8. The priests said not, Where is Jehovah? and they that handled the law knew me not; and the shepherds transgressed against me; and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
9. Therefore will I yet plead with you, saith Jehovah, and with your children's children will I plead.
10. For pass over to the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there have been such a thing.
11. Hath a nation changed its gods? and they are no gods; --but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.
12. Be astonished, ye heavens, at this, and shudder; be amazed very much, saith Jehovah.
13. For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, to hew them out cisterns, broken cisterns that hold no water.
14. Is Israel a bondman? Is he a home-born slave? Why is he become a spoil?
15. The young lions roared against him, they gave forth their voice, and they made his land desolate: his cities are burned, without inhabitant.
16. Even the children of Noph and Tahapanes have fed on the crown of thy head.
17. Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken Jehovah thy God at the time he was leading thee in the way?
18. And now, what hast thou to do with the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Shihor? And what hast thou to do with the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?
19. Thine own wickedness chastiseth thee, and thy backslidings reprove thee: know then and see that it is an evil thing and bitter that thou hast forsaken Jehovah thy God and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts.
20. For of old thou hast broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not serve. For upon every high hill, and under every green tree, thou bowest down, playing the harlot.
21. And I, --I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed; how then art thou turned into the degenerate shoots of a strange vine unto me?