13
For my people have committedtwoevils; they have forsaken me the fountain of livingwaters, and hewed them outcisterns,brokencisterns, that can hold no water.
14
Is Israel a servant? is he a homebornslave?why is he spoiled?
15
The young lionsroared upon him, and yelled* , and they made his landwaste: his cities are burned without inhabitant .
16
Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head.
17
Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God,when he led thee by the way?
18
And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?
19
Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the LordGOD of hosts.
20
For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst , I will not transgress ; when upon every highhill and under every greentree thou wanderest , playing the harlot .
21
Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a rightseed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strangevine unto me?
22
For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee muchsoap, yet thine iniquity is markedbefore me, saith the LordGOD.
23
How canst thou say , I am not polluted , I have not goneafterBaalim?see thy way in the valley,know what thou hast done : thou art a swiftdromedarytraversing her ways;