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A Prophecy against the Mountains of Israel
1 The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 2 “Son of man, look toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them. 3 Say this, ‘You mountains of Israel, listen to the Almighty Lord’s word! This is what the Almighty Lord says to the mountains and hills and to the ravines and valleys: I am going to attack you with a sword and destroy your worship sites. 4 Your altars will be destroyed, and your incense burners will be smashed. I will kill people in front of your idols. 5 I will lay the dead bodies of the people of Israel in front of your idols, and I will scatter their bones around your altars. 6 Wherever people live, the cities will be ruined, and the worship sites will be wrecked. Your altars will be ruined and demolished. Your idols will be smashed and completely destroyed. Your incense burners will be cut down, and everything you have done will be wiped out. 7 People will be killed, and they will fall among you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
8 “ ‘But I will let some people live. Some people will escape the battle among the nations and be scattered throughout the countries. 9 Then those who escape will remember me among the nations where they are taken captive. I was hurt by their adulterous hearts, which turned away from me, and by their eyes, which lusted after idols. They will hate themselves for the evil and disgusting things that they have done. 10 Then you will know that I am the Lord and that the disaster I promised was not an empty threat.
11 “ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: Clap your hands, stomp your feet, and say, “Oh no!” because the people of Israel have done evil and disgusting things. So they will die in wars, famines, and plagues. 12 Plagues will kill those who are far away. Those who are near will die in wars, and anyone who is left and has escaped will die in famines. This is how I will unleash my anger. 13 Then you will know that I am the Lord.
“ ‘Those who are killed will lie beside the idols around their altars. They will lie on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, and under every large tree and every leafy oak. These are the places where they made offerings to their disgusting idols. 14 I will use my power against them and destroy the land, from the desert to Diblah. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’ ”