^{1 Ref} And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

^{2 Ref} Go and say in the ears of Jerusalem, The Lord says, I still keep the memory of your kind heart when you were young, and your love when you became my bride; how you went after me in the waste of sand, in an unplanted land.

^{3 Ref} Israel was holy to the Lord, the first-fruits of his increase: all who made attacks on him were judged as wrongdoers, evil came on them, says the Lord.

^{4 Ref} Give ear to the words of the Lord, O sons of Jacob and all the families of Israel:

^{5 Ref} These are the words of the Lord: What evil have your fathers seen in me that they have gone far from me, and, walking after what is false, have become false?

^{6 Ref} And they never said, Where is the Lord, who took us up out of the land of Egypt; who was our guide through the waste of sand, through an unplanted land full of deep holes, through a dry land of deep shade, which no one went through and where no man was living?

^{7 Ref} And I took you into a fertile land, where you were living on its fruit and its wealth; but when you came in, you made my land unclean, and made my heritage a disgusting thing.

^{8 Ref} The priests did not say, Where is the Lord? and those who were expert in the law had no knowledge of me: and the rulers did evil against me, and the prophets became prophets of the Baal, going after things without value.

^{9 Ref} For this reason, I will again put forward my cause against you, says the Lord, even against you and against your children's children.

^{10 Ref} For go over to the sea-lands of Kittim and see; send to Kedar and give deep thought to it; and see if there has ever been such a thing.

^{11 Ref} Has any nation ever made a change in their gods, though they are no gods? but my people have given up their glory in exchange for what is of no profit.

^{12 Ref} Be full of wonder, O heavens, at this; be overcome with fear, be completely waste, says the Lord.

^{13 Ref} For my people have done two evils; they have given up me, the fountain of living waters, and have made for themselves water-holes, cut out from the rock, broken water-holes, of no use for storing water.

^{14 Ref} Is Israel a servant? has he been a house-servant from birth? why has he been made waste?

^{15 Ref} The young lions have made an outcry against him with a loud voice: they have made his land waste; his towns are burned up, with no one living in them.

^{16 Ref} Even the children of Noph and Tahpanhes have put shame on you.

^{17 Ref} Has not this come on you because you have given up the Lord your God, who was your guide by the way?

^{18 Ref} And now, what have you to do on the way to Egypt, to get your drink from the waters of the Nile? or what have you to do on the way to Assyria, to get your drink from the waters of the River?

^{19 Ref} The evil you yourselves have done will be your punishment, your errors will be your judge: be certain then, and see that it is an evil and a bitter thing to give up the Lord your God, and no longer to be moved by fear of me, says the Lord, the Lord of armies.

^{20 Ref} For in the past, your yoke was broken by your hands and your cords parted; and you said, I will not be your servant; for on every high hill and under every branching tree, your behaviour was like that of a loose woman

^{21 Ref} But when you were planted by me, you were a noble vine, in every way a true seed: how then have you been changed into the branching plant of a strange vine?

^{22 Ref} For even if you are washed with soda and take much soap, still your evil-doing is marked before me, says the Lord God.

^{23 Ref} How are you able to say, I am not unclean, I have not gone after the Baals? see your way in the valley, be clear about what you have done: you are a quick-footed camel twisting her way in and out;

^{24 Ref} An untrained ass, used to the waste land, breathing up the wind in her desire; at her time, who is able to send her away? all those who are looking for her will have no need to make themselves tired; in her month they will get her.

^{25 Ref} Do not let your foot be without shoes, or your throat dry from need of water: but you said, There is no hope: no, for I have been a lover of strange gods, and after them I will go.

^{26 Ref} As the thief is shamed when he is taken, so is Israel shamed; they, their kings and their rulers, their priests and their prophets;

^{27 Ref} Who say to a tree, You are my father; and to a stone, You have given me life: for their backs have been turned to me, not their faces: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Up! and be our saviour.

^{28 Ref} But where are the gods you have made for yourselves? let them come, if they are able to give you salvation in the time of your trouble: for the number of your gods is as the number of your towns, O Judah.

^{29 Ref} Why will you put forward your cause against me? You have all done evil against me, says the Lord.

^{30 Ref} I gave your children blows to no purpose; they got no good from training: your sword has been the destruction of your prophets, like a death-giving lion.

^{31 Ref} O generation, see the word of the Lord. Have I been a waste land to Israel? or a land of dark night? why do my people say, We have got loose, we will not come to you again?

^{32 Ref} Is it possible for a virgin to put out of her memory her ornaments, or a bride her robes? but my people have put me out of their memories for unnumbered days.

^{33 Ref} With what care are your ways ordered when you are looking for love! so ... your ways.

^{34 Ref} And in the skirts of your robe may be seen the life-blood of those who have done no wrong: ...

