Becauseof them a cursewill be usedby allthe exilesfrom Judahwhoare in Babylon,saying,"May the LORDmakeyou like Zedekiahand like Ahab,whomthe kingof Babylonroastedin the fire,
He blessedthem that day,saying,"By you Israelwill pronounceblessing,saying,'May Godmakeyou like Ephraimand Manasseh!'"Thus he putEphraimbeforeManasseh.
My enemieshave reproachedme alldaylong; Those who derideme have usedmy [name] as a curse.
"You will leaveyour namefor a curseto My chosenones,And the LordGODwill slayyou. But My servantswill be calledby anothername.
Thenthesemenwere tiedup in their trousers,their coats,their capsand their [other] clothes,and were castinto the midstof the furnaceof blazingfire.
"But whoeverdoes not falldownand worshipshall immediatelybe castinto the midstof a furnaceof blazingfire."
Ifanyonedoes not lovethe Lord,he is to be accursed.Maranatha.
Allthe peoplewhowere in the court,and the elders,said,"[We are] witnesses.May the LORDmakethe womanwho is cominginto your homelike Racheland Leah,bothof whombuiltthe houseof Israel;and may you achievewealthin Ephrathahand becomefamousin Bethlehem.
