Israel’s Devotion to Idolatry

20 For of old thou didst break thy yoke,

And burst thy bonds in sunder;

Thou saidst, "I refuse to serve:"

But high upon every hill

And under every green tree

Thou didst stretch thee, playing the harlot.

21 Yet I as a choice vine had planted thee–

Sound was thy stock altogether;

But now art thou turned to be bitter,

Thou wild degenerate vine!

22 For though thou shouldst wash thee with soda,

And take thee abundance of soap,

Yet the Lord, as He seeth thy guilt,

Shall declare it of deepest dye.

23 How canst thou say, "All stainless am I,

I have not gone after the Baals"?

Look at thy way in the Valley,

And know what thou hast done.

A swift young camel art thou,

That courseth hither and thither,

24 A heifer run wild in the desert,

Aglow with the heat of ther passion;

That sniffeth the wind in her longing,

And who can turn her back?

No one need wearily seek her–

In her month she is sure to be found.

25 Run not the shoes off thy feet,

And spare thy throat, lest it parch.

But thou saidst,"There is no hope – none:

For I am in love with strangers,

And after them will I go."