11 For vthe house of Israel and the house of Judah

Have dealt very treacherously with Me,” says the Lord.

12 wThey have lied about the Lord,

And said, x“It is not He.

yNeither will 3evil come upon us,

Nor shall we see sword or famine.

13 And the prophets become wind,

For the word is not in them.

Thus shall it be done to them.”

14 Therefore thus says the Lord God of hosts:

“Because you speak this word,

zBehold, I will make My words in your mouth fire,

And this people wood,

And it shall devour them.

15 Behold, I will bring a anation against you bfrom afar,

O house of Israel,” says the Lord.

“It is a mighty nation,

It is an ancient nation,

A nation whose language you do not know,

Nor can you understand what they say.

16 Their quiver is like an open tomb;

They are all mighty men.

17 And they shall eat up your charvest and your bread,

Which your sons and daughters should eat.

They shall eat up your flocks and your herds;

They shall eat up your vines and your fig trees;

They shall destroy your fortified cities,

In which you trust, with the sword.

18 “Nevertheless in those days,” says the Lord, “I dwill not 4make a complete end of you. 19 And it will be when you say, e‘Why does the Lord our God do all these things to us?’ then you shall answer them, ‘Just as you have fforsaken Me and served foreign gods in your land, so gyou shall serve aliens in a land that is not yours.’

20 “Declare this in the house of Jacob

And proclaim it in Judah, saying,

21 ‘Hear this now, O hfoolish people,

Without 5understanding,

Who have eyes and see not,

And who have ears and hear not:

22 iDo you not fear Me?’ says the Lord.

‘Will you not tremble at My presence,

Who have placed the sand as the jbound of the sea,

By a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass beyond it?

And though its waves toss to and fro,

Yet they cannot prevail;

Though they roar, yet they cannot pass over it.

23 But this people has a defiant and rebellious heart;

They have revolted and departed.

24 They do not say in their heart,

“Let us now fear the Lord our God,

kWho gives rain, both the lformer and the latter, in its season.

mHe reserves for us the appointed weeks of the harvest.”

25 nYour iniquities have turned these things away,

And your sins have withheld good from you.

26 ‘For among My people are found wicked men;

They olie in wait as one who sets snares;

They set a trap;

They catch men.

27 As a cage is full of birds,

So their houses are full of deceit.

Therefore they have become great and grown rich.

28 They have grown pfat, they are sleek;

Yes, they 6surpass the deeds of the wicked;

They do not plead qthe cause,

The cause of the fatherless;

rYet they prosper,

And the right of the needy they do not defend.

29 sShall I not punish them for these things?’ says the Lord.

‘Shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?’

30 “An astonishing and thorrible thing

Has been committed in the land:

31 The prophets prophesy ufalsely,

And the priests rule by their own power;

And My people vlove to have it so.

But what will you do in the end?