21 You worshipped worthless idols,and made me jealousand angry!Now I will send a crueland worthless nationto make you jealous and angry.
22 “My people, I will breathe out firethat sends you downto the world of the dead.It will scorch your farmlandsand burn deep downunder the mountains.
23 I'll send disaster after disasterto strike you like arrows.
24 You'll be struck by starvationand deadly diseases,by the fangs of wild animalsand poisonous snakes.
25 Young and old alikewill be killed in the streetsand terrified at home.
26 “I wanted to scatter you,so no one would rememberthat you had ever lived.
27 But I dreaded the soundof your enemies saying,‘We defeated Israel with no helpfrom the Lord.’ ”