1. People of Judah,your sins cannot be erased.They are written on your heartslike words chiselled in stoneor carved on the cornersof your altars.
2-3. One generation after anotherhas set up pagan altarsand worshipped the goddess Asheraheverywhere in your country—on hills and mountains,and under large trees.So I'll take everything you own,including your altars,and give it allto your enemies.
4. You will lose the landthat I gave you,and I will make you slavesin a foreign country,because you have made my angerblaze up like a firethat won't stop burning.
5. I, the Lord, have put a curseon those who turn from meand trust in human strength.
6. They will dry up like a bushin salty desert soil,where nothing can grow.
7. But I will bless thosewho trust me.
8. They will be like treesgrowing beside a stream—trees with roots that reachdown to the water,and with leavesthat are always green.They bear fruit every yearand are never worriedby a lack of rain.
9. You people of Judahare so deceitfulthat you even fool yourselves,and you can't change.