When your people ¹  say to you, ‘Will you not tell us what these things mean?’

You refuse to believe a day of disaster will come, ¹  but you establish a reign of violence. ² 

And we rightly so, for we are getting what we deserve for what we did, but this man has done nothing ¹  wrong.”

And you were at one time strangers and enemies in your ¹  minds ²  as expressed through ³  your evil deeds,

Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm. ¹  The Lord will repay him in keeping with his deeds. ² 

And by this ¹  we will know that we are of the truth and will convince ²  our conscience ³  in his presence, ⁴ 

The Lord God of Israel who rules over all says, ‘You women ¹  have confirmed by your actions what you vowed with your lips! You said, “We will certainly carry out our vows to sacrifice and pour out drink offerings to the Queen of Heaven.” Well, then fulfill your vows! Carry them out!’ ² 

The Lord revealed himself; he accomplished justice; the wicked were ensnared by their own actions. ¹  (Higgaion. ²  Selah)

As for the actions of people ¹  – just as you have commanded, I have not followed in the footsteps of violent men. ² 

For they do not understand the Lord’s actions, or the way he carries out justice. ¹  The Lord ²  will permanently demolish them. ³ 

Let foreigners ¹  rejoice and celebrate! For you execute justice among the nations, and govern the people living on earth. ²  (Selah)

For ²  Solomon. O God, grant the king the ability to make just decisions! ³  Grant the king’s son ⁴  the ability to make fair decisions! ⁵ 

From this day forward I am he; no one can deliver from my power; ¹  I will act, and who can prevent it?”

You said, ‘I will rule forever as permanent queen!’ ¹  You did not think about these things; ²  you did not consider how it would turn out. ³ 

They hatch the eggs of a poisonous snake and spin a spider’s web. Whoever eats their eggs will die, a poisonous snake is hatched. ¹ 

The Lord God of Israel who rules over all ¹  says: Change the way you have been living and do what is right. ²  If you do, I will allow you to continue to live in this land. ³ 

You must change ¹  the way you have been living and do what is right. You must treat one another fairly. ² 

Say to them, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: The prince will raise this burden in Jerusalem, ¹  and all the house of Israel within it.’ ² 

Say, ‘I am an object lesson for you. Just as I have done, it will be done to them; they will go into exile and captivity.’

“‘How sick is your heart, declares the sovereign Lord, when you perform all of these acts, the deeds of a bold prostitute.