Therefore,a cursedevoursthe earth,and those who livein it are heldguilty.Therefore,the inhabitantsof the earthare burned,and fewmenare left.
Jehoiachinthe kingof Judahwentout to the kingof Babylon,he and his motherand his servantsand his captainsand his officials.So the kingof Babylontookhim captive in the eighthyearof his reign.
But the captainof the guardleftsomeof the poorestof the landto be vinedressersand plowmen.
The strongmanwill becometinder,His workalso a spark.Thus they shall bothburntogetherAnd therewill be noneto quench[them].
Unlessthe LORDof hostsHad leftus a fewsurvivors,We would be like Sodom,We would be likeGomorrah.
For My swordis satiatedin heaven,Beholdit shall descendfor judgmentupon EdomAnd upon the peoplewhom I have devotedto destruction.
"So I will pollutethe princesof the sanctuary,And I will consignJacobto the banand Israelto revilement.
Therefore,as a tongueof fireconsumesstubbleAnd drygrasscollapsesinto the flame,So their rootwill becomelike rotand their blossomblowawayas dust;For they have rejectedthe lawof the LORDof hostsAnd despisedthe wordof the HolyOneof Israel.
By the furyof the LORDof hoststhe landis burnedup, And the peopleare like fuelfor the fire;Nomanspareshis brother.
Howlongis the landto mournAnd the vegetationof the countrysideto wither?For the wickednessof those who dwellin it, Animalsand birdshave been snatchedaway,Because[men] have said,"He will not seeour latterending."
Therefore,thussaysthe LORD,the Godof hosts,"Becauseyou have spokenthisword,Behold,I am makingMy wordsin your mouthfireAnd thispeoplewood,and it will consumethem.
"Takealso a fewin numberfrom them and bindthem in the edgesof your [robes].
I will letlooseamong you the beastsof the field,which will bereaveyou of your childrenand destroyyour cattleand reduceyour number so that your roadsliedeserted.
"Ifyou do not listen,and ifyou do not takeit to heartto givehonorto My name,"saysthe LORDof hosts,"then I will sendthe curseupon you and I will curseyour blessings;and indeed,I have cursedthem [already], becauseyou are not taking[it] to heart.
"You are cursedwith a curse,for you are robbingMe, the wholenation[of you]!
"For behold,the dayis coming,burninglike a furnace;and allthe arrogantand everyevildoerwill be chaff;and the daythat is comingwill setthem ablaze,"saysthe LORDof hosts,"sothat it will leavethem neitherrootnorbranch."
"He will restorethe heartsof the fathersto [their] childrenand the heartsof the childrento their fathers,sothat I will not comeand smitethe landwith a curse."
And allthe peoplesaid,"His bloodshall be on us and on our children!"
"For the gateis smalland the wayis narrowthat leadsto life,and thereare fewwho findit.
Isaiahcriesout concerningIsrael,"THOUGHTHE NUMBEROF THE SONSOF ISRAELBE LIKETHE SANDOF THE SEA,IT IS THE REMNANTTHAT WILL BE SAVED;
"Then you shall be leftfewin number,whereasyou were as numerousas the starsof heaven,becauseyou did not obeythe LORDyour God.
"The LORDwill scatteryou among the peoples,and you will be leftfewin numberamong the nationswherethe LORDdrivesyou.
But the dayof the Lordwill comelikea thief,in whichthe heavenswill pass awaywith a roarand the elementswill be destroyedwith intense heat,and the earthand its workswill be burnedup.
