7 And so I will purifythe hearts of my peoplejust as gold is purifiedin a furnace.I have no other choice.
8 They say they want peace,but this lie is deadly,like an arrow that strikeswhen you least expect it.
9 Give me one good reasonnot to punish themas they deserve.I, the Lord All-Powerful,have spoken.
10 I weep for the pasturelandin the hill country.It's so barren and scorchedthat no one travels there.No cattle can be found there,and birds and wild animalshave all disappeared.
11 I heard the Lord reply,“When I am finished,Jerusalem and the towns of Judahwill be piles of ruinswhere only jackals live.”
12 I said to the Lord, “None of us can understand why the land has become like an uncrossable desert. Won't you explain why?”
13 The Lord said:I destroyed the land because the people disobeyed me and rejected my laws and teachings.