14. “Israel is not a slave, is he?He was not born into slavery, was he?If not, why then is he being carried off?
15. Like lions his enemies roar victoriously over him;they raise their voices in triumph.They have laid his land waste;his cities have been burned down and deserted.
16. Even the soldiers from Memphis and Tahpanheshave cracked your skulls, people of Israel.
17. You have brought all this on yourself, Israel,by deserting the Lord your God when he was leading you along the right path.
18. What good will it do you then to go down to Egyptto seek help from the Egyptians?What good will it do you to go over to Assyriato seek help from the Assyrians?
19. Your own wickedness will bring about your punishment.Your unfaithful acts will bring down discipline on you.Know, then, and realize how utterly harmfulit was for you to reject me, the Lord your God,to show no respect for me,”says the Lord God who rules over all.
20. “Indeed, long ago you threw off my authorityand refused to be subject to me.You said, ‘I will not serve you.’Instead, you gave yourself to other gods on every high hilland under every green tree,like a prostitute sprawls out before her lovers.
21. I planted you in the land like a special vine of the very best stock.Why in the world have you turned into something like a wild vinethat produces rotten, foul-smelling grapes?
22. You can try to wash away your guilt with a strong detergent.You can use as much soap as you want.But the stain of your guilt is still there for me to see,”says the Lord God.
23. “How can you say, ‘I have not made myself unclean.I have not paid allegiance to the gods called Baal.’Just look at the way you have behaved in the Valley of Hinnom!Think about the things you have done there!You are like a flighty, young female camelthat rushes here and there, crisscrossing its path.
24. You are like a wild female donkey brought up in the wilderness.In her lust she sniffs the wind to get the scent of a male.No one can hold her back when she is in heat.None of the males need wear themselves out chasing after her.At mating time she is easy to find.
25. Do not chase after other gods until your shoes wear outand your throats become dry.But you say, ‘It is useless for you to try and stop mebecause I love those foreign gods and want to pursue them!’
26. Just as a thief has to suffer dishonor when he is caught,so the people of Israel will suffer dishonor for what they have done.So will their kings and officials,their priests and their prophets.
27. They say to a wooden idol, ‘You are my father.’They say to a stone image, ‘You gave birth to me.’Yes, they have turned away from me instead of turning to me.Yet when they are in trouble, they say, ‘Come and save us!’
28. But where are the gods you made for yourselves?Let them save you when you are in trouble.The sad fact is that you have as many godsas you have towns, Judah.