"Thussaysthe LordGOD,'Thisis Jerusalem;I have sether at the centerof the nations,with landsaroundher.
Gloriousthingsare spokenof you, O cityof God.Selah.
For thussaysthe LORDof hosts,"Cutdownher treesAnd castup a siegeagainstJerusalem.Thisis the cityto be punished,In whose midstthere is onlyoppression.
Howlonelysitsthe cityThat was fullof people!She has becomelike a widowWhowas [once] greatamong the nations!She who was a princessamong the provincesHas becomea forcedlaborer!
"Then your famewentforthamong the nationson account of your beauty,for it was perfectbecause of My splendorwhichI bestowedon you," declaresthe LordGOD.
"Now you sonof man,getyourself a brick,placeit beforeyou and inscribea cityon it, Jerusalem.
"Takeagainsomeof them and throwthem into the fireand burnthem in the fire;from it a firewill spreadto allthe houseof Israel.
Then the remnantof JacobWill be amongmanypeoplesLike dewfrom the LORD,Like showerson vegetationWhichdo not waitfor manOr delayfor the sonsof men.
"You are the lightof the world.A cityseton a hillcannotbe hidden;
and alldrankthe samespiritualdrink,for they were drinkingfrom a spiritualrockwhich followedthem; and the rockwas Christ.
"So keepand do[them], for that is your wisdomand your understandingin the sightof the peopleswhowill hearallthesestatutesand say,'Surelythisgreatnationis a wiseand understandingpeople.'
"Like the nationsthat the LORDmakesto perishbeforeyou, soyou shall perish;becauseyou would not listento the voiceof the LORDyour God.
