The Wickedness of Judah

2  gHear, O heavens, and give ear, O hearth;

for the Lord has spoken:

“Children1 ihave I reared and brought up,

but they have rebelled against me.

3  The ox jknows its owner,

and the donkey its master’s crib,

but Israel does jnot know,

my people do not understand.”

4  Ah, sinful nation,

a people laden with iniquity,

koffspring of evildoers,

children who deal corruptly!

They have forsaken the Lord,

they have ldespised mthe Holy One of Israel,

they are utterly nestranged.

5  Why will you still be ostruck down?

Why will you pcontinue to rebel?

The whole head is sick,

and the whole heart faint.

6  qFrom the sole of the foot even to the head,

there is no soundness in it,

but bruises and sores

and raw wounds;

they are rnot pressed out or bound up

or softened with oil.

7  sYour country lies desolate;

your cities are burned with fire;

in your very presence

foreigners devour your land;

it is desolate, as overthrown by foreigners.