The people of Jerusalem must be purified

17 Yahweh also said to me, 18 “You human, your Israeli people [MTY] have becomeuseless to me. They are like [MET] dross/slag to me. They are like [SIM] theworthless copper, tin, iron, and lead that remains after silver is melted in avery hot furnace. 19 Therefore, this is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say: Because you have all become like dross/slag, I will gather you in Jerusalem. 20 People putore containing silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin in a very hot furnace and melt them in a blazing fireto burn up the impurities. Similarly [SIM], I will gather you togetherinside Jerusalem, and because I am very angry with you, what I will do will be as though I am melting you. 21 It will be as though I will blow on you with a hot breath that shows that I am very angry, andit will be as though you will be melted, 22 as though you will be melted like [SIM] silver is melted in a furnace, and then you will know that I, Yahweh, have poured out my punishment [MTY] on you.”