I will go to the people in power and talk with them. Surely they know what their God requires, what the LORD wants them to do." But all of them have rejected the LORD's authority and refuse to obey him.

They are all stubborn rebels, hard as bronze and iron. They are all corrupt, going around and spreading gossip.

"Who can understand the human heart? There is nothing else so deceitful; it is too sick to be healed.

For forty years I was disgusted with those people. I said, 'How disloyal they are! They refuse to obey my commands.'

Why do you keep on rebelling? Do you want to be punished even more? Israel, your head is already covered with wounds, and your heart and mind are sick.

God said, "People of Israel, you have sinned against me and opposed me. But now, come back to me!

You grow rich from the sins of my people, and so you want them to sin more and more.

They insist on turning away from me. They will cry out because of the yoke that is on them, but no one will lift it from them.

My friends, be careful that none of you have a heart so evil and unbelieving that you will turn away from the living God.