¹⁹ And the people say unto me, `Dost thou not declare to us what these `are' to us, that thou art doing?'

⁹ `Son of man, have they not said unto thee -- the house of Israel -- the rebellious house -- What art thou doing?

¹⁸ `And when sons of thy people speak unto thee, saying, Dost thou not declare to us what these `are' to thee?

¹² `Say, I pray thee, to the rebellious house, Have ye not known what these `are'? Say, Lo, come hath the king of Babylon to Jerusalem, And he taketh its king, and its princes, And bringeth them to himself to Babylon.

⁴⁹ And I say, `Ah, Lord Jehovah, They are saying of me, Is he not using similes?

⁷ and it hath come to pass, when they say unto thee, For what art thou sighing? that thou hast said: Because of the report, for it is coming, And melted hath every heart, And feeble hath been all hands, And weak is every spirit, And all knees go -- waters, Lo, it is coming, yea, it hath been, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah.'

⁷ Even from the days of your fathers Ye have turned aside from My statutes, And ye have not taken heed. Turn back unto Me, and I turn back to you, Said Jehovah of Hosts. And ye have said, `In what do we turn back?'

⁸ Doth man deceive God? but ye are deceiving Me, And ye have said: `In what have we deceived Thee?' The tithe and the heave-offering!

¹³ Hard against Me have been your words, Said Jehovah, and ye have said: `What have we spoken against Thee?'