Ezekiel

¹ God's Word came to me, saying,

² " 'Endtime. The end of business as usual for everyone.

³ I've launched my anger against you. I've issued my verdict on the way you live. I'll make you pay for your disgusting obscenities.

⁴ I won't feel sorry for you. I'll make you pay for the way you've lived: Your disgusting obscenities will boomerang on you, and you'll realize that I am God.'

⁵ 'Disaster after disaster! Look, it comes!

⁶ the end comes. The end is ripe. Watch out, it's coming!

⁷ Time's up. It's zero hour. No dragging of feet now, no bargaining for more time.

⁸ pay out my anger against you, Render my verdict on the way you've lived, make you pay for your disgusting obscenities.

⁹ I won't feel sorry for you. I'll make you pay for the way you've lived. Your disgusting obscenities will boomerang on you. Then you'll realize that it is I, God, who has hit you.

¹⁰ Fate has caught up with you. The scepter outsized and pretentious, pride bursting all bounds,

¹¹ brandishing the evil scepter. But there's nothing to them, and nothing will be left of them.

¹² Countdown: five, four, three, two... Buyer, don't crow; seller, don't worry: Judgment wrath has turned the world topsy-turvy.

¹³ It will never be the same again. But don't fantasize an upturn in the market. The country is bankrupt because of its sins, and it's not going to get any better.

¹⁴ "Present arms!" But no one marches into battle. My wrath has them paralyzed!

¹⁵ or else you go home and die of hunger and disease. Either get murdered out in the country or die of sickness or hunger in town.

¹⁶ They moan like doves in the valleys, Each one moaning for his own sins.

¹⁷ every knee turns to rubber.

¹⁸ sorry scarecrows, Shifty and shamefaced, with their heads shaved bald.

¹⁹ Their hard-earned cash stinks like garbage. They find that it won't buy a thing they either want or need on Judgment Day. They tripped on money and fell into sin.

²⁰ they deck out their vile and vulgar no-gods in finery. I'll make those god-obscenities a stench in their nostrils.

²¹ strangers will pick it up for free, the godless spit on it and make jokes.

²² as my treasured place and people are violated, As violent strangers walk in and desecrate place and people—

²³ as crime and violence fill the city.

²⁴ to move into their houses. I'll put a stop to the boasting and strutting of the high-and-mighty, And see to it that there'll be nothing holy left in their holy places.

²⁵ but there's no peace to be found—

²⁶ one rumor after another. They clamor for the prophet to tell them what's up, but nobody knows anything. Priests don't have a clue; the elders don't know what to say.

²⁷ the prince is devastated. The common people are paralyzed. Gripped by fear, they can't move. I'll deal with them where they are, judge them on their terms. They'll know that I am God.' "