22. These people have been defeated and robbed.They are trapped in pits.They are locked up in prison.Like robbers, enemies have taken them away.There is no one to save them.Enemies carried them off.And no one said, “Bring them back.”
23. Will any of you listen to this?Will you listen carefully in the future?
24. Who let the people of Jacob be carried off?Who let robbers take Israel away?The Lord allowed this to happenbecause we sinned against him.We did not live the way the Lord wanted us to live.We did not obey his teaching.
25. So the Lord became very angry with us.He brought terrible wars against us.It was as if the people of Israel had fire all around them.But they didn’t know what was happening.It was as if they were burning.But they didn’t pay any attention.