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

And the word of Jehovah 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 saith Jehovah, I remember for thee the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals; how thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was 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 unto Jehovah, the first-fruits of his increase: all that devour him shall be held guilty; evil shall come upon them, saith Jehovah.

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

Hear ye the word of Jehovah, 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 saith Jehovah, What unrighteousness have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?

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?’

Neither said they, Where is Jehovah that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought and of the shadow of death, through a land that none passed through, and where no man dwelt?

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 eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye 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 said not, Where is Jehovah? and they that handle the law knew me not: the rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked 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.

Wherefore I will yet contend with you, saith Jehovah, 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 pass over to the isles of Kittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently; and see if there hath been such a thing.

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.

Hath a nation changed its gods, which yet are no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.

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

Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith Jehovah.

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 hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no 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 home-born slave? why is he become 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 upon him, and yelled; and they have made his land waste: his cities are burned up, without inhabitant.

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

The children also of Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken the crown of thy head.

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

Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken Jehovah thy God, when he led thee by 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 hast thou to do in the way to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Shihor? or what hast thou to do in the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?

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

Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and a bitter, that thou hast forsaken Jehovah thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord, Jehovah 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 of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bonds; and thou saidst, I will not serve; for upon every high hill and under every green tree thou didst bow thyself, 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 thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate branches of a foreign vine unto 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 thou wash thee with lye, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord Jehovah.

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 canst thou say, I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;

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.

a wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind in her desire; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall 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

Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, It is in vain; no, for I have loved strangers, and after them will I 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 ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and 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.’

who say to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face; but in the time of their trouble they will 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 thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.

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

Wherefore will ye contend with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith Jehovah.

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 smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath 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, see ye the word of Jehovah. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? or a land of thick darkness? wherefore say my people, We are broken loose; we will come no more unto thee?

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 virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? 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 trimmest thou thy way to seek love! therefore even the wicked women hast thou taught thy ways.

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 in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the innocent poor: thou didst not find them breaking in; 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 thou saidst, I am innocent; surely his anger is turned away from me. Behold, I will enter into judgment with thee, because thou sayest, 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 gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou shalt be ashamed of Egypt also, as thou wast ashamed of 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 thence also shalt thou go forth, with thy hands upon thy head: for Jehovah hath rejected those in whom thou trustest, and thou shalt not prosper with them.