1 A nd there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying,

The Word of the Lord came to me saying,

2 ` Go, and thou hast called in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus said Jehovah: I have remembered for thee The kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, Thy going after Me in a wilderness, in a land not sown.

“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.

3 H oly Israel to Jehovah, The first-fruit of His increase, All consuming him are guilty, Evil cometh in unto them, an affirmation of Jehovah.

Israel 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

4 H ear a word of Jehovah, O house of Jacob, And all ye families of the house of Israel.

Hear the Word of the Lord, O family of Jacob, and all the families of the people of Israel.

5 T hus said Jehovah: What -- have your fathers found in Me perversity, That they have gone far off from Me, And go after the vanity, and become vain,

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

6 A nd have not said, Where Jehovah, Who bringeth us up out of the land of Egypt, Who leadeth us in a wilderness, In a land of deserts and pits, In a dry land, and of death-shade, In a land -- none hath passed through it, Nor dwelt hath man there?'

They 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?’

7 Y ea, I bring you in to a land of fruitful fields, To eat its fruit and its goodness, And ye come in and defile My land, And Mine inheritance have made an abomination.

And 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.

8 T he priests have not said, `Where Jehovah?' And those handling the law have not known Me. And the shepherds transgressed against Me, And the prophets have prophesied by Baal, And after those who profit not have gone.

The 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

9 T herefore, yet I plead with you, An affirmation of Jehovah, And with your sons' sons I plead.

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

10 F or, pass to the isles of Chittim, and see, And to Kedar send, and consider well, And see if there hath been like this:

Go 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!

11 H ath a nation changed gods? (And they no gods!) And My people hath changed its honour For that which doth not profit.

Has 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.

12 B e astonished, ye heavens, at this, Yea, be frightened, be greatly wasted, An affirmation of Jehovah.

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

13 F or two evils hath My people done, Me they have forsaken, a fountain of living waters, To hew out for themselves wells -- broken wells, That contain not the waters.

“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

14 A servant Israel? Is he a child of the house? Wherefore hath he been for a prey?

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

15 A gainst him roar do young lions, They have given forth their voice, And make his land become a desolation, His cities have been burnt without inhabitant.

The 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.

16 A lso sons of Noph and Tahapanes Consume thee -- the crown of the head!

The men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken the crown of your head.

17 D ost thou not do this to thyself? thy forsaking Jehovah thy God, At the time He is leading thee in the way?

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

18 A nd now, what -- to thee in the way of Egypt, To drink the waters of Sihor? And what -- to thee in the way of Asshur, To drink the waters of the River?

Now 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?

19 I nstruct thee doth thy wickedness, And thy backslidings reprove thee, Know and see that an evil and a bitter thing thy forsaking Jehovah thy God, And My fear not being on thee, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah of Hosts.

Your 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

20 F or from of old thou hast broken thy yoke, Drawn away thy bands, and sayest, `I do not serve,' For, on every high height, and under every green tree, Thou art wandering -- a harlot.

“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.

21 A nd I planted thee a choice vine, wholly a true seed, And how hast thou been turned to Me, To the degenerate shoots of a strange vine?

Yet 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?

22 B ut though thou dost wash with nitre, And dost multiply to thyself soap, Marked is thine iniquity before Me, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah.

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

23 H ow sayest thou, `I have not been defiled, After the Baalim I have not gone?' See thy way in a valley, know what thou hast done, A swift dromedary winding her ways,

“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.

24 A wild ass accustomed to a wilderness, In the desire of her soul she hath swallowed up wind, Her meeting -- who doth turn her back? None seeking her do weary themselves, In her month they find her.

You 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.

25 W ithhold thy foot from being unshod, And thy throat from thirst, And thou sayest, `It is incurable, No, for I have loved strangers, and after them I go.'

Do 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

26 A s the shame of a thief when he is found, So put to shame have been the house of Israel, They, their kings, their heads, And their priests, and their prophets,

“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.

27 S aying to wood, `My father thou!' And to a stone, `Thou hast brought me forth,' For they turned unto me the back and not the face, And in the time of their vexation, They say, `Arise Thou, 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 back to Me, and not their face. But in the time of their trouble they will say, ‘Rise up and save us.’

28 A nd where thy gods, that thou hast made to thyself? Let them arise, if they may save thee, In the time of thy vexation, For -- the number of thy cities have been thy gods, O Judah,

But 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.

29 W hy do ye strive with Me? All of you have transgressed against Me, An affirmation of Jehovah.

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

30 I n vain I have smitten your sons, Instruction they have not accepted, Devoured hath your sword your prophets, As a destroying lion.

“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.

31 O generation, see ye the word of Jehovah: A wilderness have I been to Israel? A land of thick darkness? Wherefore have My people said, `We mourned, We come not in again unto Thee.'

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’?

32 D oth a virgin forget her ornaments? A bride her bands? And My people have forgotten Me days without number.

Can 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.

33 W hat -- dost thou make pleasing thy ways to seek love? Therefore even the wicked thou hast taught thy ways.

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

34 A lso in thy skirts hath been found the blood of innocent needy souls, Not by digging have I found them, but upon all these.

On 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,

35 A nd thou sayest, `Because I have been innocent, Surely turned back hath His anger from me?' Lo, I have been judged with thee, Because of thy saying, `I have not sinned.'

you 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.’

36 W hat? thou art very vile to repeat thy way, Even of Egypt thou art ashamed, As thou hast been ashamed of Asshur,

Why 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.

37 A lso from this thou goest out, And thy hands on thy head, For Jehovah hath kicked at thy confidences, And thou dost not give prosperity to them!

From 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.”