Ohthat I hadin the desertA wayfarers'lodgingplace;That I might leavemy peopleAnd gofrom them! For allof them are adulterers,An assemblyof treacherousmen.
For your handsare defiledwith bloodAnd your fingerswith iniquity;Your lipshave spokenfalsehood,Your tonguemutterswickedness.
Righteousare You, O LORD,that I would plead[my] casewith You; IndeedI would discussmattersof justicewith You: Whyhas the wayof the wickedprospered?[Why] are allthose who dealin treacheryat ease?
"For evenyour brothersand the householdof your father,Eventhey have dealttreacherouslywith you, Eventhey have criedaloudafteryou. Do not believethem, althoughthey may saynicethingsto you."
"Ifyou sayin your heart,Whyhave thesethingshappenedto me?' Because of the magnitudeof your iniquityYour skirtshave been removedAnd your heelshave been exposed.
For the landis fullof adulterers;For the landmournsbecauseof the curse.The pasturesof the wildernesshave driedup. Their coursealso is evilAnd their mightis not right.
"For My peopleare foolish,They knowMe not; They are stupidchildrenAnd havenounderstanding.They are shrewdto doevil,But to dogoodthey do not know."
"Roamto and frothrough the streetsof Jerusalem,And looknowand takenote.And seekin her opensquares,Ifyou can finda man,Ifthereis one who doesjustice,who seekstruth,Then I will pardonher.
"For the houseof Israeland the houseof JudahHave dealtverytreacherouslywith Me," declaresthe LORD.
"And althoughthey say,'As the LORDlives,'Surelythey swearfalsely."
[There is] swearing,deception,murder,stealingand adultery.They employviolence,so that bloodshedfollowsbloodshed.
They have dealttreacherouslyagainst the LORD,For they have borneillegitimatechildren.Nowthe newmoonwill devourthem with their land.
But like Adamthey have transgressedthe covenant;Therethey have dealttreacherouslyagainst Me.
They are alladulterers,Likean ovenheatedby the bakerWho ceasesto stirup [the fire] From the kneadingof the doughuntilit is leavened.
"For the richmenof [the] city are fullof violence,Her residentsspeaklies,And their tongueis deceitfulin their mouth.
Her prophetsare reckless,treacherousmen;Her priestshave profanedthe sanctuary.They have doneviolenceto the law.
"Judahhas dealttreacherously,and an abominationhas been committedin Israeland in Jerusalem;for Judahhas profanedthe sanctuaryof the LORDwhichHe lovesand has marriedthe daughterof a foreigngod.
"Yet you say,'For whatreason?'Becausethe LORDhas been a witnessbetweenyou and the wifeof your youth,against whomyou have dealttreacherously,though she is your companionand your wifeby covenant.
You adulteresses,do you not knowthat friendshipwith the worldis hostilitytoward God?Thereforewhoeverwishesto be a friendof the worldmakeshimself an enemyof God.
Allthat generationalsowere gatheredto their fathers;and there aroseanothergenerationafterthem whodid not knowthe LORD,noryetthe workwhichHe had donefor Israel.
