Be not ye like your forefathers, unto whom the Prophets cried afore time, saying, 'Thus sayeth the LORD God of hosts: Turn you from your evil ways, and from your wicked imaginations.' But they would not hear, nor regard me, sayeth the LORD.

But did not my words and statutes, which I commanded by my servants the Prophets, touch your forefathers? Upon this, they gave answer and said, 'Like as the LORD of Hosts devised to do unto us, according to our ways and imaginations, even so hath he dealt with us.''"

and sore displeased at the careless Heathen: for whereas I was but a little angry, they did their best that I might destroy them.

Then said I, 'What will these do?' He answered, and said, 'Those are the horns, which have so strawed Judah abroad, that no man durst lift up his head: But these are come to fray them away, and to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lift up their horn over the land of Judah, to scatter it abroad.'

He answered, and said unto me, 'This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying: Neither through a host of men, nor through strength, but through my spirit, sayeth the LORD of Hosts.

Nevertheless, they would not take heed, but turned their backs and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.

but scattered them among all Gentiles, whom they knew not. Thus the land was made so desolate, that there traveled no man in it neither to nor fro, for that pleasant land was utterly laid waste."

For why? Before these days, neither men nor cattle could win anything, neither might any man come in and out in rest, for trouble: but I let every man go against his neighbour.

but they shall be a seed of peace. The vineyard shall give her fruit, the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew: and I shall cause the remnant of this people, to have all these in possession.

And it shall come to pass, that like as ye were a curse among the Heathen, O ye house of Judah and ye house of Israel: Even so will I deliver you, that ye shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong.

For vain is the answer of Idols. The soothsayers see lies, and tell but vain dreams. The comfort that they give, is nothing worth. Therefore go they astray like a flock of sheep, and are troubled, because they have no shepherd.

which shall be slain of those that possess them. Yet they take it for no sin, but they that sell them, say, 'The LORD be thanked, I am rich.' Yea, their own shepherds spare them not.

Therefore will I no more spare those that dwell in the land, sayeth the LORD. But lo, I will deliver the people, every man, into his neighbour's hand and into the hand of his king: that they may smite the land. And out of their hands will I not deliver them."

for lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not seek after the things that be lost, nor care for such as go astray: he shall not heal the wounded, he shall not nourish the thing that is whole: but he shall eat the flesh of such as be fat, and tear their claws in pieces.

The LORD shall preserve the tents of Judah, like as afore time: so that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the citizens of Jerusalem, shall be but little regarded in comparison of the glory of Judah.

But he shall be fain to say, 'I am no Prophet: I am a husbandman, for so am I taught by Adam from my youth up.'

And it shall come to pass, sayeth the LORD, that in all the land two parts shall be rooted out, but the third part shall remain therein.

In that day shall it not be light, but cold and frost.

This shall be that special day which is known unto the LORD: neither day nor night, but about the evening time it shall be light.

And the LORD himself shall be king over all the earth. At that time shall there be one LORD only, and his name shall be but one.

There shall men dwell, and there shall be no more cursing: but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.