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But we will do everything that we have said we would do. We will burn special perfume to the queen of heaven and pour out drink gifts to her. We will do just as we ourselves, our fathers, our kings and our leaders did in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we had much food, and got along well, and had no trouble.

But since we stopped burning special perfume to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink gifts to her, we have been without everything. We have been destroyed by the sword and by hunger."

But hear the Word of the Lord, all you of Judah who are living in the land of Egypt: ‘I have sworn by My great name,' says the Lord, ‘that My name will no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, "The Lord God lives."

Are you looking for great things for yourself? Do not look for them. For I am bringing trouble to all flesh,' says the Lord. ‘But I will give you life in all the places you go.'"

There they cried, ‘Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise. He has passed by the time he was to have!'

Egypt is like a beautiful young cow. But a horsefly has come upon her from the north.

"But do not be afraid, O Jacob My servant. Do not be troubled, O Israel. For I am going to save you from far away. I will bring your children back from the land where they are held. Jacob will return and have quiet and rest. And no one will make him afraid.

O Jacob My servant, do not be afraid," says the Lord, "for I am with you. I will make a complete end of all the nations where I have driven you. But I will not make a complete end of you. I will punish you so you will go the right way. I will not leave you without punishment."

I know his anger," says the Lord, "but it is of no use. His proud words have done nothing.

But the days are coming," says the Lord, "when I will blow a horn giving the sound of war against Rabbah of the sons of Ammon. And it will become a waste. Its towns will be set on fire. Then Israel will take the land from those who had taken it from her," says the Lord.

But after this I will return the sons of Ammon to their land," says the Lord.

But I have taken all that Esau has. I have taken the covering from his hiding places so that he will not be able to hide himself. His children, his brothers, and his neighbors are destroyed. And he is no more.

For the Lord says, "If those who were not to drink the cup must drink it, will you go without being punished? You will not go without being punished, but you must drink it.

‘But in the last days I will return the people of Elam to their land,'" says the Lord.

"Make it known among the nations. Lift up a flag and make it known. Do not hide it, but say, ‘Babylon has been taken. Bel has been put to shame. Marduk has been broken down. Her objects of worship have been put to shame. Her false gods have been broken down.'

In those days and at that time,' says the Lord, ‘sin will be looked for in Israel, but there will be none. And sin will be looked for in Judah, but it will not be found. For I will forgive those whom I allow to return.'

The One Who saves and makes them free is strong. The Lord of All is His name. He will work hard for their cause, so that He may give rest to the land. But He will not give rest to the people of Babylon.

Do not let the bow-man use his bow. Do not let him stand up in his heavy battle-clothes. Do not leave her young men alive, but destroy all of her army.

We would have healed Babylon, but she was not healed. Leave her alone, and let each of us go to his own country. For she is being judged from as far as heaven and lifted even to the skies.

Not even a stone will be taken from you for a corner stone, or a stone to be used to build upon. But you will be a waste forever," says the Lord.