" Israel [is] like scattered sheep; The lions have driven [him] away. First the king of Assyria devoured him; Now at last this Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has broken his bones."

Thus says the LORD of hosts: "The children of Israel [were] oppressed, Along with the children of Judah; All who took them captive have held them fast; They have refused to let them go.

" I have forsaken My house, I have left My heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of My soul into the hand of her enemies.

My heritage [is] to Me [like] a speckled vulture; The vultures all around [are] against her. Come, assemble all the beasts of the field, Bring them to devour!

They have made it desolate; Desolate, it mourns to Me; The whole land is made desolate, Because no one takes [it] to heart.

For they have devoured Jacob, And laid waste his dwelling place.

The Syrians before and the Philistines behind; And they shall devour Israel with an open mouth. For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand [is] stretched out still.

All you beasts of the field, come to devour, All you beasts in the forest.

Israel [was] holiness to the LORD, The firstfruits of His increase. All that devour him will offend; Disaster will come upon them," says the LORD.' "

And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him: "The LORD your God has pronounced this doom on this place.

"Now the LORD has brought [it,] and has done just as He said. Because you [people] have sinned against the LORD, and not obeyed His voice, therefore this thing has come upon you.

I was angry with My people; I have profaned My inheritance, And given them into your hand. You showed them no mercy; On the elderly you laid your yoke very heavily.

"Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people of the land.

" O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people [are] a reproach to all [those] around us.

I am exceedingly angry with the nations at ease; For I was a little angry, And they helped -- [but] with evil [intent."]

"whose owners slaughter them and feel no guilt; those who sell them say, 'Blessed be the LORD, for I am rich'; and their shepherds do not pity them.

Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "They shall again use this speech in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I bring back their captivity: 'The LORD bless you, O home of justice, [and] mountain of holiness!'

A Prayer of Moses the man of God. LORD, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

O the Hope of Israel, his Savior in time of trouble, Why should You be like a stranger in the land, And like a traveler [who] turns aside to tarry for a night?

Our fathers trusted in You; They trusted, and You delivered them.

They cried to You, and were delivered; They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,