20 “For long ago I (A)broke your yoke
    and burst your bonds;
    but you said, (B)‘I will not serve.’
Yes, (C)on every high hill
    and under every green tree
    you bowed down (D)like a whore.
21 (E)Yet I planted you a choice vine,
    wholly of pure seed.
(F)How then have you turned degenerate
    and become a wild vine?
22 Though you wash yourself with lye
    and use much soap,
    (G)the stain of your guilt is still before me,
declares the Lord God.
23 (H)How can you say, ‘I am not unclean,
    I have not gone after the Baals’?
Look at your way (I)in the valley;
    know what you have done—
a restless young camel running here and there,
24     (J)a wild donkey used to the wilderness,
in her heat sniffing the wind!
    Who can restrain her lust?
None who seek her need weary themselves;
    in her month they will find her.
25 Keep (K)your feet from going unshod
    and (L)your throat from thirst.
But you said, ‘It is hopeless,
    (M)for I have loved foreigners,
    and after them I will go.’

26 “As a thief is shamed when caught,
    so the house of Israel shall be shamed:
(N)they, their kings, their officials,
    their priests, and their prophets,
27 who say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’
    and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’
For they have turned their back to me,
    and not their face.
But (O)in the time of their trouble they say,
    ‘Arise and save us!’
28 But (P)where are your gods
    that you made for yourself?
Let them arise, (Q)if they can save you,
    in your time of trouble;
for (R)as many as your cities
    are your gods, O Judah.

Read full chapter

20 “Long ago you broke off your yoke(A)
    and tore off your bonds;(B)
    you said, ‘I will not serve you!’(C)
Indeed, on every high hill(D)
    and under every spreading tree(E)
    you lay down as a prostitute.(F)
21 I had planted(G) you like a choice vine(H)
    of sound and reliable stock.
How then did you turn against me
    into a corrupt,(I) wild vine?
22 Although you wash(J) yourself with soap(K)
    and use an abundance of cleansing powder,
    the stain of your guilt is still before me,”
declares the Sovereign Lord.(L)
23 “How can you say, ‘I am not defiled;(M)
    I have not run after the Baals’?(N)
See how you behaved in the valley;(O)
    consider what you have done.
You are a swift she-camel
    running(P) here and there,
24 a wild donkey(Q) accustomed to the desert,(R)
    sniffing the wind in her craving—
    in her heat who can restrain her?
Any males that pursue her need not tire themselves;
    at mating time they will find her.
25 Do not run until your feet are bare
    and your throat is dry.
But you said, ‘It’s no use!(S)
    I love foreign gods,(T)
    and I must go after them.’(U)

26 “As a thief is disgraced(V) when he is caught,
    so the people of Israel are disgraced—
they, their kings and their officials,
    their priests(W) and their prophets.(X)
27 They say to wood,(Y) ‘You are my father,’
    and to stone,(Z) ‘You gave me birth.’
They have turned their backs(AA) to me
    and not their faces;(AB)
yet when they are in trouble,(AC) they say,
    ‘Come and save(AD) us!’
28 Where then are the gods(AE) you made for yourselves?
    Let them come if they can save you
    when you are in trouble!(AF)
For you, Judah, have as many gods
    as you have towns.(AG)

Read full chapter