And nowdo not carryon as scoffers,Oryour fetterswill be madestronger;For I have heardfrom the LordGODof hostsOf decisivedestructionon allthe earth.
So the courierspassedfrom cityto citythrough the countryof Ephraimand Manasseh,and as faras Zebulun,but they laughedthem to scornand mockedthem.
Therefore the LORDbroughtthe commandersof the armyof the kingof Assyriaagainstthem, and they capturedManassehwith hooks,boundhim with bronze[chains] and tookhim to Babylon.
but they [continually] mockedthe messengersof God,despisedHis wordsand scoffedat His prophets,untilthe wrathof the LORDaroseagainst His people,untiltherewas noremedy.
For He has shatteredgatesof bronzeAnd cutbarsof ironasunder.
Pharaohcalledfor Mosesand Aaronand said,"Go,sacrificeto your Godwithin the land."
Judgmentsare preparedfor scoffers,And blowsfor the backof fools.
A manwho hardens[his] neckafter much reproofWill suddenlybe brokenbeyondremedy.
So it will be that whenthe Lordhas completedallHis workon MountZionand on Jerusalem,[He will say], "I will punishthe fruitof the arrogantheartof the kingof Assyriaand the pompof his haughtiness."
Giveearand hearmy voice,Listenand hearmy words.
I did not sitin the circleof merrymakers,Nordid I exult.Becauseof Your hand[upon me] I satalone,For You filledme with indignation.
O LORD,You have deceivedme and I was deceived;You have overcomeme and prevailed.I have becomea laughingstockalldaylong; Everyonemocksme.
Thiswholelandwill be a desolationand a horror,and thesenationswill servethe kingof Babylonseventyyears.
When Jehudihad readthreeor fourcolumns,[the king] cutit with a scribe'sknifeand threw[it] into the firethat was in the brazier,untilallthe scrollwas consumedin the firethat was in the brazier.
He then blindedZedekiah'seyesand boundhim in fettersof bronzeto bringhim to Babylon.
"The yokeof my transgressionsis bound;By His handthey are knittogether.They have comeupon my neck;He has made my strengthfail.The Lordhas givenme into the handsOf [those against whom] I am not ableto stand.
"Can your heartendure,orcan your handsbe strongin the daysthat I will dealwith you? I, the LORD,have spokenand will act.
Whateveryou deviseagainstthe LORD,He will makea completeendof it. Distresswill not riseup twice.
And thosepassingby were hurling abuseat Him, waggingtheir heads
The robberswho had been crucifiedwith Him were alsoinsultingHim with the samewords.
and they will fallby the edgeof the sword,and will be led captiveinto allthe nations;and Jerusalemwill be trampled underfoot by the Gentilesuntilthe timesof the Gentilesare fulfilled.
Nowwhen they heardof the resurrectionof the dead,some[began] to sneer,but otherssaid,"We shall hearyou againconcerningthis."
