in orderto layholdof the heartsof the houseof Israelwhoare estrangedfrom Me through alltheir idols."'
Alas,sinfulnation,Peopleweigheddownwith iniquity,Offspringof evildoers,Sonswho actcorruptly!They have abandonedthe LORD,They have despisedthe HolyOneof Israel,They have turnedawayfrom Him.
"I, the LORD,searchthe heart,I testthe mind,Even to giveto eachmanaccording to his ways,According to the resultsof his deeds.
Thussaysthe LORD,"Whatinjusticedid your fathersfindin Me, That they wentfarfrom Me And walkedafteremptinessand becameempty?
Their heartis faithless;Nowthey must beartheir guilt.The LORD will breakdowntheir altars[And] destroytheir [sacred] pillars.
Then I annihilatedthe threeshepherdsin onemonth,for my soulwas impatientwith them, and their soulalsowas wearyof me.
And justas they did not see fitto acknowledgeGodany longer, Godgave them overto a depravedmind,to dothosethings which are not proper,
slanderers,haters of God,insolent,arrogant,boastful,inventorsof evil,disobedientto parents,
becausethe mind seton the fleshis hostiletowardGod;for it does not subjectitself to the lawof God,for it is not evenable[to do so],
Do not be deceived,Godis not mocked;for whatevera mansows,thishe will alsoreap.
beingdarkenedin their understanding,excludedfrom the lifeof Godbecauseof the ignorancethat is in them, becauseof the hardnessof their heart;
And although you were formerlyalienatedand hostilein mind,[engaged] in evildeeds,
Take care,brethren,that there not be in any oneof you an evil,unbelievingheartthat falls awayfrom the livingGod.
