Jerusalem, your rulers and your people are like those of Sodom and Gomorrah. Listen to what the LORD is saying to you. Pay attention to what our God is teaching you.

I planted you like a choice vine from the very best seed. But look what you have become! You are like a rotten, worthless vine.

My people have been punished even more than the inhabitants of Sodom, which met a sudden downfall at the hands of God.

You really are your mother's daughter. She detested her husband and her children. You are like your sisters, who hated their husbands and their children. You and your sister cities had a Hittite mother and an Amorite father.

Were you satisfied to follow in their footsteps and copy their disgusting actions? No, in only a little while you were acting worse than they were in everything you did.

She and her daughters were proud because they had plenty to eat and lived in peace and quiet, but they did not take care of the poor and the underprivileged.

"Samaria did not sin half as much as you have. You have acted more disgustingly than she ever did. Your corruption makes your sisters look innocent by comparison.

You can be sure that on the Judgment Day God will show more mercy to Sodom than to you!"

Make sure that no man, woman, family, or tribe standing here today turns from the LORD our God to worship the gods of other nations. This would be like a root that grows to be a bitter and poisonous plant.

Is there anything I failed to do for it? Then why did it produce sour grapes and not the good grapes I expected?

Guard against turning back from the grace of God. Let no one become like a bitter plant that grows up and causes many troubles with its poison.