Then the Lordsaid,"Becausethispeopledrawnearwith their wordsAnd honorMe with their lipservice,But they removetheir heartsfarfrom Me, And their reverencefor Me consistsof traditionlearned[by rote],
You have plantedthem, they have alsotakenroot;They grow,they have evenproducedfruit.You are nearto their lipsBut farfrom their mind.
"Yetin spite of allthisher treacheroussisterJudahdid not returnto Me with allher heart,but ratherin deception,"declaresthe LORD.
Do not addto His wordsOrHe will reproveyou, and you will be proveda liar.
(whichall[refer] [to] things destined to perishwith use)--in accordancewith the commandmentsand teachingsof men?
"And althoughthey say,'As the LORDlives,'Surelythey swearfalsely."
For you have [only] deceivedyourselves;for it is you who sentme to the LORDyour God,saying,"Prayfor us to the LORDour God;and whateverthe LORDour Godsays,tellus so,and we will doit."
Heara justcause,O LORD,giveheedto my cry;Giveearto my prayer,which is not from deceitfullips.
I sendit against a godlessnationAnd commissionit againstthe peopleof My furyTo capturebootyand to seizeplunder,And to tramplethem downlike mudin the streets.
Then he said,"I have sinned;[but] pleasehonorme nowbeforethe eldersof my peopleand beforeIsrael,and gobackwith me, that I may worshipthe LORDyour God."
But to the wickedGodsays,"Whatright have you to tellof My statutesAnd to takeMy covenantin your mouth?
Woe,O Ariel,Arielthe city[where] David[once] camped!Addyearto year,observe[your] feastson schedule.
Then the bookwill be givento the one whois illiterate,saying,"Pleasereadthis."And he will say,"I cannotread."
So He pouredout on him the heatof His angerAnd the fiercenessof battle;And it sethim aflameallaround,Yet he did not recognize[it]; And it burnedhim, but he paidnoattention.
Why,O LORD,do You cause us to strayfrom Your waysAnd hardenour heartfrom fearingYou? Returnfor the sakeof Your servants,the tribesof Your heritage.
Then someeldersof Israelcameto me and satdownbeforeme.
"But as for you, sonof man,your fellowcitizenswho talkabout you by the wallsand in the doorwaysof the houses,speakto oneanother,eachto his brother,saying,Comenowand hearwhatthe messageis which comesforthfrom the LORD.'
"Getout of the way,turnasidefrom the path,Let us hearnomoreabout the HolyOneof Israel."
And they do not cryto Me from their heartWhenthey wailon their beds;For the sakeof grainand newwinethey assemblethemselves, They turnawayfrom Me.
