² He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight,^(A) imitating the detestable practices of the nations that the Lord had dispossessed before the Israelites.^(B)

³ Indeed, this happened to Judah at the Lord’s command to remove them from his presence.^(A) It was because of the sins of Manasseh, according to all he had done,^{(B) 4} and also because of all the innocent blood he had shed. He had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood,^(C) and the Lord was not willing to forgive.