11. Seventy of the elders of Israel were standing there. They were in front of these carvings and idols. Jaazaniah son of Shaphan stood with them. Each man had his pan for burning incense in his hand. A sweet-smelling cloud of incense was rising.
12. Then the Lord said to me, “Human being, have you seen what the elders of Israel are doing in the dark? Have you seen each man in the room of his own idol? They say, ‘The Lord doesn’t see us. The Lord has left the land.’”
13. And he said to me, “You will see even more terrible things that they are doing.”
14. Then the Lord brought me to the opening of the north gate of the Temple. And I saw women sitting there crying for Tammuz.
15. The Lord said to me, “Do you see, human being? You will see things even more terrible than these.”
16. Then the Lord brought me into the inner courtyard of the Temple. And I saw about 25 men. They were at the entrance to the Temple, between the porch and the altar. Their backs were turned to the Temple of the Lord. They faced east. They were worshiping the sun in the east.
17. The Lord said to me, “Do you see, human being? Is it unimportant that the people of Judah are doing the terrible things they have done here? They have filled the land with violence. They continually make me angry. Look, they are insulting me every way they can.
18. So I will act in anger. I will have no pity. I will not show mercy. Even if they shout in my ears, I won’t listen to them.”