Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

⁷ You have made us an object of contention to our neighbors,
    a source of mockery to our enemies.
⁸ Restore us, O Lord of hosts;
    let your face shine upon us,
    and we will be saved.
^9 [a]You brought a vine^[b] out of Egypt;
    you dispersed the nations and planted it.
¹⁰ You prepared the ground for it;
    then it took root and filled the land.
¹¹ The mountains were covered with its shade
    and the cedars of God^[c] with its shoots.
¹² It sent out its boughs as far as the Sea,^[d]
    its shoots as far as the river.
^13 [e]Why have you broken down its walls
    so that all who pass by pluck its grapes?^[f]
14 The boars from the forest ravage it,
    and wild beasts of the field feed on it.
¹⁵ Turn once again to us, O Lord of hosts;^[g]
    look down from heaven and see;
take care of this vine,

²³ How can you say, “I am not defiled;
    I have not gone after the Baals”?
Recall your conduct in the valley;
    realize what you have done:
you have been like a restless she-camel
²⁴     sniffing the wind in her lust;
    who can restrain her ardor?
No males should exhaust themselves seeking her;
    in her month they will find her.
²⁵ You should stop before you wear out your shoes
    and your throat becomes parched.
But you said, “It is hopeless.
    I love these strangers,
    and I must go after them.”
²⁶ As a thief is ashamed when he is caught,
    so the house of Israel will be ashamed:
they, their kings, their officials,
    their priests, and their prophets,
²⁷ those who say to a piece of wood, “You are my father,”
    and to a stone, “You gave birth to me.”
They have turned their backs to me,
    not their faces;
yet, in their time of trouble, they cry out,
    “Rise up and save us!”
²⁸ Where are the gods you have made for yourself?
    Let them come to save you
    in your time of trouble.
For you have as many towns
    as you have gods, O Judah.
²⁹ Why do you dare to plead with me?
    You have all rebelled against me, says the Lord.
³⁰ In vain I struck down your children,
    but they refused to accept my correction.
Your own sword has devoured your prophets
    like a ravening lion.
³¹ You of this generation,
    behold the word of the Lord!
Have I been a desert for Israel
    or a land of darkness?
Why then do my people say,
    “We have broken away;
    we will come to you no more”?
³² Does a girl forget her jewelry
    or a bride her sash?
Yet for days beyond number
    my people have forgotten me.
³³ How well you direct your course
    in the pursuit of love.
Even wanton women have profited
    from their observance of your ways.
³⁴ On your clothing can be found
    the life-blood of the innocent poor,
    whom you never caught breaking into a house.
Despite all this,^[a]
35 you continue to proclaim, “I am innocent;
    obviously, he has no cause to be angry with me.”
But behold, I will bring judgment upon you
    for claiming that you have not sinned.
³⁶ How nonchalant you are
    as you change your course.
Just as you were shamed by Assyria,
    you will be put to shame by Egypt.
³⁷ From there also you will depart
    with your hands upon your head.
For the Lord has rejected those upon whom you rely,
    and with them you will not prosper.