3. And so, all of you will vanishlike the mist or the dewof early morning,or husks of grain in the windor smoke from a chimney.
4. I, the Lord, have been your Godsince the timeyou were in Egypt.I am the only God you know,the only one who can save.
5. I took care of youin a thirsty desert.
6. I fed you till you were satisfied,then you became proudand forgot about me.
7. Now I will attack like a lion,ambush you like a leopard,
8. and rip you apart like a bearrobbed of her cubs.I will gnaw on your bones,as though I were a lionor some other wild animal.
9. Israel, you are done for.Don't expect help from me.
10. You wanted a king and rulers.Where is your king now?What cities have rulers?
11. In my anger, I gave you a king;in my fury, I took him away.
12. Israel, your terrible sinsare written downand stored away.
13. You are like a senseless childwho refuses to be bornat the proper time.
14. Should I, the Lord, rescue youfrom death and the grave?No! I call death and the graveto strike you like a plague.I refuse to show mercy.
15. No matter how much you prospermore than the other tribes,I, the Lord, will wipe you out,just as a scorching desert winddries up streams of water.I will take awayyour precious treasures.