28. But where are the gods you made for yourselves?Let them save you when you are in trouble.The sad fact is that you have as many godsas you have towns, Judah.
29. “Why do you try to refute me?All of you have rebelled against me,”says the Lord.
30. “It did no good for me to punish your people.They did not respond to such correction.You slaughtered your prophetslike a voracious lion.”
31. You people of this generation, listen to what the Lord says.“Have I been like a wilderness to you, Israel?Have I been like a dark and dangerous land to you?Why then do you say, ‘We are free to wander.We will not come to you any more?’
32. Does a young woman forget to put on her jewels?Does a bride forget to put on her bridal attire?But my people have forgotten me for more days than can even be counted.
33. “My, how good you have becomeat chasing after your lovers!Why, you could even teach prostitutes a thing or two!
34. Even your clothes are stained withthe lifeblood of the poor who had not done anything wrong; you did not catch them breaking into your homes.Yet, in spite of all these things you have done,
35. you say, ‘I have not done anything wrong,so the Lord cannot really be angry with me any more.’But, watch out! I will bring down judgment on youbecause you say, ‘I have not committed any sin.’
36. Why do you constantly go aboutchanging your political allegiances?You will get no help from Egyptjust as you got no help from Assyria.
37. Moreover, you will come away from Egyptwith your hands covering your faces in sorrow and shamebecause the Lord will not allow your reliance on them to be successfuland you will not gain any help from them.