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

Yahweh’s word 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, ‘Yahweh says, “I remember for you the kindness of your youth, the love of your weddings; how you went 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 to Yahweh, the first fruits of his increase. All who devour him shall be held guilty. Evil shall come on them,”’ says Yahweh.”

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

Hear Yahweh’s word, 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?

Yahweh says, “What unrighteousness have your fathers found in me, that they have gone far from me, and have walked after worthless vanity, and have become 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?’

They didn’t say, ‘Where is Yahweh 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 the shadow of death, through a land that no one passed through, and where no man lived?’

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 a plentiful land, to eat its fruit and its goodness; 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 didn’t say, ‘Where is Yahweh?’ and those who handle the law didn’t know me. The rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and followed 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 yet contend with you,” says Yahweh, “and I will contend with your children’s children.

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 islands of Kittim, and see; and send to Kedar, and consider diligently; and see if there has 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.

Has a nation changed its gods, which really are no 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, you heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid. Be very desolate,” says Yahweh.

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 spring of living waters, and cut 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 slave? Is he a born into slavery? Why has he become a captive?

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, and yelled. 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 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?

“Haven’t you brought this on yourself, in that you have forsaken Yahweh your God, when he led you 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?

Now what do you gain by going to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Shihor? Or why do you to go on 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

“Your own wickedness will correct you, and your backsliding will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing, that you have forsaken Yahweh your God, and that my fear is not in you,” says the Lord, Yahweh of Armies.

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 off your yoke, and burst your bonds. You said, ‘I will not serve;’ for on every high hill and under every green tree you bowed yourself, playing the prostitute.

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 noble vine, a pure and faithful seed. How then have you turned into the degenerate branches of a foreign vine 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 is marked before me,” says the Lord Yahweh.

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’? See your way in the valley. Know what you have done. You are 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 donkey used to the wilderness, that sniffs the wind in her craving. When she is in heat, who can turn her away? All those who seek her will not 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 bare, and your throat from thirst. But you said, ‘It is in vain. No, for I have loved strangers, and I will go after them.’

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 tell wood, ‘You are my father;’ and a stone, ‘You have given birth to me:’ 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 that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble: for you have as many gods as you have towns, O Judah.

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

“Why will you contend with me? You all have transgressed against me,” says Yahweh.

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.

“I have struck your children in vain. They received no correction. Your own 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’?

Generation, consider Yahweh’s word. Have I been a wilderness to Israel? Or a land of thick darkness? Why do my people say, ‘We have broken loose. We will come to you no more?’

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 for 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 you have even taught the wicked women 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 the blood of the souls of the innocent poor is found in your skirts. You did 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 you said, ‘I am innocent. Surely his anger has turned away from me.’ “Behold, I will judge 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 about so much to change your ways? You will be ashamed of Egypt also, as you were 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.”

You will also leave that place with your hands on your head; for Yahweh has rejected those in whom you trust, and you won’t prosper with them.