16. But you, yourself, will be dishonored in the sight of the nations. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’ ”
17. The Lord spoke his word to me, saying:
18. “Human, the people of Israel have become useless like scum to me. They are like the copper, tin, iron, and lead left in the furnace when silver is purified.
19. So this is what the Lord God says: ‘Because you have become useless like scum, I am going to put you together inside Jerusalem.
20. People put silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin together inside a furnace to melt them down in a blazing fire. In the same way I will gather you in my hot anger and put you together in Jerusalem and melt you down.
21. I will put you together and make you feel the heat of my anger. You will be melted down inside Jerusalem.
22. As silver is melted in a furnace, you will be melted inside the city. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have poured out my anger on you.’ ”
23. The Lord spoke his word to me, saying:
24. “Human, say to the land, ‘You are a land that has not had rain or showers when God is angry.’
25. Like a roaring lion that tears the animal it has caught, Israel’s rulers make evil plans. They have destroyed lives and have taken treasure and valuable things. They have caused many women to become widows.
26. Israel’s priests do cruel things to my teachings and do not honor my holy things. They make no difference between holy and unholy things, and they teach there is no difference between clean and unclean things. They do not remember my Sabbaths, so I am dishonored by them.
27. Like wolves tearing a dead animal, Jerusalem’s leaders have killed people for profit.
28. And the prophets try to cover this up by false visions and by lying messages. They say, ‘This is what the Lord God says’ when the Lord has not spoken.
29. The people cheat others and steal. They hurt people who are poor and needy. They cheat foreigners and do not treat them fairly.
30. “I looked for someone to build up the walls and to stand before me where the walls are broken to defend these people so I would not have to destroy them. But I could not find anyone.