Jeremiah 2:26–27

“As a thief is shamed when caught,

so the house of Israel shall be shamed:

they, their kings, their officials,

their priests, and their prophets,

who say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’

and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’

For they have turned their back to me,

and not their face.

But in the time of their trouble they say,

‘Arise and save us!’

“As a thief is disgraced when he is caught,

so the people of Israel are disgraced—

they, their kings and their officials,

their priests and their prophets.

They say to wood, ‘You are my father,’

and to stone, ‘You gave me birth.’

They have turned their backs to me

and not their faces;

yet when they are in trouble, they say,

‘Come and save us!’

Like the shame of a thief when he is caught,

so the house of Israel has been put to shame.

They, their kings, their officials,

their priests, and their prophets

say to a tree, “You are my father,”

and to a stone, “You gave birth to me.”

For they have turned their back to me

and not their face,

yet in their time of disaster they beg,

“Rise up and save us!”

“Israel is like a thief

who feels shame only when he gets caught.

They, their kings, officials, priests, and prophets—

all are alike in this.

To an image carved from a piece of wood they say,

‘You are my father.’

To an idol chiseled from a block of stone they say,

‘You are my mother.’

They turn their backs on me,

but in times of trouble they cry out to me,

‘Come and save us!’

As the shame of a thief when he is caught in the act,

so the house of Israel will be ashamed.

They, their kings, their officials,

and their priests, and their prophets.

Those who say to the tree, ‘You are my father,’

and to the stone, ‘You gave birth to me.’

For they have turned their backs to me, and not their faces.

But in the time of their trouble they say, ‘Arise and save us.’

As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets, Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.