12 Now this is the answerof the holy One of Israel:“You rejected my message,and you trust in violenceand lies.
13 This sin is like a crackthat makes a high wallquickly crumble
14 and shatterlike a crushed bowl.There's not a piece leftbig enough to carry hot coalsor to dip out water.”
15 The holy Lord God of Israelhad told all of you,“I will keep you safeif you turn back to meand calm down.I will make you strongif you quietly trust me.”Then you stubbornly
16 said,“No! We will safely escapeon speedy horses.”But those who chase youwill be even faster.
17 As few as five of them,or even one, will be enoughto chase a thousand of you.Finally, all that will be leftwill be a few survivorsas lonely as a flag poleon a barren hill.
18 The Lord God is waitingto show how kind he isand to have pity on you.The Lord always does right;he blesses those who trust him.