19. So this is what the Lord God says: Because you’ve all become a waste product, I’m now gathering you into the middle of Jerusalem.
20. Just as silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin are collected and placed in a furnace to fan the flames under them and melt them down, so in my anger and rage I will collect you, put you in, and melt you down.
21. I will gather you, fan the flames of my wrath under you, and melt you down in the middle of it.
22. As silver is melted in a furnace, so you will be melted in it. You will know that I, the Lord, have poured out my rage on you.
23. The Lord’s word came to me:
24. Human one, say to her, You are an unclean land without rain on the day of reckoning.
25. The conspiracy of princes in her is like a roaring lion ripping up prey. They’ve piled up wealth and precious goods and made many widows in her.
26. Her priests have done violence to my instructions and made my holy things impure. They have not clearly separated the holy from the ordinary, and they have not taught the difference between unclean and clean things. They’ve disregarded my sabbaths. So I’ve been degraded among them.
27. The officials in her are like wolves ripping up prey. They shed blood and destroy lives for unjust riches.
28. Her prophets have whitewashed everything for them, seeing false visions and making wrong predictions for them, saying, "This is what the Lord God says," when the Lord hasn’t spoken.
29. The important people of the land have practiced extortion and have committed robbery. They’ve oppressed the poor and mistreated the immigrant. They’ve oppressed and denied justice.
30. I looked for anyone to repair the wall and stand in the gap for me on behalf of the land, so I wouldn’t have to destroy it. But I couldn’t find anyone.
31. So I’ve poured out my anger on them. With my furious fire I’ve finished them off. I’ve held them accountable. This is what the Lord God proclaims.