"Now behold,you have risenup in your fathers'place,a broodof sinfulmen,to addstillmoreto the burningangerof the LORDagainstIsrael.
"Soyou are witnessesand approvethe deedsof your fathers;becauseit was they who killedthem, and you build[their tombs].
"But the childrenrebelledagainst Me; they did not walkin My statutes,norwere they carefulto observeMy ordinances,by which,[if] a manobservesthem, he will live;they profanedMy sabbaths.So I resolvedto pourout My wrathon them, to accomplishMy angeragainst them in the wilderness.
"Againstwhomdo you jest?Againstwhomdo you openwideyour mouthAnd stickout your tongue?Are you not childrenof rebellion,Offspringof deceit,
Alas,sinfulnation,Peopleweigheddownwith iniquity,Offspringof evildoers,Sonswho actcorruptly!They have abandonedthe LORD,They have despisedthe HolyOneof Israel,They have turnedawayfrom Him.
But turnedbackand actedtreacherouslylike their fathers;They turnedasidelike a treacherousbow.
"Whocan makethe cleanout of the unclean?Noone!
"Did not your fathersdothe same,so that our Godbroughton us and on thiscityallthistrouble?Yet you are addingto the wrathon Israelby profaningthe sabbath."
Then Ezrathe prieststoodup and saidto them, "You have beenunfaithfuland have marriedforeignwivesaddingto the guiltof Israel.
The LORDsmelledthe soothingaroma;and the LORDsaidto Himself,"I will neveragaincursethe groundon accountof man,for the intentof man'sheartis evilfrom his youth;and I will neveragaindestroyeverylivingthing,as I have done.
When Adamhad livedone hundredand thirtyyears,he becamethe fatherof [a son] in his own likeness,according to his image,and namedhim Seth.
"For if you turnawayfrom followingHim, He will oncemoreabandonthem in the wilderness,and you will destroyallthesepeople."
"You have beenrebelliousagainstthe LORDfrom the dayI knewyou.
and saidto them, "You must not bringthe captivesin here,for you are proposing[to bring] upon us guiltagainst the LORDaddingto our sinsand our guilt;for our guiltis greatso that [His] burningangeris againstIsrael."
