<p class="poetry">I want<n id="1" /> to climb the palm tree,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">and take hold of its fruit stalks.p> <p class="poetry">May your breasts be like the clusters of grapes,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">and may the fragrance of your breath be like apricots!<n id="4" />p>

<n id="1" /><p class="poetry">Come, let&#8217;s consider your options,&#8221;<n id="2" /> says the <sc>Lordsc>.p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Though your sins have stained you like the color red,p> <p class="poetry">you can become<n id="3" /> white like snow;p> <p class="poetry">though they are as easy to see as the color scarlet,p> <p class="poetry">you can become<n id="4" /> white like wool.<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">Now I will inform youp> <p class="poetry">what I am about to do to my vineyard:p> <p class="poetry">I will remove its hedge and turn it into pasture,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">I will break its wall and allow animals to graze there.<n id="2" />p>

So Isaiah replied,<n id="1" /> &#8220;Pay attention,<n id="2" /> family<n id="3" /> of David.<n id="4" /> Do you consider it too insignificant to try the patience of men? Is that why you are also trying the patience of my God?

<p class="poetry">But where, oh where, are your wise men?<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Let them tell you, let them find outp> <p class="poetry">what the <sc>Lordsc> who commands armies has planned for Egypt.p>

Or when they hand the scroll to one who can&#8217;t read<n id="1" /> and say, &#8220;Read this,&#8221; he says, &#8220;I can&#8217;t read.&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

Now make a deal with my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses, provided you can find enough riders for them.

<p class="poetry">Persist<n id="1" /> in trusting<n id="2" /> your amuletsp> <p class="poetry">and your many incantations,p> <p class="poetry">which you have faithfully recited<n id="3" /> since your youth!p> <p class="poetry">Maybe you will be successful<n id="4" /> &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">maybe you will scare away disaster.<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">You are tired out from listening to so much advice.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Let them take their stand &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">the ones who see omens in the sky,p> <p class="poetry">who gaze at the stars,p> <p class="poetry">who make monthly predictions &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">let them rescue you from the disaster that is about to overtake you!<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry"><sc>Lordsc>, do not be too angry!p> <p class="poetry">Do not hold our sins against us continually!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Take a good look at your people, at all of us!<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Tell them: &#8216;Hear this,p> <p class="poetry">you foolish people who have no understanding,p> <p class="poetry">who have eyes but do not discern,p> <p class="poetry">who have ears but do not perceive:<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">They do not say to themselves,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Let us revere the <sc>Lordsc> our God.p> <p class="poetry">It is he who gives us the autumn rains and the spring rains at the proper time.p> <p class="poetry">It is he who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

<p class="bodytext">Therefore, the <sc>Lordsc> says,p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Ask the people of other nationsp> <p class="poetry">whether they have heard of anything like this.p> <p class="poetry">Israel should have been like a virgin.p> <p class="poetry">But she has done something utterly revolting!p>

<p class="poetry">Ask yourselves this and consider it carefully:<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Have you ever seen a man give birth to a baby?p> <p class="poetry">Why then do I see all these strong menp> <p class="poetry">grabbing their stomachs in pain like<n id="2" /> a woman giving birth?p> <p class="poetry">And why do their facesp> <p class="poetry">turn so deathly pale?p>

Then they asked Baruch, &#8220;How did you come to write all these words? Do they actually come from Jeremiah&#8217;s mouth?&#8221;<n id="1" />

Then Jeremiah answered, &#8220;You will not be handed over to them. Please obey the <sc>Lordsc> by doing what I have been telling you.<n id="1" /> Then all will go well with you and your life will be spared.<n id="2" />

I sent my servants the prophets to you people over and over<n id="1" /> again warning you not to do this disgusting thing I hate.<n id="2" />

&#8216;You have said, &#8220;I feel so hopeless!<n id="1" /> For the <sc>Lordsc> has added sorrow to my suffering.<n id="2" /> I am worn out from groaning. I can&#8217;t find any rest.&#8221;&#8217;&#8221;p>

<t /><p class="lamhebrew">&#1510; (<i>Tsadei>)p> <p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc> is right to judge me!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Yes, I rebelled against his commands.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Please listen, all you nations,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">and look at my suffering!p> <p class="poetry">My young women and menp> <p class="poetry">have gone into exile.p>

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;Yet you say, &#8216;The Lord&#8217;s conduct<n id="1" /> is unjust!&#8217; Hear, O house of Israel: Is my conduct unjust? Is it not your conduct that is unjust?