say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ and to a stone, ‘You gave birth to me.’ For they have turned their back to me and not their face, yet in their time of disaster they beg, ‘Rise up and save us! ’
Look to the barren heights and see. Where have you not been immoral? You sat waiting for them beside the roads like a nomad in the desert. You have defiled the land with your prostitution and wickedness.
Your portion is among the smooth stones of the wadi; indeed, they are your lot. You have even poured out a drink offering to them; you have offered a grain offering; should I be satisfied with these?
Woe to him who says to wood: Wake up! or to mute stone: Come alive! Can it teach? Look! It may be plated with gold and silver, yet there is no breath in it at all.
My people consult their wooden idols, and their divining rods inform them. For a spirit of promiscuity leads them astray; they act promiscuously in disobedience to their God.
They exposed her nakedness, seized her sons and daughters, and killed her with the sword. Since they executed judgement against her, she became notorious among women.
You also took your beautiful jewellery made from the gold and silver I had given you, and you made male images so that you could engage in prostitution with them.
But I tell you, everyone who divorces his wife, except in a case of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
I will first repay them double for their iniquity and sin because they have polluted my land. They have filled my inheritance with the carcasses of their abhorrent and detestable idols.’
Rebuke your mother; rebuke her. For she is not my wife and I am not her husband. Let her remove the promiscuous look from her face and her adultery from between her breasts.