Jeremiah 2:20-30

20“For long ago 12I broke your yoke And tore off your bonds; But you said, ‘I will not serve!’ For on every 3high hill And under every green tree You have lain down as a harlot.21Yet I 4planted you a choice vine, A completely faithful seed. How then have you turned yourself before Me Into the 5degenerate shoots of a foreign vine?22Although you 6wash yourself with lye And 7use much soap, The 8stain of your iniquity is before Me,” declares the Lord 9God.23“10How can you say, ‘I am not defiled, I have not gone after the 11Baals’? Look at your way in the 12valley! Know what you have done! You are a swift young camel 13entangling her ways,24A 14wild donkey accustomed to the wilderness, That sniffs the wind in her passion. In the time of her 15heat who can turn her away? All who seek her will not become weary; In her month they will find her.25Keep your feet from being unshod And your throat from thirst; But you said, ‘16It is 17hopeless! No! For I have 18loved strangers, And after them I will walk.’

26“As the 19thief is shamed when he is discovered, So the house of Israel is shamed; They, their kings, their princes And their priests and their prophets,27Who say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ And to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ For they have turned their 20back to Me, And not their face; But in the 21time of their 22trouble they will say, ‘Arise and save us.’28But where are your 23gods Which you made for yourself? Let them arise, if they can 24save you In the time of your 25trouble; For 26according to the number of your cities Are your gods, O Judah.

29“Why do you contend with Me? You have 27all transgressed against Me,” declares the Lord.30“28In vain I have struck your sons; They accepted no chastening. Your 29sword has devoured your prophets Like a destroying lion.