Because of Israel's sins this is what the Lord, the God who commands armies, the sovereign One, says: "In all the squares there will be wailing, in all the streets they will mourn the dead. They will tell the field workers to lament and the professional mourners to wail.

sayeth the LORD: they gather together evil gotten goods, and lay up robbery in their houses.'

But they owe him evil will, that reproveth them openly: and whoso telleth them the plain truth, they abhor him.

Seek after the thing that is good, and not evil, so shall ye live: yea, the LORD God of hosts shall be with you, according to your own desire.

Hate the evil, and love the good. Set up right again in the port and, no doubt, the LORD God of hosts shall be merciful unto the remnant of Joseph.

Ye are taken out for the evil day, even ye that sit in the stole of willfulness;