Thussaysthe LORD,"Whatinjusticedid your fathersfindin Me, That they wentfarfrom Me And walkedafteremptinessand becameempty?
They rejectedHis statutesand His covenantwhichHe madewith their fathersand His warningswith whichHe warnedthem. And they followedvanityand becamevain,and [went] afterthe nationswhichsurroundedthem, concerning whichthe LORDhad commandedthem not to dolike them.
Those who makethem will becomelikethem, Everyonewhotrustsin them.
Then the Lordsaid,"Becausethispeopledrawnearwith their wordsAnd honorMe with their lipservice,But they removetheir heartsfarfrom Me, And their reverencefor Me consistsof traditionlearned[by rote],
Those who fashiona gravenimageare allof them futile,and their preciousthingsare of noprofit;even their own witnessesfailto seeor know,sothat they will be putto shame.
"Listento Me, you stubborn-minded,Who are farfrom righteousness.
But they are altogetherstupidand foolish[In their] disciplineof delusion--their idol is wood!
You have plantedthem, they have alsotakenroot;They grow,they have evenproducedfruit.You are nearto their lipsBut farfrom their mind.
Are thereanyamong the idolsof the nationswho giverain?Orcan the heavensgrantshowers?Is it not You, O LORDour God?Therefore we hopein You, For You are the one who has doneallthesethings.
"O generation,heedthe wordof the LORD.Have I beena wildernessto Israel,Ora landof thickdarkness?Whydo My peoplesay,We [are free to] roam;We will nolongercometo You'?
Hearthe wordof the LORD,O houseof Jacob,and allthe familiesof the houseof Israel.
Behold,listen!The cryof the daughterof my peoplefrom a distantland:"Is the LORDnot in Zion?Is her Kingnot within her?" "Whyhave they provokedMe with their gravenimages,with foreignidols?"
"Sonof man,your brothers,your relatives,your fellowexilesand the wholehouseof Israel,allof them, [are those] to whomthe inhabitantsof Jerusalemhave said,'Gofarfrom the LORD;thislandhas been givenus as a possession.'
in orderto layholdof the heartsof the houseof Israelwhoare estrangedfrom Me through alltheir idols."'
"Those who regardvainidolsForsaketheir faithfulness,
THISPEOPLEHONORSME WITH THEIR LIPS,BUT THEIR HEARTIS FARAWAYFROM ME.
and saying,"Men,whyare you doingthese things?We are alsomenof the same natureas you, and preach the gospelto you that you should turnfrom thesevain thingsto a livingGod,WHOMADETHE HEAVENAND THE EARTHAND THE SEAAND ALLTHAT IS IN THEM.
For even though they knewGod,they did not honorHim as Godorgive thanks,but they became futilein their speculations,and their foolishheartwas darkened.
They have madeMe jealouswith [what] is not God;They have provokedMe to angerwith their idols.So I will make them jealouswith [those who] are not a people;I will provokethem to angerwith a foolishnation,
"You must not turnaside,for [then you would go] afterfutilethingswhichcan not profitor deliver,becausethey are futile.
