26. ‘As a thief is disgraced when he is caught,so the people of Israel are disgraced –they, their kings and their officials,their priests and their prophets.
27. They say to wood, “You are my father,”and to stone, “You gave me birth.”They have turned their backs to meand 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 youwhen you are in trouble!For you, Judah, have as many godsas you have towns.
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 prophetslike a ravenous lion.
31. ‘You of this generation, consider the word of the Lord:‘Have I been a desert to Israelor a land of great darkness?Why do my people say, “We are free to roam;we will come to you no more”?
32. Does a young woman forget her jewellery,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 is foundthe 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 youbecause you say, “I have not sinned.”
36. Why do you go about so much,changing your ways?You will be disappointed by Egyptas you were by Assyria.
37. You will also leave that placewith your hands on your head,for the Lord has rejected those you trust;you will not be helped by them.