God said to me, "Mortal man, do you see what is happening? Look at the disgusting things the people of Israel are doing here, driving me farther and farther away from my holy place. You will see even more disgraceful things than this."

He asked, "Mortal man, do you see that? You will see even more disgusting things."

The LORD said to me, "Mortal man, do you see that? These people of Judah are not satisfied with merely doing all the disgusting things you have seen here and with spreading violence throughout the country. No, they must come and do them right here in the Temple and make me even more angry. Look how they insult me in the most offensive way possible!

Seventy Israelite leaders were there, including Jaazaniah son of Shaphan. Each one was holding an incense burner, and smoke was rising from the incense.

Some of the leaders of the Israelites came to consult me about the LORD's will.

It was the tenth day of the fifth month of the seventh year of our exile. Some of the leaders of the Israelite community came to consult me about the LORD's will, and they sat down in front of me.

(It is really too shameful even to talk about the things they do in secret.)

He took me to the entrance of the outer courtyard and showed me a hole in the wall.

He said, "Mortal man, break through the wall here." I broke through it and found a door.

There are those who reject the light; they don't understand it or go where it leads.

The adulterer waits for twilight to come; he covers his face so that no one can see him.

They fear the light of day, but darkness holds no terror for them.

This is how the judgment works: the light has come into the world, but people love the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds are evil.

Those who do evil things hate the light and will not come to the light, because they do not want their evil deeds to be shown up.

God answered, "The people of Israel and Judah are guilty of terrible sins. They have committed murder all over the land and have filled Jerusalem with crime. They say that I, the LORD, have abandoned their country and that I don't see them.

Doesn't God live in the highest heavens and look down on the stars, even though they are high?

And yet you ask, "What does God know? He is hidden by clouds---how can he judge us?"

They say, "God will not know; the Most High will not find out."

They say, "The LORD does not see us; the God of Israel does not notice."

God made our ears---can't he hear? He made our eyes---can't he see?

Those who try to hide their plans from the LORD are doomed! They carry out their schemes in secret and think no one will see them or know what they are doing.