²⁵ You should stop before you wear out your shoes
    and your throat becomes parched.
But you said, “It is hopeless.
    I love these strangers,
    and I must go after them.”
²⁶ As a thief is ashamed when he is caught,
    so the house of Israel will be ashamed:
they, their kings, their officials,
    their priests, and their prophets,
²⁷ those who say to a piece of wood, “You are my father,”
    and to a stone, “You gave birth to me.”
They have turned their backs to me,
    not their faces;
yet, in their time of trouble, they cry out,
    “Rise up and save us!”