The more they calledthem, The morethey wentfrom them; They kept sacrificingto the BaalsAnd burningincenseto idols.
Then he wentup to the altarwhichhe had madein Bethelon the fifteenthdayin the eighthmonth,even in the monthwhichhe had devisedin his own heart;and he instituteda feastfor the sonsof Israeland wentup to the altarto burnincense.
"Nowthen send[and] gatherto me allIsraelat MountCarmel,[together] with 450prophetsof Baaland 400prophetsof the Asherah,who eatat Jezebel'stable."
"However, You borewith them for manyyears,And admonishedthem by Your SpiritthroughYour prophets,Yet they would not giveear.Therefore You gavethem into the handof the peoplesof the lands.
Both their own iniquitiesand the iniquitiesof their fatherstogether,"saysthe LORD."Becausethey have burnedincenseon the mountainsAnd scornedMe on the hills,Therefore I will measuretheir formerworkinto their bosom."
For My peoplehave forgottenMe, They burnincenseto worthlessgods And they have stumbledfrom their ways,From the ancientpaths,To walkin bypaths,Not on a highway,
"Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,the Godof Israel,'Goand sayto the menof Judahand the inhabitantsof Jerusalem,"Will you not receiveinstructionby listeningto My words?"declaresthe LORD.
But they did not listenor inclinetheir earsto turnfrom their wickedness,so as not to burnsacrificesto othergods.
So My peopleare benton turningfrom Me. Though they callthem to [the One] on high,Noneat allexalts[Him].
"I will punishher for the daysof the BaalsWhenshe used to offersacrificesto them And adornherself with her earringsand jewelry,And followher lovers,so that she forgotMe," declaresthe LORD.
They offersacrificeson the topsof the mountainsAnd burnincenseon the hills,Underoak,poplarand terebinth,Becausetheir shadeis pleasant.Thereforeyour daughtersplaythe harlotAnd your bridescommitadultery.
Ephraimis joinedto idols;Lethim alone.
"Do not be like your fathers,to whomthe formerprophetsproclaimed,saying,'Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,"Returnnowfrom your evilwaysand from your evildeeds."'But they did not listenor giveheedto Me," declaresthe LORD.
"But they refusedto payattentionand turneda stubbornshoulderand stoppedtheir earsfrom hearing.
"O Jerusalem,Jerusalem,[the city] that killsthe prophetsand stonesthosesentto her! How oftenI wantedto gatheryour childrentogether,justas a hen[gathers] her broodunderher wings,and you wouldnot [have it]!
"Thisis the judgment,that the Lighthas comeinto the world,and menlovedthe darknessratherthanthe Light,for their deedswere evil.
"You men who are stiff-neckedand uncircumcisedin heartand earsare alwaysresistingthe HolySpirit;you are doing justas your fathersdid.
Then the sonsof Israelagaindidevilin the sightof the LORD,servedthe Baalsand the Ashtaroth,the godsof Aram,the godsof Sidon,the godsof Moab,the godsof the sonsof Ammon,and the godsof the Philistines;thus they forsookthe LORDand did not serveHim.
So they forsookthe LORDand servedBaaland the Ashtaroth.
The sonsof Israeldidwhatwas evilin the sightof the LORD,and forgotthe LORDtheir Godand servedthe Baalsand the Asheroth.
