‘For this is like the days of Noah to me: when I swore that the water of Noah would never flood the earth again, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you or rebuke you.
When the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, he said to himself, ‘I will never again curse the ground because of human beings, even though the inclination of the human heart is evil from youth onward. And I will never again strike down every living thing as I have done.
Look up, and look round. They all gather together; they come to you. As I live’ – this is the Lord’s declaration – ‘you will wear all your children as jewellery, and put them on as a bride does.
The Lord has sworn with his right hand and his strong arm: I will no longer give your grain to your enemies for food, and foreigners will not drink the new wine for which you have laboured.
Look up to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and its inhabitants will die like gnats. , But my salvation will last for ever, and my righteousness will never be shattered.
For moths will devour them like a garment, and worms will eat them like wool. But my righteousness will last for ever, and my salvation for all generations.
This is what your Lord says – the Lord, even your God, who defends his people – ‘Look, I have removed from your hand the cup that causes staggering; that goblet, the cup of my fury. You will never drink it again.
‘This is what the Lord says: Only if the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below explored, will I reject all of Israel’s descendants because of all they have done – this is the Lord’s declaration.