5:3 Lord, I know you look for faithfulness. 1
But even when you punish these people, they feel no remorse. 2
Even when you nearly destroy them, they refuse to be corrected.
They have become as hardheaded as a rock. 3
They refuse to change their ways. 4
5:4 I thought, “Surely it is only the ignorant poor who act this way. 5
They act like fools because they do not know what the Lord demands. 6
They do not know what their God requires of them. 7
5:5 I will go to the leaders 8
and speak with them.
Surely they know what the Lord demands. 9
Surely they know what their God requires of them.” 10
Yet all of them, too, have rejected his authority
and refuse to submit to him. 11
5:6 So like a lion from the thicket their enemies will kill them.
Like a wolf from the desert they will destroy them.
Like a leopard they will lie in wait outside their cities
and totally destroy anyone who ventures out. 12
For they have rebelled so much
and done so many unfaithful things. 13
5:7 The Lord asked, 14
“How can I leave you unpunished, Jerusalem? 15
Your people 16 have rejected me
and have worshiped gods that are not gods at all. 17
Even though I supplied all their needs, 18 they were like an unfaithful wife to me. 19
They went flocking 20 to the houses of prostitutes. 21
5:8 They are like lusty, well-fed 22 stallions.
Each of them lusts after 23 his neighbor’s wife.
5:9 I will surely punish them for doing such things!” says the Lord.
“I will surely bring retribution on such a nation as this!” 24
5:29 I will certainly punish them for doing such things!” says the Lord.
“I will certainly bring retribution on such a nation as this! 25