9 I will take you to courtand accuse youand your descendants
10-11 of a crime that no nationhas ever committed before.Just ask anyone, anywhere,from the eastern desertsto the islands in the west.You will find that no nationhas ever abandoned its godseven though they were false.I am the true and glorious God,but you have rejected meto worship idols.
12 Tell the heavensto tremble with fear!
13 You, my people, have sinnedin two ways—you have rejected me, the sourceof life-giving water,and you've tried to collect waterin cracked and leaking pitsdug in the ground.
14 People of Israel,you weren't born slaves;you were captured in war.
15 Enemies roared like lionsand destroyed your land;towns lie burnt and empty.
16 Soldiers from the Egyptian townsof Memphis and Tahpanheshave cracked your skulls.