Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone!
But My people did not listen to My voice. Israel was not willing to be Mine.
They called out to them but they departed from their presence. They kept sacrificing to the Baalim and burning incense up to idols.
So a sword will fall on his cities, and destroy and devour his gate bars because of their own counsels.
“Ephraim surrounded Me with lies and the house of Israel with deceit.” Though Judah roams restlessly with God, yet he is faithful with holy things.
But now, they sin more and more. They made themselves molten images, idols skillfully made from their silver, all of them the work of the craftsmen. They say about them: “Let those who sacrifice kiss the calves.”
Yet let no one dispute and let no one argue. Your people are like a kohen who makes quarrels.
Leave them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do righteousness, and the holy still be holy.
