The LORDsaid,"Becausethey have forsakenMy lawwhichI setbeforethem, and have not obeyedMy voicenorwalkedaccording to it,
"But ifyou turnawayand forsakeMy statutesand My commandmentswhichI have setbeforeyou, and goand serveothergodsand worshipthem,
"Now,our God,whatshall we sayafterthis?For we have forsakenYour commandments,
Burningindignationhas seizedme becauseof the wicked,Who forsakeYour law.
Those who forsakethe lawpraisethe wicked,But those who keepthe lawstrivewith them.
Thiswickedpeople,whorefuseto listento My words,who walkin the stubbornnessof their heartsand have goneafterothergodsto servethem and to bowdownto them, let them be just like thiswaistbandwhichis totallyworthless.
"Then they will answer,'Becausethey forsookthe covenantof the LORDtheir Godand boweddownto othergodsand servedthem.'"
"It shall comeabout whenthey say,'Whyhas the LORDour Goddoneallthesethingsto us?' then you shall sayto them, 'As you have forsakenMe and servedforeigngodsin your land,soyou will servestrangersin a landthat is not yours.'
"Yet they did not listento Me or inclinetheir ear,but stiffenedtheir neck;they did moreevilthantheir fathers.
