16. Though these three men were in it, as I live, says the Lord God, they would deliver neither sons nor daughters; they themselves alone would be delivered but the land would be desolate (laid waste and deserted).
17. Or if I bring a sword upon that land and say, Sword, go through the land, so that I cut off man and beast from it,
18. Though these three men were in it, as I live, says the Lord God, they would deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they themselves alone would be delivered.
19. Or if I send a pestilence into that land and pour out My wrath upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast,
20. Though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, says the Lord God, they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they would but deliver their own lives by their righteousness (their moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation).
21. For thus says the Lord God: How much more when I send My four sore acts of judgment upon Jerusalem–the sword, the famine, the evil wild beasts, and the pestilence–to cut off from it man and beast! [Lev. 26:21-33.]