Now the word of the LORD
came
to me saying
,
"Go and aproclaim
in the ears
of Jerusalem
, saying
, `Thus
says
the LORD
, "I remember
concerning you the 1 bdevotion
of your youth
, The love
of your betrothals
, cYour following
after
Me in the wilderness
, Through a land
not sown
.
"Israel was aholy
to the LORD
, The bfirst
of His harvest
. cAll
who ate
of it became
guilty
; Evil
came
upon them," declares
the LORD
.' "
Hear the word
of the LORD
, O house
of Jacob
, and all
the families
of the house
of Israel
.
Thus says
the LORD
, " aWhat
injustice
did your fathers
find
in Me, That they went
far
from Me And walked
after
bemptiness
and became
empty
?
"They did not say, `Where
is the LORD
Who abrought
us up out of the land
of Egypt
, Who bled
us through the wilderness
, Through a land
of deserts
and of pits
, Through a land
of drought
and of 1deep
darkness
, Through a land
that no
one
crossed
And where
no
man
dwelt
?'
"I brought you into the afruitful
land
To eat
its fruit
and its good
things
. But you came
and bdefiled
My land
, And My inheritance
you made
an abomination
.
"The apriests did not say
, `Where
is the LORD
?' And those who handle
the law
bdid not know
Me; The 1rulers
also transgressed
against Me, And the cprophets
prophesied
by Baal
And walked
after
dthings that did not profit
.
"Therefore I will yet
acontend
with you," declares
the LORD
, "And with your sons'
sons
I will contend
.
"For across to the coastlands
of 1Kittim
and see
, And send
to bKedar
and observe
closely
And see
if
there has been
such a thing as this
!
"Has a nation changed
gods
When athey were not gods
? But My people
have bchanged
their glory
For that which does not profit
.
"Be appalled, aO heavens
, at this
, And shudder
, be very
desolate
," declares
the LORD
.
"For My people have committed
two
evils
: They have forsaken
Me, The afountain
of living
waters
, To hew
for themselves bcisterns
, Broken
cisterns
That can
hold
no
water
.
"Is Israel aa slave
? Or
is he a homeborn
servant? Why
has he become
a prey
?
"The young alions
have roared
at him, They have 1roared
loudly
. And they have bmade
his land
a waste
; His cities
have been destroyed
, without
inhabitant
.
"Also the 1men
of aMemphis
and Tahpanhes
Have 2shaved
the bcrown
of your head
.
"Have you not adone this
to yourself By your forsaking
the LORD
your God
When
He aled
you in the way
?
"But now what
are you doing aon the road
to Egypt
, To drink
the waters
of the 1 bNile
? Or what
are you doing on the road
to Assyria
, To drink
the waters
of the 2Euphrates
?
" aYour own wickedness will correct
you, And your bapostasies
will reprove
you; Know
therefore and see
that it is evil
and cbitter
For you to forsake
the LORD
your God
, And dthe dread
of Me is not in you," declares
the Lord
1GOD
of hosts
.
"For long ago
1 aI broke
your yoke
And tore
off
your bonds
; But you said
, `I will not serve
!' For on every
bhigh
hill
And under
every
green
tree
You have lain
down
as a harlot
.
"Yet I aplanted you a choice
vine
, A completely
faithful
seed
. How
then have you turned
yourself before Me Into the bdegenerate
shoots of a foreign
vine
?
"Although you awash
yourself with lye
And 1use
much
soap
, The bstain
of your iniquity
is before
Me," declares
the Lord
2GOD
.
" aHow can you say
, `I am not defiled
, I have not gone
after
the bBaals
'? Look
at your way
in the cvalley
! Know
what
you have done
! You are a swift
young
camel
dentangling
her ways
,
A awild donkey
accustomed
to the wilderness
, That sniffs
the wind
in her passion
. In the time of her 1heat
who
can turn
her away
? All
who seek
her will not become
weary
; In her month
they will find
her.
"Keep your feet
from being unshod
And your throat
from thirst
; But you said
, ` aIt is 1hopeless
! No
! For I have bloved
strangers
, And after
them I will walk
.'
"As the athief is shamed
when
he is discovered
, So
the house
of Israel
is shamed
; They, their kings
, their princes
And their priests
and their prophets
,
Who say to a tree
, `You are my father
,' And to a stone
, `You gave
me birth
.' For they have turned
their aback
to Me, And not their face
; But in the btime
of their 1trouble
they will say
, `Arise
and save
us.'
"But where are your agods
Which
you made
for yourself? Let them arise
, if
they can bsave
you In the time
of your 1trouble
; For caccording to the number
of your cities
Are your gods
, O Judah
.
"Why do you contend
with Me? You have aall
transgressed
against Me," declares
the LORD
.
" aIn vain I have struck
your sons
; They accepted
no
chastening
. Your bsword
has devoured
your prophets
Like a destroying
lion
.
"O generation, heed
the word
of the LORD
. Have I been
a wilderness
to Israel
, Or
a aland
of thick
darkness
? Why
do My people
say
, ` bWe are free to roam
; We will no
longer
come
to You'?
"Can a virgin forget
her ornaments
, Or a bride
her attire
? Yet My people
have aforgotten
Me Days
without
number
.
"How well
you prepare
your way
To seek
love
! Therefore
even
1the wicked
women
You have taught
your ways
.
"Also on your skirts
is found
The alifeblood
of the innocent
poor
; You did not find
them bbreaking
in. But in spite
of all
these
things
,
Yet you said, `I am innocent
; Surely
His anger
is turned
away
from me.' Behold
, I will aenter
into judgment
with you Because
you bsay
, `I have not sinned
.'
"Why do you ago
around so
much
Changing
your way
? Also
, byou will be put
to shame
by Egypt
As you were put
to shame
by cAssyria
.
"From this place also
you will go
out With ayour hands
on your head
; For the LORD
has rejected
bthose in whom
you trust
, And you will not prosper
with them."