15 Idols are merely a joke,and when the time is right,they will be destroyed.
16 But you, Israel's God,created all things,and you chose Israelto be your very own.Your name is the LordAll-Powerful.
17 I said to the people of Judah,“Gather your things;you are surrounded.
18 The Lord said these troubleswill lead to your capture,and he will throw youfrom this landlike a rock from a sling.”
19 The people answered,“We are woundedand doomed to die.Why did we saywe could stand the pain?
20 Our homes are destroyed;our children are dead.No one is leftto help us find shelter.”
21 But I told them,“Our leaders were stupid failures,because they refusedto listen to the Lord.And so we've been scatteredlike sheep.