For I know your rebellion and contention and your stubbornness; behold, while I am still alive with you today, you have been rebellious against the Lord; how much more, then, after my death?

Samuel said,

“Has the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices

As in obedience to the voice of the Lord?

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,

And to heed [is better] than the fat of rams.

For rebellion is as [serious as] the sin of divination (fortune-telling),

And disobedience is as [serious as] false religion and idolatry.

Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,

He also has rejected you as king.”

God makes a home for the lonely;

He leads the prisoners into prosperity,

Only the stubborn and rebellious dwell in a parched land.

“Woe (judgment is coming) to the rebellious children,” declares the Lord,

“Who carry out a plan, but not Mine,

And make an alliance [by pouring out a libation], but not of My Spirit,

In order to add sin to sin;

I have spread out My hands all the day long to a rebellious and stubborn people,

Who walk in the way that is not good, [following] after their own thoughts and intentions,

O Lord, though our many sins testify against us” [prays Jeremiah],

“Act now [for us and] for Your name’s sake [so that the faithless may witness Your faithfulness]!

For our backslidings are countless;

We have sinned against You.

I will spread My net over him, and he will be caught in My snare; and I will bring him to Babylon and will enter into judgment with him there for his treason which he has committed against Me.