6 So like a lion from the thicket their enemies will kill them.Like a wolf from the desert they will destroy them.Like a leopard they will lie in wait outside their citiesand totally destroy anyone who ventures out.For they have rebelled so muchand done so many unfaithful things.
7 The Lord asked, “How can I leave you unpunished, Jerusalem?Your people have rejected meand have worshiped gods that are not gods at all.Even though I supplied all their needs, they were like an unfaithful wife to me.They went flocking to the houses of prostitutes.
8 They are like lusty, well-fed stallions.Each of them lusts after his neighbor’s wife.
9 I will surely punish them for doing such things!” says the Lord.“I will surely bring retribution on such a nation as this!”
10 The Lord commanded the enemy,“March through the vineyards of Israel and Judah and ruin them.But do not destroy them completely.Strip off their branchesfor these people do not belong to the Lord.
11 For the nations of Israel and Judahhave been very unfaithful to me,”says the Lord.
12 “These people have denied what the Lord says.They have said, ‘That is not so!No harm will come to us.We will not experience war and famine.