29 “Why do you bring charges against me?
    You have all(A) rebelled against me,”
declares the Lord.
30 “In vain I punished your people;
    they did not respond to correction.(B)
Your sword has devoured your prophets(C)
    like a ravenous lion.

31 “You of this generation, consider the word of the Lord:

“Have I been a desert to Israel
    or a land of great darkness?(D)
Why do my people say, ‘We are free to roam;
    we will come to you no more’?(E)
32 Does a young woman forget her jewelry,
    a bride her wedding ornaments?
Yet my people have forgotten(F) me,
    days without number.
33 How skilled you are at pursuing(G) love!
    Even the worst of women can learn from your ways.
34 On your clothes is found
    the lifeblood(H) of the innocent poor,
    though you did not catch them breaking in.(I)
Yet in spite of all this
35     you say, ‘I am innocent;(J)
    he is not angry with me.’
But I will pass judgment(K) on you
    because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’(L)
36 Why do you go about so much,
    changing(M) your ways?
You will be disappointed by Egypt(N)
    as you were by Assyria.
37 You will also leave that place
    with your hands on your head,(O)
for the Lord has rejected those you trust;
    you will not be helped(P) by them.

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29 Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the Lord.

30 In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

31 O generation, see ye the word of the Lord. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?

32 Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

33 Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.

34 Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.

35 Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.

36 Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.

37 Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head: for the Lord hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them.

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