Furthermore,allthe officialsof the priestsand the peoplewere veryunfaithful[following] allthe abominationsof the nations;and they defiledthe houseof the LORDwhichHe had sanctifiedin Jerusalem.
Moreover, he burnedincensein the valleyof Ben-hinnomand burnedhis sonsin fire,according to the abominationsof the nationswhomthe LORDhad drivenout beforethe sonsof Israel.
Thus ManassehmisledJudahand the inhabitantsof Jerusalemto domoreevilthanthe nationswhomthe LORDdestroyedbeforethe sonsof Israel.
thussaysthe LORD,"Behold,I am bringingevilon thisplaceand on its inhabitants,[even] allthe curseswrittenin the bookwhichthey have readin the presenceof the kingof Judah.
He alsorebelledagainst KingNebuchadnezzarwhohad made him swear[allegiance] by God.But he stiffenedhis neckand hardenedhis heartagainstturningto the LORDGodof Israel.
The LORD,the Godof their fathers,sent[word] to them againand againby His messengers,becauseHe hadcompassionon His peopleand on His dwellingplace;
"Sincethe daysof our fathersto thisdaywe [have been] in greatguilt,and on account of our iniquitieswe, our kings[and] our priestshave been giveninto the handof the kingsof the lands,to the sword,to captivityand to plunderand to openshame,as [it is] thisday.
"But they puttheir detestablethingsin the housewhichis calledby My name,to defileit.
"They builtthe highplacesof Baalthat are in the valleyof Ben-hinnomto cause their sonsand their daughtersto passthrough[the fire] to Molech,whichI had not commandedthem norhad it enteredMy mindthat they should dothisabomination,to cause Judahto sin.
Then the officialssaidto the king,"Nowlet thismanbe putto death,inasmuchas he is discouragingthe menof warwho are leftin thiscityand allthe people,by speakingsuchwordsto them; for thismanis not seekingthe well-beingof thispeoplebut rathertheir harm."
"I will goto the greatAnd will speakto them, For they knowthe wayof the LORD[And] the ordinanceof their God."But they too, with oneaccord,have brokenthe yoke[And] burstthe bonds.
Thereforea lionfrom the forestwill slaythem, A wolfof the desertswill destroythem, A leopardis watchingtheir cities.Everyonewho goesout of them will be tornin pieces,Becausetheir transgressionsare many,Their apostasiesare numerous.
"Thus you will knowthat I am the LORD;for you have not walkedin My statutesnorhave you executedMy ordinances,but have actedaccording to the ordinancesof the nationsaroundyou."'"
"Behold,the rulersof Israel,eachaccording to his power,have beenin you for the purposeof sheddingblood.
"Moreover, we have not listenedto Your servantsthe prophets,whospokein Your nameto our kings,our princes,our fathersand allthe peopleof the land.
"Openshamebelongs to us, O Lord,to our kings,our princesand our fathers,becausewe have sinnedagainst You.
You shall keepMy sabbathsand revereMy sanctuary;I am the LORD.
The godlypersonhas perishedfrom the land,And thereis noupright[person] among men.Allof them liein waitfor bloodshed;Eachof them huntsthe otherwith a net.
"Whenyou enterthe landwhichthe LORDyour Godgivesyou, you shall not learnto imitatethe detestablethingsof thosenations.
