23. How can you say, ‘I am not unclean,I have not gone after the Baals’?Look at your way in the valley;know what you have done—a restless young camel running here and there,
24. a wild donkey used to the wilderness,in her heat sniffing the wind!Who can restrain her lust?None who seek her need weary themselves;in her month they will find her.
25. Keep your feet from going unshodand your throat from thirst.But you said, ‘It is hopeless, for I have loved foreigners,and after them I will go.’
26. “As a thief is shamed when caught,so the house of Israel shall be shamed: they, their kings, their officials,their priests, and their prophets,
27. who say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’For they have turned their back to me,and not their face.But in the time of their trouble they say,‘Arise and save us!’
28. But where are your godsthat you made for yourself?Let them arise, if they can save you,in your time of trouble;for as many as your citiesare your gods, O Judah.
29. “Why do you contend with me?You have all transgressed against me,declares the Lord.
30. In vain have I struck your children;they took no correction; your own sword devoured your prophetslike a ravening lion.
31. And you, O generation, behold the word of the Lord.Have I been a wilderness to Israel,or a land of thick darkness?Why then do my people say, ‘We are free,we will come no more to you’?
32. Can a virgin forget her ornaments,or a bride her attire?Yet my people have forgotten medays without number.
33. “How well you direct your courseto seek love!So that even to wicked womenyou have taught your ways.
34. Also on your skirts is found the lifeblood of the guiltless poor;you did not find them breaking in.Yet in spite of all these things
35. you say, ‘I am innocent;surely his anger has turned from me.’ Behold, I will bring you to judgmentfor saying, ‘I have not sinned.’
36. How much you go about,changing your way!You shall be put to shame by Egyptas you were put to shame by Assyria.