Jeremiah 2:20-28

20‘A long time ago, you stopped obeying me. You refused to accept my authority. You said, “I will not serve you!” Instead, you go up on the hills to worship other gods. You lie down under the green trees, and you live like prostitutes.

21I planted you in my land, like the very good seed of a vine. But see how you have changed! You have become like a wild vine. Your grapes are bad and useless.

22You may use strong soap to make yourselves clean. But I still see the dirt of your sins.’ That is what the Almighty Lord says.

23‘You say, “We have not made ourselves unclean. We do not worship the idols of Baal.” But remember what you have done in the valleys. You hurry to find another idol that you can worship. Like a female camel, you cannot control yourselves.

24You are like a wild female donkey that lives in the wilderness. She lifts her nose to smell the air. She wants to find a male donkey. Nobody can control her. Male donkeys do not have to chase her. She will come to them to have sex with them. You are like that as you chase after false gods.

25Stop running after them! Your feet will hurt and you will become very thirsty. You say, “Do not try to stop us! We cannot turn back. We love foreign gods and we must serve them!”

26A robber is ashamed when people catch him. The people of Israel will become ashamed like that. They will all be ashamed of their sins. Their kings, their officers, their priests and their prophets are all guilty.

27They worship a piece of wood, and they say, “You are my father.” They say to a stone, “You gave birth to me.” They have not turned to come to me. Instead, they have turned away from me. But when trouble comes to them, they call out to me to rescue them.

28But where are the gods that you made for yourselves? Ask them to save you when trouble comes! You have enough gods to give you help. Yes, people of Judah, your gods are as many as your towns!