⁸ They also ^[a](A)followed the ^[b]customs of the nations whom the Lord had driven out from the sons of Israel, and in the customs ^(B)of the kings of Israel which they had ^[c]introduced. ⁹ And the sons of Israel ^[d]did things secretly against the Lord their God which were not right. Moreover, they built for themselves high places in all their towns, from ^(C)watchtower to fortified city. ¹⁰ And ^(D)they set up for themselves memorial stones and ^[e](E)Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree, ¹¹ and there they burned incense on all the high places as the nations did that the Lord had taken into exile before them; and they did evil things, provoking the Lord. ¹² They served idols, ^(F)concerning which the Lord had said to them, “You shall not do this thing.” ¹³ Yet the ^(G)Lord warned Israel and Judah ^[f](H)through all His prophets and ^(I)every seer, saying, “^(J)Turn back from your evil ways and keep My commandments and My statutes in accordance with all the Law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you ^[g]through My servants the prophets.” ¹⁴ However, they did not listen, but ^(K)stiffened their neck ^[h]like their fathers, who did not believe in the Lord their God. ^15 (L)They rejected His statutes and ^(M)His covenant which He made with their fathers, and His warnings which He ^[i]gave them. And ^(N)they followed ^[j]idols and ^(O)became empty, and followed the nations that surrounded them, about which the ^(P)Lord had commanded them not to do as they did. ¹⁶ And they abandoned all the commandments of the Lord their God and made for themselves cast metal images: ^(Q)two calves. And they ^(R)made an ^[k]Asherah, and ^(S)worshiped all the heavenly ^[l]lights, and ^(T)served Baal. ¹⁷ Then ^(U)they made their sons and their daughters pass through the fire, and they ^(V)practiced divination and interpreting omens, and ^(W)gave themselves over to do evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking Him. ¹⁸ So the Lord was very angry with Israel, and He ^(X)removed them from His ^[m]sight; ^(Y)no one was left except the tribe of Judah.

^19 (Z)Judah did not keep the commandments of the Lord their God either, but they ^[n](AA)followed the ^[o]customs ^[p]which Israel had ^[q]introduced. ²⁰ So the Lord rejected all the ^[r]descendants of Israel and afflicted them and ^(AB)handed them over to plunderers, until He had cast them ^[s]out of His sight.

⁴⁷ Yet you have not merely walked in their ways and ^[a]committed their abominations; but, as if that were ^(A)too little, you also acted ^(B)more corruptly in all your conduct than they. ⁴⁸ As I live,” declares the Lord God, “Sodom, your sister and her daughters have ^(C)not done as you and your daughters have done!

⁵¹ Furthermore, Samaria did not commit half of your sins, for you have multiplied your abominations more than they. So you have made your sisters appear ^(A)innocent by all your abominations which you have committed.