Zedekiah didn’t do the things the Lord wanted him to do. Zedekiah sinned against the Lord. Jeremiah the prophet spoke messages from the Lord. But Zedekiah didn’t humble himself and obey the things Jeremiah said.
So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh. They told him, “The Lord, the God of the Hebrew people, says, ‘How long will you refuse to obey me? Let my people go to worship me!
\{God says,\} “I will cause bad things to happen to the world. I will punish the evil people for their sin. I will cause the proud people to lose their pride. I will stop the bragging of the people that are mean to others.
You always told yourself,\par “\{I will be like God Most-High\}.\par I will go to the skies above.\par I will put my throne above God’s stars.\par I will sit on holy mountain, Zaphon. {\cf2\super [150]} \par I will meet \{with the gods\}\par on that mountain.\par
An evil person will not learn to do good\par if you show him only kindness.\par An evil person will do bad things,\par even if he lives in a good world.\par That evil person might never see\par the Lord’s greatness.\par
John came showing you the right way to live. And you did not believe John. But the tax collectors and prostitutes believed John. And you saw that the tax collectors and prostitutes believed him. But you still refused to change and believe him.
“That servant knew what his master wanted him to do. But that servant did not make himself ready or try to do what his master wanted. So that servant will be punished very much!
But the grace (kindness) that God gives is greater. Like the Scripture says, “God is against proud people, but he gives grace (kindness) to people who are humble.” {\cf2\super [22]}