12 They’ve denied Yahweh and said:

He doesn’t exist and nothing bad will happen us,

and we’ll never experience war or famine.

13 The prophets are full of air and don’t have any message.

So let what they say, happen to them.

14 So Commander-in-chief Yahweh says this:

Because you’ve spoken those words,

I’ll put my messages in your mouth as a fire

and this people group will be the wood that it consumes.

15 Listen you Israelis to Yahweh’s declaration:

I’m about to bring to you all a nation from far away—

it’s an enduring nation that’s been around for a long time.

You won’t know their language or understand what they say.

16 Its quiver is like an open tomb.

All of them are warriors.

17 It will consume your grain and your food.

They’ll devour your sons and daughters, and your flocks and your cattle.

They’ll strip your grapevines and your fig trees.

With their swords, they’ll shatter your fortified cities that you were trusting in.

18 But Yahweh says:

Even in those days, I won’t completely destroy you all.

19 When the people ask why Yahweh’s doing that, you’ll tell them:

You rejected me and served foreign gods in your own country,

so you’ll all serve strangers in a land that doesn’t belong to you.