24 they and all the nations will say, ‘Why did Jehovah do this to this land?+ What caused this great, burning anger?’ 25 Then they will say, ‘It was because they abandoned the covenant of Jehovah,+ the God of their forefathers, which he made with them when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.+ 26 But they went and served other gods and bowed down to them, gods that they had not known and that he had not permitted them to worship.*+

8 And this house will become heaps of ruins.+ Everyone passing by it will stare in amazement and will whistle and say, ‘Why did Jehovah do that to this land and this house?’+ 9 Then they will say, ‘It was because they abandoned Jehovah their God, who had brought their forefathers out of the land of Egypt, and they embraced other gods and bowed down to them and served them. That is why Jehovah brought all this calamity on them.’”+

15 At you all those passing by on the road scornfully clap their hands.+

They whistle in amazement+ and shake their heads at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying:

“Is this the city about which they said, ‘It is perfect in beauty, the joy of all the earth’?”+