The children gather firewood, the men build fires, and the women mix dough to bake cakes for the goddess they call the Queen of Heaven. They also pour out offerings of wine to other gods, in order to hurt me.

But am I really the one they are hurting? No, they are hurting themselves and bringing shame on themselves.

From the very beginning of their history the people of Israel and the people of Judah have displeased me and made me angry by what they have done.

because of all the evil that has been done by the people of Judah and Jerusalem, together with their kings and leaders, their priests and prophets.

With their idols they have made me angry, jealous with their so-called gods, gods that are really not gods. So I will use a so-called nation to make them angry; I will make them jealous with a nation of fools.

They sacrificed their sons and daughters as burnt offerings to pagan gods; they consulted mediums and fortunetellers, and they devoted themselves completely to doing what is wrong in the LORD's sight, and so aroused his anger.

I will do this to my people because they have sinned against me and have stirred up my anger from the time their ancestors came out of Egypt to this day."

"But your people rebelled and disobeyed you; they turned their backs on your Law. They killed the prophets who warned them, who told them to turn back to you. They insulted you time after time,

Those who do not find me hurt themselves; anyone who hates me loves death."