² Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners.^(A) They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors.^(B)

⁴ Do not be like your ancestors,^(A) to whom the earlier prophets^(B) proclaimed: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil ways^(C) and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me,^(D) declares the Lord.^(E)