'For the land is defiled; therefore I visit the punishment of its iniquity upon it, and the land vomits out its inhabitants.

' You shall therefore keep all My statutes and all My judgments, and perform them, that the land where I am bringing you to dwell may not vomit you out.

For a voice of wailing is heard from Zion: 'How we are plundered! We are greatly ashamed, Because we have forsaken the land, Because we have been cast out of our dwellings.' "

'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because they say to you, 'You devour men and bereave your nation [of children,']

"Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own ways and deeds; to Me their way was like the uncleanness of a woman in her customary impurity.

For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

"So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.