17 And the sons of your people have said, 'The way of the Lord is not a fair balance,' even while their own way is unjust.
18 For when the just man will have withdraw from his justice, and committed iniquities, he shall die by these.
19 And when the impious man will have withdrawn from his impiety, and have done judgment and justice, he shall live by these.
20 And yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not right.' But I shall judge each one of you according to his own ways, O house of Israel."
21 And it happened that, in the twelfth year of our transmigration, in the tenth month, on the fifth of the month, one who had fled from Jerusalem arrived saying, "The city has been laid waste."
22 But the hand of the Lord had been upon me in the evening, before the one who had fled arrived. And he opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning. And since my mouth had been opened, I was no longer silent.
23 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: