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

Now 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 proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, “I remember concerning you the devotion of your youth, The love of your betrothals, Your following after Me in the wilderness, Through 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 holy to the Lord, The first of His harvest. All who ate of it became guilty; Evil came upon them,” declares 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 injustice did your fathers find in Me, That they went far from Me And walked after emptiness and became empty?

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?’

“They did not 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 of pits, Through a land of drought and of deep darkness, Through a land that no one crossed 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.

“I brought you into the fruitful land To eat its fruit and its good things. But you came and defiled My land, And My inheritance you made 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 did not know Me; The rulers also transgressed against Me, And the prophets prophesied by Baal And walked after things that did not profit.

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

“Therefore I will yet contend with you,” declares the Lord, “And with your sons’ sons I will 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 to the coastlands of Kittim and see, And send to Kedar and observe closely And see if 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 gods When they were 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 appalled, O heavens, at this, And shudder, be very desolate,” declares 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, To hew for themselves 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 slave? Or is he a homeborn servant? Why has 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 at him, They have roared loudly. And they have made his land a waste; His cities have been destroyed, without inhabitant.

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

“Also the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes Have shaved the crown of your 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?

“Have you not done this to yourself By your 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?

“But now what are you doing on the road to Egypt, To drink the waters of the Nile? Or what are you doing on the road to 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 will correct you, And your apostasies will reprove you; Know therefore and see that it is evil and bitter For you to forsake the Lord your God, And the dread of Me is not in you,” declares the Lord God 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 tore off your bonds; But you said, ‘I will not serve!’ For on every high hill And under every green tree You have lain down as a 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 planted you a choice vine, A completely faithful seed. How then have you turned yourself before Me Into the degenerate shoots of a foreign vine?

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

“Although you wash yourself with lye And use much soap, The stain of your iniquity is before Me,” declares the Lord God.

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 swift young camel entangling 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 donkey accustomed to the wilderness, That sniffs the wind in her passion. In the time of her heat who can turn her away? All who seek her will not become weary; 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! No! For I have loved strangers, And after them I will walk.’

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 shamed when he is discovered, So the house of Israel is shamed; 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 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, ‘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 Which you made for yourself? Let them arise, if they can save you In the time of your trouble; For according to 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 contend with Me? You have all transgressed against Me,” declares 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 I have struck your sons; They accepted no chastening. Your sword has 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, heed the word of the Lord. Have I been a wilderness to Israel, Or a land of thick darkness? Why do My people say, ‘ We are free to roam; We will no longer come 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 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 well you prepare your way To seek love! Therefore even the wicked women You have taught your 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 on your skirts is found The lifeblood of the innocent poor; You did not find them breaking in. But in spite 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 said, ‘I am innocent; Surely His anger is turned away from me.’ Behold, I will enter into judgment with 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 go around so much Changing your way? Also, you will 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 this place also you will go out With your hands on your head; For the Lord has rejected those in whom you trust, And you will not prosper with them.”