1 Y ahweh’s word came to me, saying,

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

2 “ 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.

“Go and cry in the hearing of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “I remember you, The kindness of your youth, The love of your betrothal, When you went after Me in the wilderness, In a land not sown.

3 I srael 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.”

Israel was holiness to the Lord, The firstfruits of His increase. All that devour him will offend; Disaster will come upon them,” says the Lord.’”

4 H ear Yahweh’s word, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel!

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

5 Y ahweh 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?

Thus says the Lord: “What injustice have your fathers found in Me, That they have gone far from Me, Have followed idols, And have become idolaters?

6 T hey 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?’

Neither 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 the shadow of death, Through a land that no one crossed And where no one dwelt?’

7 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.

I brought you into a bountiful country, To eat its fruit and its goodness. But when you entered, you defiled My land And made My heritage an abomination.

8 T he 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.

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; The prophets prophesied by Baal, And walked after things that do not profit.

9 “ Therefore I will yet contend with you,” says Yahweh, “and I will contend with your children’s children.

“Therefore I will yet bring charges against you,” says the Lord, “And against your children’s children I will bring charges.

10 F or 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.

For pass beyond the coasts of Cyprus and see, Send to Kedar and consider diligently, And see if there has been such a thing.

11 H as a nation changed its gods, which really are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.

Has a nation changed its gods, Which are not gods? But My people have changed their Glory For what does not profit.

12 “ Be astonished, you heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid. Be very desolate,” says Yahweh.

Be astonished, O heavens, at this, And be horribly afraid; Be very desolate,” says the Lord.

13 “ 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.

“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.

14 I s Israel a slave? Is he a born into slavery? Why has he become a captive?

“ Is Israel a servant? Is he a homeborn slave? Why is he plundered?

15 T he young lions have roared at him, and yelled. They have made his land waste. His cities are burned up, without inhabitant.

The young lions roared at him, and growled; They made his land waste; His cities are burned, without inhabitant.

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

Also the people of Noph and Tahpanhes Have broken the crown of your head.

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

Have you not brought this on yourself, In that you have forsaken the Lord your God When He led you in the way?

18 N ow 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?

And now why take the road to Egypt, To drink the waters of Sihor? Or why take the road to Assyria, To drink the waters of the River?

19 “ 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.

Your own wickedness will correct you, And your backslidings will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing That you have forsaken the Lord your God, And the fear of Me is not in you,” Says the Lord God of hosts.

20 “ 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.

“For of old I have broken your yoke and burst your bonds; And you said, ‘I will not transgress,’ When on every high hill and under every green tree You lay down, playing the harlot.

21 Y et 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?

Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a seed of highest quality. How then have you turned before Me Into the degenerate plant of an alien vine?

22 F or though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before me,” says the Lord Yahweh.

For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, Yet your iniquity is marked before Me,” says the Lord God.

23 “ 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;

“How can you say, ‘I am not polluted, I have not gone after the Baals’? See your way in the valley; Know what you have done: You are a swift dromedary breaking loose in her ways,

24 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.

A wild donkey used to the wilderness, That sniffs at the wind in her desire; In her time of mating, who can turn her away? All those who seek her will not weary themselves; In her month they will find her.

25 “ 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.’

Withhold your foot from being unshod, and your throat from thirst. But you said, ‘There is no hope. No! For I have loved aliens, and after them I will go.’

26 A s 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;

“As the thief is ashamed when he is found out, So is the house of Israel ashamed; They and their kings and their princes, and their priests and their prophets,

27 w ho 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.’

Saying to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ And to a stone, ‘You gave 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 “ 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.

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 according to the number of your cities Are your gods, O Judah.

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

“Why will you plead with Me? You all have transgressed against Me,” says the Lord.

30 “ I have struck your children in vain. They received no correction. Your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

“In vain I have chastened your children; They received no correction. Your sword has devoured your prophets Like a destroying lion.

31 G eneration, 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?’

“O generation, see the word of the Lord! Have I been a wilderness to Israel, Or a land of darkness? Why do My people say, ‘We are lords; We will come no more to You’?

32 “ Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me for days without number.

Can a virgin forget her ornaments, Or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number.

33 H ow well you prepare your way to seek love! Therefore you have even taught the wicked women your ways.

“Why do you beautify your way to seek love? Therefore you have also taught The wicked women your ways.

34 A lso 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.

Also on your skirts is found The blood of the lives of the poor innocents. I have not found it by secret search, But plainly on all these things.

35 “ 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.’

Yet you say, ‘Because I am innocent, Surely His anger shall turn from me.’ Behold, I will plead My case against you, Because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’

36 W hy do you go about so much to change your ways? You will be ashamed of Egypt also, as you were ashamed of Assyria.

Why do you gad about so much to change your way? Also you shall be ashamed of Egypt as you were ashamed of Assyria.

37 Y ou 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.

Indeed you will go forth from him With your hands on your head; For the Lord has rejected your trusted allies, And you will not prosper by them.