4. Therefore I said, “Surely these are poor.They are foolish;For they do not know the way of the Lord,The judgment of their God.
5. I will go to the great men and speak to them,For they have known the way of the Lord,The judgment of their God.”But these have altogether broken the yokeAnd burst the bonds.
6. Therefore a lion from the forest shall slay them,A wolf of the deserts shall destroy them;A leopard will watch over their cities.Everyone who goes out from there shall be torn in pieces,Because their transgressions are many;Their backslidings have increased.
7. “How shall I pardon you for this?Your children have forsaken MeAnd sworn by those that are not gods.When I had fed them to the full,Then they committed adulteryAnd assembled themselves by troops in the harlots’ houses.
8. They were like well-fed lusty stallions;Every one neighed after his neighbor’s wife.
9. Shall I not punish them for these things?” says the Lord.“And shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?
10. “Go up on her walls and destroy,But do not make a complete end.Take away her branches,For they are not the Lord’s.
11. For the house of Israel and the house of JudahHave dealt very treacherously with Me,” says the Lord.
12. They have lied about the Lord,And said, “It is not He.Neither will evil come upon us,Nor shall we see sword or famine.