3. I will take their judges away from them.I will kill all their officials at the same time.The Lord has said this.
4. This is what the Lord says:Because Judah has committed three crimes, and now a fourth crime,I will not change my plans.The people of Judah have rejected the Lord’s Teachingsand haven’t kept his laws.They have been led astray by false teachings,the same ones their ancestors followed.
5. I will send a fire on Judahand burn down the palaces of Jerusalem.
6. This is what the Lord says:Because Israel has committed three crimes, and now a fourth crime,I will not change my plans.The people of Israel sell the righteous for moneyand the needy for a pair of sandals.
7. They stomp the heads of the poor into the dust.They push the humble out of the way.Father and son sleep with the same woman.They dishonor my holy name.
8. Beside every altar, they spread themselves out on clothestaken as security.In the temples of their gods, they drink the winethat they bought with fines.
9. I destroyed the Amorites in front of them,although the Amorites were as tall as cedars and as strong as oaks.I destroyed their fruit above the ground and their roots below it.
10. I brought you out of Egypt.I led you through the desert for 40 yearsso that you could take possession of the land of the Amorites.
11. I also sent you prophets from among your childrenand Nazirites from among your youths.Isn’t that so, people of Israel?The Lord has declared this.
12. You made the Nazirites drink wine.You commanded the prophets to stop prophesying.
13. I am going to crush you as an overloaded wagon crushes a person.