"Listento Me, you stubborn-minded,Who are farfrom righteousness.
Thussaysthe LORD,"Whatinjusticedid your fathersfindin Me, That they wentfarfrom Me And walkedafteremptinessand becameempty?
"Listento Me, O houseof Jacob,And allthe remnantof the houseof Israel,You who have been borneby Me from birthAnd have been carriedfrom the womb;
Those who followafter wickednessdrawnear;They are farfrom Your law.
But nowin ChristJesusyou whoformerlywere far offhave been broughtnearby the bloodof Christ.
"BecauseI knowthat you are obstinate,And your neckis an ironsinewAnd your foreheadbronze,
Giveearand hearmy voice,Listenand hearmy words.
Salvationis farfrom the wicked,For they do not seekYour statutes.
The stoutheartedwere plundered,They sankinto sleep;And noneof the warriorscould usehis hands.
Hearthis,allpeoples;Giveear,allinhabitantsof the world,
For this reasonit says,"Awake,sleeper,And arisefrom the dead,And Christwill shineon you."
"You men who are stiff-neckedand uncircumcisedin heartand earsare alwaysresistingthe HolySpirit;you are doing justas your fathersdid.
"Hearthis,O houseof Jacob,who are namedIsraelAnd who cameforthfrom the loinsof Judah,Who swearby the nameof the LORDAnd invokethe Godof Israel,[But] not in truthnorin righteousness.
"Gatheryourselves and come;Drawneartogether,you fugitivesof the nations;They havenoknowledge,Who carryabout their woodenidolAnd prayto a godwho cannotsave.
And allthe peopleknow[it], [That is], Ephraimand the inhabitantsof Samaria,Assertingin prideand in arroganceof heart:
Justiceis turnedback,And righteousnessstandsfaraway;For truthhas stumbledin the street,And uprightnesscannotenter.
For allof us have becomelike one who is unclean,And allour righteousdeedsare like a filthygarment;And allof us witherlike a leaf,And our iniquities,like the wind,takeus away.
For the vineyardof the LORDof hostsis the houseof IsraelAnd the menof JudahHis delightfulplant.Thus He lookedfor justice,but behold,bloodshed;For righteousness,but behold,a cryof distress.
Therefore,hearthe wordof the LORD,O scoffers,Who rulethispeoplewhoare in Jerusalem,
Yes, truthis lacking;And he who turnsasidefrom evilmakeshimself a prey.Now the LORDsaw,And it was displeasingin His sightthat therewas nojustice.
[For] those who turnjusticeinto wormwoodAnd castrighteousnessdownto the earth."
Whydo You makeme seeiniquity,And cause [me] to lookon wickedness?Yes, destructionand violenceare beforeme; Strifeexistsand contentionarises.
