If the Lord of the Heavenly Armies hadn't left us a few survivors, we would be like Sodom; we would be like Gomorrah.

who made the world like a desert, who destroyed its cities, who would not open the jails for his prisoners?'

I am not angry. If only the vineyard could give me briers and thorns to battle, I would march against it, and I would burn it all up.

to whom he said, "This is the resting place, so give rest to the weary"' and, "This is the place of repose" - but they would not listen.

Lebanon would not provide enough fuel, nor are its animals enough for a burnt offering.

"Who handed Jacob over to looters, and Israel to robbers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned? After all, they weren't willing to walk in his ways, and they wouldn't obey his instruction,

Who would shape a god or cast an image that profits nothing?

And neither had you heard, nor did you understand, nor did you open your ear long ago. Indeed, I knew that you would act very deceitfully, and they would call you a rebel from birth.

Now if only you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your success like the waves of the sea.

Your descendants would've been like the sand, and your offspring like its numberless grains. Their name wouldn't have been cut off or annihilated out of my reach.

"For this is like the waters of Noah to me, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again spread over the earth; so have I sworn that I won't be angry with you again and that I won't rebuke you.

You grew tired with your many wanderings, but you wouldn't say: "It is hopeless.' You found new strength for your desire, and so you did not falter.

For I won't accuse forever, nor will I always be angry; for then the human spirit would grow faint before me even the souls that I have created.

If only you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence

This is what the LORD says: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house that you would build for me, and where will my resting place be?