The forest toward the south

1And the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,

2Son of man, set your face toward the south, and preach toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field in the Negeb.

3And say to the forest of the Negev, ‘Hear the word of Yahweh. Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am kindling a fire in you, and it will consume in you every green tree and every dry tree. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and by it every face from south to north will be scorched.’

4And all flesh will see that I, Yahweh, have kindled it; it will not be quenched.

5Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! They are saying of me, ‘Is he not a speaker of parables?’”