Her leaders issue rulings for a bribe, her priests teach for payment, and her prophets practise divination for silver. Yet they lean on the Lord, saying, ‘Isn’t the Lord among us? No disaster will overtake us.’
In the presence of all the people Hananiah proclaimed, ‘This is what the Lord says: “In this way, within two years I will break the yoke of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon from the neck of all the nations.” ’ The prophet Jeremiah then went on his way.
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, so that you would no longer be their slaves. I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to live in freedom.