“This is what the sovereign Lord says: This is Jerusalem; I placed her in the center of the nations with countries all around her.

“This is what the sovereign Lord says: A disaster ¹  – a one-of-a-kind ²  disaster – is coming!

“For this is what the sovereign Lord says: Bring up an army ¹  against them and subject them ²  to terror and plunder.

“‘Therefore this is what the sovereign Lord says: Woe to the city of bloodshed! I will also make the pile high.

“‘Therefore this is what the sovereign Lord says: Because you think you are godlike, ¹ 

“Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: “‘Wail, “Alas, the day is here!” ¹ 

“‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: I will put an end to the hordes of Egypt, by the hand of King Nebuchadrezzar ¹  of Babylon.

“‘For this is what the sovereign Lord says: “‘The sword of the king of Babylon ¹  will attack ²  you.

“‘For this is what the sovereign Lord says: Look, I myself will search for my sheep and seek them out.

This is what the sovereign Lord says: While the whole earth rejoices, I will turn you into a desolation.

This is what the sovereign Lord says to these bones: Look, I am about to infuse breath ¹  into you and you will live.

and say: ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Look, ¹  I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.

He showed me this: I saw ¹  the sovereign One ²  standing by a tin ³  wall holding tin in his hand.

As a matter of fact, ¹  Amos is saying this: ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword and Israel will certainly be carried into exile ²  away from its land.’”

Here then is what the Lord who rules over all says: ‘Think carefully about what you are doing. ¹ 

“The Lord who rules over all says, ‘Ask the priests about the law. ¹ 

“The Lord who rules over all says, ‘I am very much concerned for Zion; indeed, I am so concerned for her that my rage will fall on those who hurt her.’

The Lord who rules over all says, ‘It will someday come to pass that people – residents of many cities – will come.

If he said, ¹  ‘The speckled animals ²  will be your wage,’ then the entire flock gave birth to speckled offspring. But if he said, ‘The streaked animals will be your wage,’ then the entire flock gave birth to streaked offspring.

Now a wind ¹  went out ²  from the Lord and brought quail ³  from the sea, and let them fall ⁴  near the camp, about a day’s journey on this side, and about a day’s journey on the other side, all around the camp, and about three feet ⁵  high on the surface of the ground.