20. “Indeed, long ago I broke your yoke and tore off your bonds. You said, ‘I will not serve!’ Instead, on every high hill and under every green tree you sprawled out as a prostitute.
21. Yet I had planted you as a choice vine from completely faithful seed. How then did you become to Me a wandering wild vine?
22. Even though you wash with lye and use an abundance of soap, the stain of your iniquity is before Me.” It is a declaration of the Lord Adonai.
23. “How can you say, ‘I am not defiled— I have not gone after the Baalim? Look at your behavior in the Valley! Recognize what you have done. You are a swift young camel galloping aimlessly,
24. a wild donkey used to the wilderness— sniffing the wind in her passion— in her heat, who can restrain her? All males that pursue her will not tire themselves. At mating time they will find her.
25. Do not run while your feet are bare and your throat is thirsty. But you said ‘There is no hope! No! For I have loved foreign gods and I will go after them.’
26. As a thief is shamed when caught, so the house of Israel is shamed— they, their kings, their princes, their kohanim and their prophets.
27. They say to wood, ‘You are my father’ and to a stone, ‘You birthed me.’ They have turned their back to Me and not their face. Yet when they are in trouble they say, ‘Rise up and save us!’
28. Where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them come—if they can save you when you are in trouble! For you have as many gods as y0u have cities, O Judah.
29. Why do you strive with Me? You have all rebelled against Me.” It is a declaration of Adonai.
30. “In vain I struck your children. They took no correction. Your sword devoured your prophets like a ravaging lion.”
31. You, generation, heed Adonai’s word! “Have I been a wilderness to Israel or a land of thick darkness? Why do My people say, ‘We are free to roam. We won’t come to You any more’?
32. Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me, days without number.
33. How clever are your ways of seeking love. Therefore you even taught wicked women your ways.
34. Moreover on your skirts is found the blood of the innocent poor —you did not find them breaking in. Yet in spite of all these things,
35. you say, ‘I am innocent— surely His anger is turned away from me?’ See, I will pass judgment on you, since you say: ‘I haven’t sinned!’
36. Why do you make light of changing your way? You will be put to shame by Egypt as you were put to shame by Assyria.
37. You will also go out from there with your hands on your head. For Adonai has rejected those in whom you trust— you will not prosper by them.”