4 Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the clans of the house of Israel. 5 Thus says the Lord:

r“What wrong did your fathers find in me

that they went far from me,

sand went after tworthlessness, and became worthless?

6  They did not say, u‘Where is the Lord

who brought us up from the land of Egypt,

who led us vin the wilderness,

in a land of deserts and pits,

in a land of drought and deep darkness,

in a land that none passes through,

where no man dwells?’

7  wAnd I brought you into a plentiful land

to enjoy its fruits and its good things.

But when you came in, xyou defiled my land

and made my heritage an abomination.

8  The priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’

yThose who handle the law did not know me;

zthe shepherds1 transgressed against me;

athe prophets prophesied by Baal

and went after bthings that do not profit.

9  “Therefore cI still contend with you,

declares the Lord,

and dwith your children’s children I will contend.