this citie hath been to me, as a provocation of mine anger, &c.] Heb. for mine anger: or, upon my nose: or, anger. (See Isaiah 65:5.) set continually upon angring of me.
that I should remove it from before my face] Not that this was their intent and purpose; but a necessary effect of those their wicked courses, whereby they incessantly provoked God to wrath; and as sure to follow upon the same, as if they had for that very end purposely done what they did. So vers. 29. Chap. 27. 10.