27. You haven’t abandoned me;rather, you have abandoned yourselves, says the Lord.
28. The Lord says this: Didn’t I plead with you like a father with his sons, like a mother with her daughters, and like a nurse who loves her little one,
29. that you should be my people and I your God, and that you should be my children and I your Father?
30. I gathered you as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings. But what will I do with you?I will throw you out of my presence.
31. When you bring me offerings, I will turn my eyes away from you. I didn’t command you to observe festival days, new moons, sabbaths, and circumcisions.
32. I sent my servants the prophets to you. You took them, mangled them, and slaughtered those who had been sent. But I will make you pay for their deaths, says the Lord.
33. The almighty Lord says this: Your house is left empty. I will scatter you as the wind scatters straw.
34. Your children will have no children, because they have neglected my commandment, and have done evil in front of me.
35. I will hand over your houses to a people who will come from far away. Those who didn’t know me will believe me, and those to whom I showed no signs will do what I commanded.
36. They didn’t see prophets but are mindful of the prophets’ antiquity.
37. The apostles will joyfully testify to the coming people. Those who didn’t see me with their physical eyes believe in their spirit. They have heard the things I said and believe me.