Jerusalem’s Judgment Inescapable

¹² The word of the Lord came to me: ¹³ “Son of man, if a country sins^(A) against me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food supply^(B) and send famine upon it and kill its people and their animals,^{(C) 14} even if these three men—Noah,^(D) Daniel^[a](E) and Job^(F)—were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness,^(G) declares the Sovereign Lord.

¹⁵ “Or if I send wild beasts^(H) through that country and they leave it childless and it becomes desolate so that no one can pass through it because of the beasts,^{(I) 16} as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, even if these three men were in it, they could not save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved, but the land would be desolate.^(J)

¹⁷ “Or if I bring a sword^(K) against that country and say, ‘Let the sword pass throughout the land,’ and I kill its people and their animals,^{(L) 18} as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, even if these three men were in it, they could not save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved.

¹⁹ “Or if I send a plague into that land and pour out my wrath^(M) on it through bloodshed,^(N) killing its people and their animals,^{(O) 20} as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, even if Noah, Daniel and Job were in it, they could save neither son nor daughter. They would save only themselves by their righteousness.^(P)

¹⁰ Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets^(A) who spoke in the name of the Lord. ¹¹ As you know, we count as blessed^(B) those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance^(C) and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.^(D) The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.^(E)