21. I will gather you. And I will make you feel the heat of my anger. You will be melted in the fire.
22. Silver is melted in the furnace. In the same way you will be melted in the city. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have poured out my anger against you.’”
23. The Lord spoke his word to me. He said:
24. “Human being, say to the land, ‘You are a land that has not had rain or showers in a day of anger.’
25. Israel’s rulers make evil plans. They are like a roaring lion that tears the animal it has caught. They have destroyed lives. They have taken treasure and valuable things. They have caused many women to become widows.
26. Israel’s priests do cruel things to my teachings. They do not honor my holy things. They make no difference between holy and unholy things. They teach there is no difference between clean and unclean things. They do not remember my Sabbaths. So I am dishonored by them.
27. Jerusalem’s leaders are like wolves tearing a dead animal. They have killed people for profit.
28. And the prophets try to cover this up by false visions and by lying. They say, ‘This is what the Lord God says’ when the Lord has not spoken.
29. The people cheat others. They steal. They hurt people who are poor and needy. They cheat foreigners and don’t treat them fairly.
30. “I looked for someone to build up the walls. I looked for someone to stand before me where the walls are broken to defend these people. Then I would not have to destroy them. But I did not find anyone.
31. So I will let them see my anger. I will destroy them with an anger that is like fire. This is because of all the things they have done, says the Lord God.”