18. You have cheated so many other merchants that your places of worship are corrupt. So I set your city on fire and burnt it down. Now everyone sees only ashes where your city once stood,
19. and the people of other nations are shocked. Your punishment was horrible, and you are gone for ever.
20. The Lord said:
21. Ezekiel, son of man, condemn the city of Sidon
22. and tell its people:I, the Lord God, am your enemy! People will praise me when I punish you, and they will see that I am holy.
23. I will send deadly diseases to wipe you out, and I will send enemies to invade and surround you. Your people will be killed, and you will know that I am the Lord.
24. When that happens, the people of Israel will no longer have cruel neighbours that abuse them and make them feel as though they are in a field of thorns and briers. And the Israelites will know that I, the Lord God, have done these things.
25. The Lord God said:Some day I will gather the people of Israel from the nations where they are now scattered, and every nation will see that I am holy. The Israelites will once again live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob.
26. They will be safe and will build houses and plant vineyards. They will no longer be in danger, because I will punish their hateful neighbours. Israel will know that I am the Lord their God.