In those days the Lord began to reduce the size of Israel’s territory. ¹  Hazael attacked their eastern border. ² 

Now listen to me! Send back those you have seized from your brothers, for the Lord is very angry at you!” ¹ 

In every city throughout Judah he set up high places to offer sacrifices to other gods. He angered the Lord God of his ancestors.

Now I intend ¹  to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, so that he may relent from his raging anger. ² 

Do not cover their iniquity, and do not wipe out their sin from before them. For they have bitterly offended ¹  the builders! ² 

You hide them with you, where they are safe from the attacks ¹  of men; ²  you conceal them in a shelter, where they are safe from slanderous attacks. ³ 

because of what the enemy says, ¹  and because of how the wicked ²  pressure me, ³  for they hurl trouble ⁴  down upon me ⁵  and angrily attack me.

Better to be slow to anger ¹  than to be a mighty warrior, and one who controls his temper ²  is better than ³  one who captures a city. ⁴ 

A person with great anger bears the penalty, ¹  but if you deliver him from it once, you will have to do it again. ² 

The king’s terrifying anger ¹  is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him ²  sins against himself. ³ 

If the anger ¹  of the ruler flares up ²  against you, do not resign ³  from your position, ⁴  for a calm ⁵  response ⁶  can undo ⁷  great offenses.

I have given orders to my chosen soldiers; ¹  I have summoned the warriors through whom I will vent my anger, ²  my boasting, arrogant ones. ³ 

It ¹  furiously struck down nations with unceasing blows. ²  It angrily ruled over nations, oppressing them without restraint. ³ 

Go, my people! Enter your inner rooms! Close your doors behind you! Hide for a little while, until his angry judgment is over! ¹ 

He repays them for what they have done, dispensing angry judgment to his adversaries and punishing his enemies. ¹  He repays the coastlands. ² 

These people continually and blatantly offend me ¹  as they sacrifice in their sacred orchards ²  and burn incense on brick altars. ³ 

Therefore I will act with fury! My eye will not pity them nor will I spare ¹  them. When they have shouted in my ears, I will not listen to them.”

You engaged in prostitution with the Egyptians, your sexually aroused neighbors, ¹  multiplying your promiscuity and provoking me to anger.

“Son of man, say to her: ‘You are a land that receives no rain ¹  or showers in the day of my anger.’ ² 

I will exact great vengeance upon them with angry rebukes. ¹  Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I exact my vengeance upon them.’”