Jeremiah 2:23–25

“How can you say, ‘I am not defiled;

I have not run after the Baals’?

See how you behaved in the valley;

consider what you have done.

You are a swift she-camel

running here and there,

a wild donkey accustomed to the desert,

sniffing the wind in her craving—

in her heat who can restrain her?

Any males that pursue her need not tire themselves;

at mating time they will find her.

Do not run until your feet are bare

and your throat is dry.

But you said, ‘It’s no use!

I love foreign gods,

and I must go after them.’

How can you protest, “I am not defiled;

I have not followed the Baals”?

Look at your behavior in the valley;

acknowledge what you have done.

You are a swift young camel

twisting and turning on her way,

a wild donkey at home in the wilderness.

She sniffs the wind in the heat of her desire.

Who can control her passion?

All who look for her will not become weary;

they will find her in her mating season.

Keep your feet from going bare

and your throat from thirst.

But you say, “It’s hopeless;

I love strangers,

and I will continue to follow them.”

“You say, ‘That’s not true!

I haven’t worshiped the images of Baal!’

But how can you say that?

Go and look in any valley in the land!

Face the awful sins you have done.

You are like a restless female camel

desperately searching for a mate.

You are like a wild donkey,

sniffing the wind at mating time.

Who can restrain her lust?

Those who desire her don’t need to search,

for she goes running to them!

When will you stop running?

When will you stop panting after other gods?

But you say, ‘Save your breath.

I’m in love with these foreign gods,

and I can’t stop loving them now!’

“How can you say, ‘I have not defiled myself,

I have not gone after the Baals?’

Look at your way in the valley,

know what you have done.

You are a young she-camel,

interweaving her ways.

A wild ass accustomed to the desert,

in the desire of her soul.

She gasps for wind in her rutting time.

Who can quell her lust?

All those who seek her will not grow weary,

in her month they will find her.

Restrain your foot from being barefoot,

and your throat from thirst.

But you said, ‘It is hopeless.

No! For I have loved strangers,

and after them I will go.’

How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways; A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her. Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.