24. A wild ass accustomed to the desert, in the desire of her soul. She gasps for wind in her rutting time. Who can quell her lust? All those who seek her will not grow weary, in her month they will find her.
25. Restrain your foot from being barefoot, and your throat from thirst. But you said, ‘It is hopeless. No! For I have loved strangers, and after them I will go.’
26. As the shame of a thief when he is caught in the act, so the house of Israel will be ashamed. They, their kings, their officials, and their priests, and their prophets.
27. Those who say to the tree, ‘You are my father,’ and to the stone, ‘You gave birth to me.’ For they have turned their backs to me, and not their faces. But in the time of their trouble they say, ‘Arise and save us.’
28. But where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them arise if they can save you in the time of your trouble. For according to the number of your towns are your gods, O Judah.
29. Why do you complain to me? All of you have rebelled against me,” declares Yahweh.
30. “For in vain I have struck your children. They accepted no discipline. Your sword devoured your prophets, like a ravening lion.
31. O generation, you see the word of Yahweh. Have I been a desert to Israel? Or a land of great darkness? Why do my people say, ‘We roam about freely, we will not come again to you’?
32. Can a young woman forget her ornaments? Or a bride her sashes? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
33. How well you do on your way to seek love! Therefore even to the wicked woman you can teach your ways.
34. Also on your skirts is found the blood of the life of the innocent, the poor. You did not find them in the act of breaking into a house. But in spite of all these things,