6. Therefore a lion from the forest will attack them,a wolf from the desert will ravage them,a leopard will lie in wait near their townsto tear to pieces any who venture out,for their rebellion is greatand their backslidings many.
7. ‘Why should I forgive you?Your children have forsaken meand sworn by gods that are not gods.I supplied all their needs,yet they committed adulteryand thronged to the houses of prostitutes.
8. They are well-fed, lusty stallions,each neighing for another man’s wife.
9. Should I not punish them for this?’declares the Lord.‘Should I not avenge myselfon such a nation as this?
10. ‘Go through her vineyards and ravage them,but do not destroy them completely.Strip off her branches,for these people do not belong to the Lord.
11. The people of Israel and the people of Judahhave been utterly unfaithful to me,’declares the Lord.
12. They have lied about the Lord;they said, ‘He will do nothing!No harm will come to us;we will never see sword or famine.
13. The prophets are but windand the word is not in them;so let what they say be done to them.’
14. Therefore this is what the Lord God Almighty says:‘Because the people have spoken these words,I will make my words in your mouth a fireand these people the wood it consumes.
15. People of Israel,’ declares the Lord,‘I am bringing a distant nation against you –an ancient and enduring nation,a people whose language you do not know,whose speech you do not understand.
16. Their quivers are like an open grave;all of them are mighty warriors.
17. They will devour your harvests and food,devour your sons and daughters;they will devour your flocks and herds,devour your vines and fig trees.With the sword they will destroythe fortified cities in which you trust.
18. ‘Yet even in those days,’ declares the Lord, ‘I will not destroy you completely.
19. And when the people ask, “Why has the Lord our God done all this to us?” you will tell them, “As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your own land, so now you will serve foreigners in a land not your own.”
20. ‘Announce this to the descendants of Jacoband proclaim it in Judah: