1 T he Word of the Lord came to me saying,

And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

2 “ Go and speak so those in Jerusalem will hear, ‘This is what the Lord says: “I remember how you loved Me when you were young. Your love was as a bride. I remember how you followed Me in the desert, through a land that had not been planted.

Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus says the Lord: I remember the kindness and devotion of your youth, your love after your betrothal and marriage when you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.

3 I srael was holy to the Lord, the first-fruits of His gathering. All who ate of it (Israel) were guilty, and trouble came upon them,” says the Lord.’” The Sin of Israel’s Early Families

Israel was holiness to the Lord, the firstfruits of His harvest; all who ate of it offended and became guilty; evil came upon them, says the Lord.

4 H ear the Word of the Lord, O family of Jacob, and all the families of the people of Israel.

Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel.

5 T he Lord says, “What wrong did your fathers find in Me, that they turned so far from Me and followed false gods?

Thus says the Lord: What unrighteousness did your fathers find in Me, that they went far from Me and went after emptiness, falseness, and futility and themselves became fruitless and worthless?

6 T hey did not say, ‘Where is the Lord Who brought us up from the land of Egypt? Where is He Who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and deep holes, through a land without water and with much trouble, through a land that no one traveled and where no man lived?’

Nor did they say, Where is the Lord, Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, Who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and pits, through a land of drought and of the shadow of death and deep darkness, through a land that no man passes through and where no man dwells?

7 A nd I brought you into a rich land to eat its fruit and its good things. But you came and made My land unclean. You made the land I gave you sinful and hated.

And I brought you into a plentiful land to enjoy its fruits and good things. But when you entered, you defiled My land and made My heritage an abomination.

8 T he religious leaders did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’ And those who worked with the Law did not know Me. The rulers sinned against Me. And the men of God spoke by the false god of Baal, and went after things that did not help. The Lord Speaks against His People

the priests did not say, Where is the Lord? And those who handle the law knew Me not. The rulers and secular shepherds also transgressed against Me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal and followed after things that do not profit.

9 “ So I will still fight with you,” says the Lord. “And I will fight your children’s children.

Therefore I will still contend with you, says the Lord, and with your children’s children will I contend.

10 G o over to the land of Cyprus and see. Or send men to Kedar to watch with care. And see if there has been such a thing as this!

For cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and see, send also to Kedar and carefully consider; and see whether there has been such a thing as this:

11 H as a nation changed its gods, even when they are not gods? But My people have changed their greatness for that which does not help them.

Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are not gods? But My people have changed their Glory for that which does not profit.

12 B e full of wonder at this, O heavens. Shake with fear and waste away,” says the Lord.

Be astonished and appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked and shrivel up with horror, says the Lord.

13 “ For My people have done two sinful things: They have turned away from Me, the well of living waters. And they have cut out of the rock wells for water for themselves. They are broken wells that cannot hold water. What Happens When Israel Is Not Faithful

For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the Fountain of living waters, and they have hewn for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns which cannot hold water.

14 “ Is Israel a servant? Is he born as a servant? Why can he be taken away?

Is Israel a servant? Is he a homeborn slave? Why has he become a captive and a prey?

15 T he young lions have made noise against him. They have made a loud noise. And they have made his land a waste. His cities have been destroyed, and have no people.

The young lions have roared over him and made their voices heard. And they have made his land a waste; his cities are burned ruins without inhabitant.

16 T he men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken the crown of your head.

Moreover, the children of Memphis and Tahpanhes (Egypt) have broken and fed on the crown of your head —so do not rely on them as an ally now.

17 H ave you not brought this upon yourself, by turning away from the Lord your God, when He led you in the way?

Have you not brought this upon yourself by forsaking the Lord your God when He led you in the way?

18 N ow why are you going to Egypt to drink water from the Nile? Or why are you going to Assyria to drink water from the Euphrates?

And now what have you to gain by allying yourself with Egypt and going her way, to drink the waters of the Nile? Or what have you to gain in going the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the Euphrates?

19 Y our own sin will punish you. Your turning away from the Lord will punish you. So know and see that it is sinful and bitter for you to leave the Lord your God. You have no fear of Me,” says the Lord God of All. Israel Turns Its Back on God

Your own wickedness shall chasten and correct you, and your backslidings and desertion of faith shall reprove you. Know therefore and recognize that this is an evil and bitter thing: you have forsaken the Lord your God; you are indifferent to Me and the fear of Me is not in you, says the Lord of hosts.

