25 Israel, don't wear your feet out,or let your throat become dryfrom chasing after other gods.But you say, ‘No! I can't turn back.I have loved foreign godsand will go after them.’”
26 The Lord says, “Just as a thief is disgraced when caught, so all you people of Israel will be disgraced—your kings and officials, your priests and prophets.
27 You will all be disgraced—you that say that a tree is your father and that a rock is your mother. This will happen because you turned away from me instead of turning to me. But when you are in trouble, you ask me to come and save you.
28 “Where are the gods that you made for yourselves? When you are in trouble, let them save you—if they can! Judah, you have as many gods as you have cities.
29 What is your complaint? Why have you rebelled against me?
30 I punished you, but it did no good; you would not let me correct you. Like a raging lion, you have murdered your prophets.
31 People of Israel, listen to what I am saying. Have I been like a desert to you, like a dark and dangerous land? Why, then, do you say that you will do as you please, that you will never come back to me?