3. Israel was holy to the Lord, the firstfruits of his harvest. All who ate of it incurred guilt;disaster came upon them,declares the Lord.”
4. Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the clans of the house of Israel.
5. Thus says the Lord: “What wrong did your fathers find in methat they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?
6. They did not say, ‘Where is the Lordwho brought us up from the land of Egypt,who led us in the wilderness,in a land of deserts and pits,in a land of drought and deep darkness,in a land that none passes through,where no man dwells?’
7. And I brought you into a plentiful landto enjoy its fruits and its good things.But when you came in, you defiled my landand made my heritage an abomination.
8. The priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those who handle the law did not know me; the shepherds transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Baaland went after things that do not profit.
9. “Therefore I still contend with you,declares the Lord,and with your children’s children I will contend.
10. For cross to the coasts of Cyprus and see,or send to Kedar and examine with care;see if there has been such a thing.
11. Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods?But my people have changed their gloryfor that which does not profit.
12. Be appalled, O heavens, at this;be shocked, be utterly desolate,declares the Lord,
13. for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me,the fountain of living waters,and hewed out cisterns for themselves,broken cisterns that can hold no water.
14. “Is Israel a slave? Is he a homeborn servant?Why then has he become a prey?
15. The lions have roared against him;they have roared loudly.They have made his land a waste;his cities are in ruins, without inhabitant.
16. Moreover, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the crown of your head.
17. Have you not brought this upon yourselfby forsaking the Lord your God,when he led you in the way?
18. And now what do you gain by going to Egyptto drink the waters of the Nile? Or what do you gain by going to Assyriato drink the waters of the Euphrates?
19. Your evil will chastise you,and your apostasy will reprove you.Know and see that it is evil and bitterfor you to forsake the Lord your God;the fear of me is not in you,declares the Lord God of hosts.
20. “For long ago I broke your yokeand burst your bonds;but you said, ‘I will not serve.’Yes, on every high hilland under every green treeyou bowed down like a whore.
21. Yet I planted you a choice vine,wholly of pure seed. How then have you turned degenerateand become a wild vine?
22. Though you wash yourself with lyeand use much soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me,declares the Lord God.
23. How can you say, ‘I am not unclean,I have not gone after the Baals’?Look at your way in the valley;know what you have done—a restless young camel running here and there,