5. Let me go to important people and speak to them.They know the way of the Lordand the justice that God demands.”But they, too, had broken off their yokes and torn off their chains.
6. That is why a lion from the forest will attack them.A wolf from the wilderness will destroy them.A leopard will lie in ambush outside their cities.All who leave the cities will be torn to pieces,because they rebel so oftenand they become more and more unfaithful.
7. “Why should I forgive you?Your children abandoned me.They took godless oaths.They committed adultery, even though I satisfied their needs.They traveled in crowds to the houses of prostitutes.
8. They are like well-fed stallions that are wild with desire.They neigh for their neighbors’ wives.
9. I will punish them for these things,” declares the Lord.“I will punish this nation.
10. “Go among Jerusalem’s rows of grapevines and destroy them,but don’t destroy all of them.Cut off the branches because they don’t belong to the Lord.
11. The nations of Israel and Judah are unfaithful to me,”declares the Lord.
12. They lie about the Lord and say,“He doesn’t exist!Nothing bad will happen to us.We won’t experience war or famine.