1
"The Lord says: I led my people out of slavery in Egypt; I gave them commandments through my servants, the prophets, but they refused to listen and ignored my teachings.
2
Jerusalem, the mother who brought them into the world, says to them, "Go your own way, my children; I am now a widow left completely alone. 1
3
I took great delight in bringing you up, but you sinned against the Lord God and did what I knew was wrong, so I mourned in deep grief when I lost you.
4
What can I do for you, now that I am a widow and left completely alone? Go, my children, and ask the Lord for mercy.'
5
"Father Ezra, I call on you to testify against these people as their mother has done, because they have refused to keep my covenant.
6
Now bring confusion on them and ruin on their mother, so that they will have no descendants.