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The Nation Refuses to Obey the Lord

Listen to me, you heavens! Pay attention to me, earth!
    The Lord has said,
“I raised children. I brought them up.
    But they have refused to obey me.
The ox knows its master.
    The donkey knows where its owner feeds it.
But Israel does not know me.
    My people do not understand me.”

How terrible it will be for this sinful nation!
    They are loaded down with guilt.
They are people who do nothing but evil.
    They are children who are always sinning.
They have deserted the Lord.
    They have turned against the Holy One of Israel.
    They have turned their backs on him.

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A Rebellious Nation

Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth!(A)
    For the Lord has spoken:(B)
“I reared children(C) and brought them up,
    but they have rebelled(D) against me.
The ox knows(E) its master,
    the donkey its owner’s manger,(F)
but Israel does not know,(G)
    my people do not understand.(H)

Woe to the sinful nation,
    a people whose guilt is great,(I)
a brood of evildoers,(J)
    children given to corruption!(K)
They have forsaken(L) the Lord;
    they have spurned the Holy One(M) of Israel
    and turned their backs(N) on him.

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