As they remembertheir children,So they [remember] their altarsand their AsherimBy greentreeson the highhills.
They abandonedthe houseof the LORD,the Godof their fathers,and servedthe Asherimand the idols;so wrathcameupon Judahand Jerusalemfor thistheir guilt.
His prayeralso and [how God] was entreatedby him, and allhis sin,his unfaithfulness,and the siteson whichhe builthighplacesand erectedthe Asherimand the carvedimages,beforehe humbledhimself, behold,they are writtenin the recordsof the Hozai.
For he rebuiltthe highplaceswhichHezekiahhis fatherhad brokendown;he also erectedaltarsfor the Baalsand madeAsherim,and worshipedallthe hostof heavenand servedthem.
For they provokedHim with their highplacesAnd aroused His jealousywith their gravenimages.
"But [rather], you are to teardowntheir altarsand smashtheir [sacred] pillarsand cutdowntheir Asherim--
Surelyyou will be ashamedof the oakswhichyou have desired,And you will be embarrassedat the gardenswhichyou have chosen.
He will not haveregardfor the altars,the workof his hands,Norwill he lookto that whichhis fingershave made,Even the Asherimand incensestands.
"For longagoI brokeyour yoke[And] toreoffyour bonds;But you said,'I will not serve!'For on everyhighhillAnd undereverygreentreeYou have laindownas a harlot.
"Surely,the hillsare a deception,A tumult[on] the mountains.Surelyin the LORDour GodIs the salvationof Israel.
Then the LORDsaidto me in the daysof Josiahthe king,"Have you seenwhatfaithlessIsraeldid?She wentup on everyhighhilland undereverygreentree,and she was a harlotthere.
"The childrengatherwood,and the fatherskindlethe fire,and the womenkneaddoughto makecakesfor the queenof heaven;and [they] pourout drinkofferingsto othergodsin orderto spiteMe.
"When I had broughtthem into the landwhichI sworeto giveto them, then they saweveryhighhilland everyleafytree,and they offeredtheretheir sacrificesand therethey presentedthe provocationof their offering.Therealso they madetheir soothingaromaand therethey pouredout their drinkofferings.
"You shall utterlydestroyallthe placeswherethe nationswhomyou shall dispossessservetheir gods,on the highmountainsand on the hillsand undereverygreentree.
The sonsof Israeldidwhatwas evilin the sightof the LORD,and forgotthe LORDtheir Godand servedthe Baalsand the Asheroth.
