"But Godturned awayand deliveredthem up to servethe hostof heaven;as it is writtenin the bookof the prophets,IT WAS NOT TO ME THAT YOU OFFEREDVICTIMSAND SACRIFICESFORTYYEARSIN THE WILDERNESS,WAS IT, O HOUSEOF ISRAEL?
They forsookallthe commandmentsof the LORDtheir Godand madefor themselves moltenimages,[even] twocalves,and madean Asherahand worshipedallthe hostof heavenand servedBaal.
For he rebuiltthe highplaceswhichHezekiahhis fatherhad destroyed;and he erectedaltarsfor Baaland madean Asherah,as Ahabkingof Israelhad done,and worshipedallthe hostof heavenand servedthem.
"For fortyyearsI loathed[that] generation,And saidthey are a peoplewho errin their heart,And they do not knowMy ways.
"You have not broughtto Me the sheepof your burntofferings,Norhave you honoredMe with your sacrifices.I have not burdenedyou with offerings,Norweariedyou with incense.
But they rebelledAnd grievedHis HolySpirit;Therefore He turnedHimself to become their enemy,He foughtagainst them.
SoI will choosetheir punishmentsAnd will bringon them whatthey dread.BecauseI called,but nooneanswered;I spoke,but they did not listen.And they didevilin My sightAnd chosethat in whichI did not delight."
"The housesof Jerusalemand the housesof the kingsof Judahwill be defiledlike the placeTopheth,because of allthe houseson whoserooftopsthey burnedsacrificesto allthe heavenlyhostand pouredout drinkofferingsto othergods."'"
"They will spreadthem out to the sun,the moonand to allthe hostof heaven,whichthey have lovedand whichthey have served,and whichthey have goneafterand whichthey have sought,and whichthey have worshiped.They will not be gatheredor buried;they will be as dungon the faceof the ground.
"I alsogavethem statutesthat were not goodand ordinancesby which they could not live;
"As for you, O houseof Israel,"thussaysthe LordGOD,"Go,serveeveryonehis idols;but lateryou will surelylistento Me, and My holynameyou will profanenolongerwith your giftsand with your idols.
Then He broughtme into the innercourtof the LORD'Shouse.And behold,at the entranceto the templeof the LORD,betweenthe porchand the altar,[were] about twenty-fivemenwith their backsto the templeof the LORDand their facestoward the east;and they were prostratingthemselves eastwardtoward the sun.
Ephraimis joinedto idols;Lethim alone.
"It is writtenin the prophets,AND THEY SHALL ALLBE TAUGHTOF GOD.'Everyonewho has heardand learnedfrom the Father,comesto Me.
"Thereforetake heed,sothat the thing spokenof in the Prophetsmay not comeupon [you]:
"This manledthem out, performingwondersand signsin the landof Egyptand in the RedSeaand in the wildernessfor fortyyears.
and has goneand servedothergodsand worshipedthem, or the sunorthe moonoranyof the heavenlyhost,whichI have not commanded,
"And [beware] not to liftup your eyesto heavenand seethe sunand the moonand the stars,allthe hostof heaven,and be drawnawayand worshipthem and servethem, those whichthe LORDyour Godhas allottedto allthe peoplesunderthe wholeheaven.
WHEREYOUR FATHERSTRIED[Me] BY TESTING[Me], AND SAWMY WORKSFOR FORTYYEARS.
"Ifyou forsakethe LORDand serveforeigngods,then He will turnand doyou harmand consumeyou afterHe has donegoodto you."
