Lord, don’t your eyes look for faithfulness? You have struck them, but they felt no pain. You finished them off, but they refused to accept discipline. They made their faces harder than rock, and they refused to return.
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and who depend on horses! They trust in the abundance of chariots and in the large number of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel, and they do not seek the Lord.
They turn, but not to what is above; they are like a faulty bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword because of their insolent tongue. They will be ridiculed for this in the land of Egypt.
Because of the depravity of your uncleanness – since I tried to purify you, but you would not be purified from your uncleanness – you will not be pure again until I have satisfied my wrath on you.
For I know the plans I have for you’ #– #this is the Lord’s declaration #– #‘plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Lord, your hand is lifted up to take action, but they do not see it. Let them see your zeal for your people and be put to shame. Let fire consume your adversaries.
I scattered them with a winnowing fork at the city gates of the land. I made them childless; I destroyed my people. They would not turn from their ways.
Just as it is written in the law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favour of the Lord our God by turning from our iniquities and paying attention to your truth.
I gave you absolutely nothing to eat , in all your cities, a shortage of food in all your communities, yet you did not return to me. This is the Lord’s declaration.
I sent plagues like those of Egypt; I killed your young men with the sword, along with your captured horses. I caused the stench of your camp to fill your nostrils, yet you did not return to me. This is the Lord’s declaration.
On that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the River Euphrates #– #the king of Assyria #– #to shave the hair on your heads, the hair on your legs, and even your beards.