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Hear the word of the Lord, family of Jacob.
    Hear the message, all you family groups of Israel.

This is what the Lord says:

“I was fair to your ancestors.
    Why did they turn away from me?
Your ancestors worshiped useless idols.
    And they became useless themselves.
Your ancestors didn’t say,
    ‘The Lord brought us out of Egypt.
He led us through the desert.
    He led us through a dry and rocky land.
He led us through a dark and dangerous land.
    He led us where no one travels or lives.
But where is he now?’
I brought you into a fertile land.
    I did this so you could eat its fruit and produce.
But you came and made my land unclean.
    You made it a hated place.
The priests didn’t ask,
    ‘Where is the Lord?’
The people who know the teachings didn’t know me.
    The leaders turned against me.
The prophets prophesied in the name of Baal.
    They worshiped useless idols.

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Hear the word of the Lord, you descendants of Jacob,
    all you clans of Israel.

This is what the Lord says:

“What fault did your ancestors find in me,
    that they strayed so far from me?
They followed worthless idols(A)
    and became worthless(B) themselves.
They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord,
    who brought us up out of Egypt(C)
and led us through the barren wilderness,
    through a land of deserts(D) and ravines,(E)
a land of drought and utter darkness,
    a land where no one travels(F) and no one lives?’
I brought you into a fertile land
    to eat its fruit and rich produce.(G)
But you came and defiled my land
    and made my inheritance detestable.(H)
The priests did not ask,
    ‘Where is the Lord?’
Those who deal with the law did not know me;(I)
    the leaders(J) rebelled against me.
The prophets prophesied by Baal,(K)
    following worthless idols.(L)

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