20 “ Long ago I broke the load from your neck and tore off your chains. But you said, ‘I will not serve!’ For on every high hill and under every green tree you have lain down as a woman who sells the use of her body.

For long ago I broke your yoke and burst your bonds and long ago you shattered the yoke and snapped the bonds; you said, I will not serve and obey You! For upon every high hill and under every green tree you prostrated yourself, playing the harlot.

21 Y et I planted you as a vine of much worth, in every way a true seed. How then have you turned away from Me and become a wild vine?

Yet I had planted you a choice vine, wholly of pure seed. How then have you turned into degenerate shoots of wild vine alien to Me?

22 E ven when you wash yourself with much strong soap, the mark of your sin is still before Me,” says the Lord God.

For though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, yet your iniquity and guilt are still spotted, dirty, and stained before Me, says the Lord.

23 “ How can you say, ‘I am clean. I have not gone after the false gods of Baal’? Look at what you did in the valley! Know what you have done! You are like a wild young camel wanting to mate.

How can you say, I am not defiled; I have not gone after the Baals ? Look at your way in the valley; know what you have done. You are a restive young female camel running hither and thither,

24 Y ou are a wild donkey used to the desert, that smells the wind in her desire. In the time of her mating who can turn her away? All who look for her will not become tired. In her month of mating they will find her.

Or a wild donkey used to the desert, in her heat sniffing the wind. In her mating season who can restrain her? No males seeking her need weary themselves; in her month they will find her.

25 D o not run until your shoes wear out or until your mouth is dry. But you said, ‘It is of no use, for I love strange gods, and I will go after them.’ Israel Should Be Punished

Keep your feet from being unshod and your throat from thirst. But you said, It is hopeless! For I have loved strangers and foreigners, and after them I will go.

26 “ As a robber is put to shame when he is caught, so the family of Israel is put to shame: they, their kings, their rulers, their religious leaders, and their men of God.

As the thief is brought to shame when he is caught, so shall the house of Israel be brought to shame—they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets—

27 T hey say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ For they have turned their back to Me, and not their face. But in the time of their trouble they will say, ‘Rise up and save us.’

they say to a tree, You are my father, and to a stone, You gave me birth. For they have turned their backs to Me and not their faces; but in the time of their trouble, they say, Arise and save us!

28 B ut where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them come if they can save you when you are in trouble. For you have as many gods as cities, O Judah.

But where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them arise if they can save you in the time of your trouble! For the number of your cities are your gods, O Judah.

29 “ Why do you complain against Me? You have all sinned against Me,” says the Lord.

Why do you complain and remonstrate against My wrath? You all have rebelled and revolted against Me, says the Lord.

30 “ I have punished your children for nothing, for they would not learn from it. Your sword has destroyed your men of God like a destroying lion.

In vain have I stricken your children (your people); they received no discipline (no correction). Your own sword devoured your prophets like a destroying lion.

31 O people of this day, listen to the Word of the Lord. Have I been a desert to Israel, or a land of much darkness? Why do My people say, ‘We are free to go, and we will come to You no more’?

O generation! Behold, consider, and regard the word of the Lord: Have I been a wilderness to Israel ? A land of deep darkness ? Why do My people say, We have broken loose; we will come no more to You?

32 C an a young woman forget the beautiful objects she wears? Can a bride forget her clothing? Yet My people have forgotten Me too many days to number.

Can a maid forget and neglect her ornaments, or a bride her girdle ? Yet My people have forgotten Me, days without number.

33 H ow you dress yourself and go after lovers! You have taught your ways even to the sinful women.

How you deck yourself and direct your way to procure love! Because of it even wicked women have learned ways from you.

34 O n your clothing is found the blood of the poor who could not be blamed. You did not find them breaking in. But even with all these things,

Also on your skirts is found the lifeblood of the persons of the innocent poor; you did not find them housebreaking, nor have I found it out by secret search. But it is because of all these things—

35 y ou say, ‘I am not guilty. For sure He has turned His anger away from me.’ See, I will punish you because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’

Yet you keep saying, I am innocent; surely His anger has turned away from Me. Behold, I will bring you to judgment and will plead against you because you say, I have not sinned.

36 W hy do you go around so much changing your way? You will be put to shame by Egypt as you were put to shame by Assyria.

Why do you gad or wander about so much to change your way? You shall be put to shame by Egypt as you were put to shame by Assyria.

37 F rom Egypt also you will go out with your hands on your head. For the Lord has turned against those in whom you trust, and as you are with them, it will not go well for you.”

From also you will come away with your hands upon your head, for the Lord has rejected those in whom you confide, and you will not prosper with them.