14. Will your courage endure or your hands be strong in the day I deal with you? I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.
15. I will disperse you among the nations and scatter you through the countries; and I will put an end to your uncleanness.
16. When you have been defiled in the eyes of the nations, you will know that I am the Lord.’ ”
17. Then the word of the Lord came to me:
18. “Son of man, the people of Israel have become dross to me; all of them are the copper, tin, iron and lead left inside a furnace. They are but the dross of silver.
19. Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because you have all become dross, I will gather you into Jerusalem.
20. As silver, copper, iron, lead and tin are gathered into a furnace to be melted with a fiery blast, so will I gather you in my anger and my wrath and put you inside the city and melt you.
21. I will gather you and I will blow on you with my fiery wrath, and you will be melted inside her.
22. As silver is melted in a furnace, so you will be melted inside her, and you will know that I the Lord have poured out my wrath on you.’ ”
23. Again the word of the Lord came to me:
24. “Son of man, say to the land, ‘You are a land that has not been cleansed or rained on in the day of wrath.’
25. There is a conspiracy of her princes within her like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they devour people, take treasures and precious things and make many widows within her.
26. Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.
27. Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people to make unjust gain.