your enemies laugh at you. He has made them stronger than you are.

But suppose you don’t obey the Lord your God. And you aren’t careful to obey all his commands and rules I’m giving you today. Then he will send curses on you. They’ll catch up with you. Here are those curses.

I am the Lord. So I will say what I want to. And it will come true when I want it to. In your days I will do everything I say I will. But you people always refuse to obey me,’ announces the Lord and King.”A message from the Lord came to me. The Lord said,“ Son of man, the Israelites are saying,‘ The vision Ezekiel sees won’t come true for many years. He is prophesying about a time that is a long way off.’“ So tell them,‘ The Lord and King says,“ Everything I say will come true. It will happen when I want it to,” announces the Lord and King.’ ”

God isn’t a mere human. He can’t lie. He isn’t a human being. He doesn’t change his mind. He speaks, and then he acts. He makes a promise, and then he keeps it.

All the sinners among my people will be killed by swords. They say,‘ Nothing bad will ever happen to us.’

All the people of Israel have broken your law and turned away from it. They have refused to obey you.“ Curses and warnings are written down in the Law of Moses. He was your servant. Those curses have been poured out on us. That’s because we have sinned against you.The warnings you gave us and our rulers have come true. You have brought great trouble on us. Nothing like what has been done to Jerusalem has ever happened anywhere else on earth.

Some will not be killed. They will return to Judah from Egypt. But they will be very few. Then all the people of Judah who came to live in Egypt will know the truth. They will know whether what I say or what they say will come true.

Heaven and earth will pass away. But my words will never pass away.

My anger will not turn back. I will accomplish everything I plan to do. In days to come you will understand it clearly.

The Lord your God will send all these curses on you. They will follow you everywhere. They’ll catch up with you. You will be under the Lord’ s curse until you are destroyed. That’s because you didn’t obey him. You didn’t keep the commands and rules he gave you.

Brothers and sisters, you are not in darkness. So that day should not surprise you as a thief would.

“ But what if you fail to do your duty? Then you will be sinning against the Lord. And you may be sure that your sin will be discovered. It will be brought out into the open.

The Lord has become very angry. He has poured out his burning anger. He started a fire in Zion. It burned its foundations.The kings of the earth couldn’t believe what was happening. Neither could any of the peoples of the world. Enemies actually attacked and entered the gates of Jerusalem.

Stop what you are saying. Don’t be so unfair. Think it over again. You are trying to take my honesty away from me.

Then once again you will see the difference between godly people and sinful people. And you will see the difference between those who serve me and those who do not.

The Lord brought the king of the Babylonians against them. The Babylonian army killed their young people with their swords at the temple. They didn’t spare young men or young women. They didn’t spare the old people or weak people either. God handed all of them over to Nebuchadnezzar.Nebuchadnezzar carried off to Babylon all the objects from God’s temple. Some of those things were large. Others were small. He carried off the treasures of the temple. He also carried off the treasures that belonged to the king and his officials.The Babylonians set God’s temple on fire. They broke down the wall of Jerusalem. They burned all the palaces. They destroyed everything of value there.Nebuchadnezzar took the rest of the people to Babylon as prisoners. They had escaped from being killed by swords. They served him and those who ruled after him. That lasted until the kingdom of Persia came to power.The land of Israel enjoyed its sabbath years. It rested. That deserted land wasn’t farmed for a full 70 years. What the Lord had spoken through Jeremiah came true.

But suppose the nation I warned turns away from its sins. Then I will not do what I said I would. I will not bring trouble on it as I had planned.But suppose I announce that a nation or kingdom is going to be built up and planted.And then it does what is evil in my eyes. It does not obey me. Then I will think again about the good things I had wanted to do for it.“ So speak to the people of Judah and Jerusalem. Tell them,‘ The Lord says,“ Look! I am making plans against you. I am going to bring trouble on you. So each one of you must turn from your evil ways. Change the way you live and act.” ’

Then I will do to you what I plan to do to them.’ ”

Suppose those nations learn to follow the practices of my people. And they make their promises in my name. When they promise, they say,‘ You can be sure that the Lord is alive.’ They do this just as they once taught my people to make promises in Baal’s name. Then I will give them a place among my people.But what if one of those nations does not listen? Then you can be sure of this. I will pull it up by the roots and destroy it,” announces the Lord.

There you will remember your conduct. You will think about everything you did that made you“ unclean.” And you will hate yourselves because of all the evil things you have done.

The Lord says,“ My people did many evil things in Gilgal. That is why I hated them there. They committed many sins. So I will drive them out of my land. I will not love them anymore. All their leaders refuse to obey me.

“ Come, all you who are thirsty. Come and drink the water I offer to you. You who do not have any money, come. Buy and eat the grain I give you. Come and buy wine and milk. You will not have to pay anything for it.

So I will block her path with bushes that have thorns. I’ll build a wall around her. Then she can’t go to her lovers.She will still chase after her lovers. But she won’t catch them. She’ll look for them. But she won’t find them. Then she’ll say,‘ I’ll go back to my husband. That’s where I was at first. I was better off then than I am now.’She wouldn’t admit that I was the one who gave her everything she had. I provided her with grain, olive oil and fresh wine. I gave her plenty of silver and gold. But she used it to make statues of Baal.“ So I will take away my grain when it gets ripe. I’ll take my fresh wine when it’s ready. I’ll take back my wool and my linen. I gave them to her to cover her naked body.So now I’ll uncover her body. All her lovers will see it. No one can stop me from punishing her.I will put a stop to the special times she celebrates. I’ll bring an end to the feasts she celebrates each year. I’ll stop her New Moon feasts and her Sabbath days. I’ll bring all her appointed feasts to an end.

People of Judah and you who live in Jerusalem, obey me. Do not let your hearts be stubborn. If you do, my anger will blaze out against you. It will burn like fire because of the evil things you have done. No one will be able to put it out.

Then the Lord said to me,“ Son of man, these bones stand for all the people of Israel. The people say,‘ Our bones are dried up. We’ve lost all hope. We are destroyed.’

The Lord will send curses on you. You won’t know what’s going on. In everything you do, he will be angry with you. You will be destroyed suddenly and completely. This will happen because you did an evil thing when you deserted the Lord.

I make the words of my servants the prophets come true. I carry out what my messengers say will happen.“ I say about Jerusalem,‘ My people will live there again.’ I say about the towns of Judah,‘ They will be rebuilt.’ I say about their broken- down buildings,‘ I will make them like new again.’

Jerusalem is about to fall. And so is Judah. They say and do things against the Lord. They dare to disobey him to his very face.The look on their faces is a witness against them. They show off their sin, just as the people of Sodom did. They don’t even try to hide it. How terrible it will be for them! They have brought trouble on themselves.Tell those who do what is right that things will go well with them. They will enjoy the results of the good things they’ve done.But how terrible it will be for those who do what is evil! Trouble is about to fall on them. They will be paid back for the evil things they’ve done.

Jerusalem says,“ The Lord always does what is right. But I refused to obey his commands. Listen, all you nations. Pay attention to how much I’m suffering. My young men and women have been taken away as prisoners.

But you can be sure of one thing. If you put me to death, you will be held responsible for spilling my blood. And I haven’t even done anything wrong. You will bring guilt on yourselves and this city and those who live in it. The Lord has sent me to you. He wanted me to say all these things so you could hear them. And that’s the truth.”