¹² It would be a fire burning even to destruction, and taking away all my produce.

²⁷ May a man take fire to his breast without burning his clothing?

³⁰ He does not come out of the dark; his branches are burned by the flame, and the wind takes away his bud.

²⁸ The produce of his house is taken away into another country, like things given into the hands of others in the day of wrath.

⁶ The underworld is uncovered before him, and Destruction has no veil.

³³ The curse of the Lord is on the house of the evil-doer, but his blessing is on the tent of the upright.

⁷ How is it possible for you to have my forgiveness for this? your children have given me up, taking their oaths by those who are no gods: when I had given them food in full measure, they were false to their wives, taking their pleasure in the houses of loose women.

⁸ They were full of desire, like horses after a meal of grain: everyone went after his neighbour's wife.

⁹ Am I not to give punishment for these things? says the Lord: will not my soul take payment from such a nation as this?

⁵ And I will come near to you for judging; I will quickly be a witness against the wonder-workers, against those who have been untrue in married life, against those who take false oaths; against those who keep back from the servant his payment, and who are hard on the widow and the child without a father, who do not give his rights to the man from a strange country, and have no fear of me, says the Lord of armies.

⁴ Let married life be honoured among all of you and not made unclean; for men untrue in married life will be judged by God.