² “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: You saw the great disaster^(A) I brought on Jerusalem and on all the towns of Judah.^(B) Today they lie deserted and in ruins^{(C) 3} because of the evil^(D) they have done. They aroused my anger^(E) by burning incense^(F) to and worshiping other gods^(G) that neither they nor you nor your ancestors^(H) ever knew. ⁴ Again and again^(I) I sent my servants the prophets,^(J) who said, ‘Do not do this detestable^(K) thing that I hate!’ ⁵ But they did not listen or pay attention;^(L) they did not turn from their wickedness^(M) or stop burning incense^(N) to other gods.^{(O) 6} Therefore, my fierce anger was poured out;^(P) it raged against the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem and made them the desolate ruins^(Q) they are today.

⁶ But did not my words^(A) and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, overtake your ancestors?^(B)

“Then they repented and said, ‘The Lord Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve,^(C) just as he determined to do.’”^(D)