5 So I will go to the leaders of Judahand talk to them.Surely they understand the way of the Lordand know what God wants them to do.”But even the leaders had all joined together to break away from the Lord;they had broken their ties with him.
6 So a lion from the forest will attack them.A wolf from the desert will kill them.A leopard is waiting for them near their towns.It will tear to pieces anyone who comes out of the city,because the people of Judah have sinned greatly.They have wandered away from the Lord many times.
7 The Lord said, “Tell me why I should forgive you.Your children have left meand have made promises to idols that are not gods at all.I gave your children everything they needed,but they still were like an unfaithful wife to me.They spent much time in houses of prostitutes.
8 They are like well-fed horses filled with sexual desire;each one wants another man’s wife.
9 Shouldn’t I punish the people of Judah for doing these things?” says the Lord.“Shouldn’t I give a nation such as this the punishment it deserves?
10 “Go along and cut down Judah’s vineyards,but do not completely destroy them.Cut off all her people as if they were branches,because they do not belong to the Lord.
11 The families of Israel and Judahhave been completely unfaithful to me,” says the Lord.