1The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
2“Son of man, face the mountains of Israel and prophesy against them,
3and say, ‘Mountains of Israel, listen to the word of the Lord Yahweh! This is what the Lord Yahweh says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: “Watch out! I myself will bring a sword against you and destroy your high places.”
4Your altars will be ruined, and your incense altars will be smashed. I will throw your dead bodies down in front of your idols.
5I will lay the dead bodies of the people of Israel before their idols, and I will scatter your bones around your altars.
6In all the places where you live, the cities will be ruined and the high places will be destroyed. This is so your altars will be ruined and laid waste, your idols will be broken and gone, your incense altars will be cut down, and your works will be abolished.
7The dead will fall among you, and then you will know that I am Yahweh.
8“‘“But I will leave a few survivors, some of you who escape the sword among the nations, when you are scattered throughout the countries.
9Those of you who escape will remember me among the nations where they are taken captive. They will remember how I was grieved by their unfaithful hearts that turned away from me and by their eyes that lusted after their idols. Then they will despise themselves for all the evil things they have done and all their detestable practices.
10They will know that I am Yahweh. I did not threaten to bring this disaster on them for no reason.”’
11“This is what the Lord Yahweh says: ‘Clap your hands and stamp your feet, and cry “Alas!” because of all the evil and detestable practices of the house of Israel. For they will fall by war, famine, and disease.
12Those who are far away will die of disease. Those who are near will fall by the sword. Those who remain and are under siege will die of famine. In this way, I will fully unleash my anger on them.
13Then you will know that I am Yahweh, when their slain men lie among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, under every green tree, and under every thick oak, the places where they offered sweet-smelling offerings to all their idols.
14I will stretch out my hand against them and make the land desolate and waste, from the wilderness to Diblah, throughout all their inhabited places. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.”’