9. This is what the Lord of heaven’s armies says:“Gather the few people of Israel who are left alive.Gather them as you would the last grapes on a grapevine.Check each vine again,like someone who gathers grapes.”
10. To whom can I speak? Whom can I warn?Who will listen to me?The people of Israel have closed ears!So they cannot hear my warnings.They don’t like the word of the Lord.They don’t want to listen to it!
11. But I am full of the anger of the Lord.I am tired of holding it in.“Pour out the Lord’s anger on the children who play in the street.Pour it out on the young men gathered together.A husband and his wife will both be caught in his anger.The very old people will be caught in it.
12. Their houses will be turned over to others.Their fields and wives will be given away.I will raise my handand punish the people of Judah,” says the Lord.
13. “Everyone, from the least important to the greatest,is greedy for money.Even the prophets and priestsall tell lies.
14. They try to heal my people’s serious injuriesas if they were small wounds.They say, ‘It’s all right, it’s all right!’But really, it is not all right.
15. They should be ashamed of the terrible way they act.But they are not ashamed at all.They don’t even know how to blush about their sins.So they will fall, along with everyone else.They will be thrown to the ground when I punish them,” says the Lord.
16. This is what the Lord says:“Stand where the roads cross and look.Ask where the old way is.Ask where the good way is, and walk on it.If you do, you will find rest for yourselves.But you have said, ‘We will not walk on the good way!’
17. I chose watchmen to watch over you.I told you, ‘Listen for the sound of the war trumpet!’But you said, ‘We will not listen.’
18. So listen, all you nations.Pay attention, you witnesses.Watch what I will do to the people of Judah.
19. Hear this, people of the earth:I am going to bring disaster to the people of Judah!It will happen because of the evil they plan.They have not listened to my messages.They have rejected my teachings.
20. Why do you bring me offerings of incense from the land of Sheba?Why do you bring me sweet-smelling cane from a faraway land?Your burnt offerings will not be accepted.Your sacrifices do not please me.”