5 This is what the LORD says: |
6 They did not ask, 'Where is the LORD ,
who brought us up out of Egypt
and led us through the barren wilderness, |
7 I brought you into a fertile land
to eat its fruit and rich produce.
But you came and defiled my land
and made my inheritance detestable. |
8 The priests did not ask,
'Where is the LORD ?'
Those who deal with the law did not know me;
the leaders rebelled against me.
The prophets prophesied by Baal,
following worthless idols. ... |
11 Has a nation ever changed its gods?
(Yet they are not gods at all.)
But my people have exchanged their3 2:11 Masoretic Text; an ancient Hebrew scribal tradition my Glory
for worthless idols. ... |
13 "My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water. ... |
20 "Long ago you broke off your yoke
and tore off your bonds;
you said, 'I will not serve you!'
Indeed, on every high hill
and under every spreading tree
you lay down as a prostitute. ... |
23 "How can you say, 'I am not defiled;
I have not run after the Baals'?
See how you behaved in the valley;
consider what you have done.
You are a swift she-camel ... |
27 They say to wood, 'You are my father,'
and to stone, 'You gave me birth.'
They have turned their backs to me
and not their faces;
yet when they are in trouble, they say,
'Come and save us!' |
28 Where then are the gods you made for yourselves?
Let them come if they can save you
when you are in trouble!
For you have as many gods
as you have towns, O Judah. |
29 "Why do you bring charges against me?
You have all rebelled against me,"
declares the LORD . |
30 "In vain I punished your people;
they did not respond to correction.
Your sword has devoured your prophets
like a ravening lion. |
31 "You of this generation, consider the word of the LORD : |
32 Does a maiden forget her jewelry,
a bride her wedding ornaments?
Yet my people have forgotten me,
days without number. |
33 How skilled you are at pursuing love!
Even the worst of women can learn from your ways. |
34 On your clothes men find
the lifeblood of the innocent poor,
though you did not catch them breaking in.
Yet in spite of all this |
35 you say, 'I am innocent;
he is not angry with me.'
But I will pass judgment on you
because you say, 'I have not sinned.' |
36 Why do you go about so much,
changing your ways?
You will be disappointed by Egypt
as you were by Assyria. |
37 You will also leave that place
with your hands on your head,
for the LORD has rejected those you trust;
you will not be helped by them. |