^{35 Ref} And still you said, I have done no wrong; truly, his wrath is turned away from me. See, I will take up the cause against you, because you say, I have done no wrong.

^{36 Ref} Why do you go about so much for the purpose of changing your way? you will be shamed on account of Egypt, as you were shamed on account of Assyria.

^{37 Ref} Truly, you will go out from him with your hands on your head: for the Lord has given up those in whom you have put your faith, and they will be of no help to you.

^{1 Ref} And the word of Jehovah came to me, saying,

^{2 Ref} Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, I remember for thee the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals; how thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.

^{3 Ref} Israel `was' holiness unto Jehovah, the first-fruits of his increase: all that devour him shall be held guilty; evil shall come upon them, saith Jehovah.

^{4 Ref} Hear ye the word of Jehovah, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:

^{5 Ref} thus saith Jehovah, What unrighteousness have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?

^{6 Ref} Neither said they, Where is Jehovah that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that 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 none passed through, and where no man dwelt?

^{7 Ref} And I brought you into a plentiful land, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination.

^{8 Ref} The priests said not, Where is Jehovah? and they that handle the law knew me not: the rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

^{9 Ref} Wherefore I will yet contend with you, saith Jehovah, and with your children's children will I contend.

^{10 Ref} For pass over to the isles of Kittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently; and see if there hath been such a thing.

^{11 Ref} Hath a nation changed `its' gods, which yet are no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.

^{12 Ref} Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith Jehovah.

^{13 Ref} For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

^{14 Ref} Is Israel a servant? is he a home-born `slave'? why is he become a prey?

^{15 Ref} The young lions have roared upon him, and yelled; and they have made his land waste: his cities are burned up, without inhabitant.

^{16 Ref} The children also of Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken the crown of thy head.

^{17 Ref} Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken Jehovah thy God, when he led thee by the way?

^{18 Ref} And now what hast thou to do in the way to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Shihor? or what hast thou to do in the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?

^{19 Ref} Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and a bitter, that thou hast forsaken Jehovah thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts.

^{20 Ref} For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bonds; and thou saidst, I will not serve; for upon every high hill and under every green tree thou didst bow thyself, playing the harlot.

^{21 Ref} Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate branches of a foreign vine unto me?

^{22 Ref} For though thou wash thee with lye, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord Jehovah.

^{23 Ref} How canst thou say, I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: `thou art' a swift dromedary traversing her ways;

^{24 Ref} a wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind in her desire; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.

^{25 Ref} Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, It is in vain; no, for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.

^{26 Ref} 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 Ref} who say to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face; but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.

^{28 Ref} But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.

^{29 Ref} Wherefore will ye contend with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith Jehovah.

^{30 Ref} In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

^{31 Ref} O generation, see ye the word of Jehovah. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? or a land of thick darkness? wherefore say my people, We are broken loose; we will come no more unto thee?

^{32 Ref} Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

^{33 Ref} How trimmest thou thy way to seek love! therefore even the wicked women hast thou taught thy ways.

^{34 Ref} Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the innocent poor: thou didst not find them breaking in; but it is because of all these things.

^{35 Ref} Yet thou saidst, I am innocent; surely his anger is turned away from me. Behold, I will enter into judgment with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.

^{36 Ref} Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou shalt be ashamed of Egypt also, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.

^{37 Ref} From thence also shalt thou go forth, with thy hands upon thy head: for Jehovah hath rejected those in whom thou trustest, and thou shalt not prosper with them.

^{1 Ref} The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,

^{2 Ref} Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus says Yahweh, 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 Ref} 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 Ref} Hear you the word of Yahweh, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:

^{5 Ref} thus says Yahweh, What unrighteousness have your fathers found in me, that they have gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?

^{6 Ref} Neither said they, 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 none passed through, and where no man lived?

^{7 Ref} I brought you into a plentiful land, to eat the fruit of it and the goodness of it; but when you entered, you defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination.

^{8 Ref} 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 walked after things that do not profit.

^{9 Ref} Therefore I will yet contend with you, says Yahweh, and with your children's children will I contend.

^{10 Ref} For pass over to the isles of Kittim, and see; and send to Kedar, and consider diligently; and see if there has been such a thing.

^{11 Ref} Has a nation changed [its] gods, which yet are no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.

^{12 Ref} Be astonished, you heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be you very desolate, says Yahweh.

^{13 Ref} For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the spring of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

^{14 Ref} Is Israel a servant? is he a home-born [slave]? why is he become a prey?

^{15 Ref} The young lions have roared on him, and yelled; and they have made his land waste: his cities are burned up, without inhabitant.

^{16 Ref} The children also of Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken the crown of your head.

^{17 Ref} Haven't you procured this to yourself, in that you have forsaken Yahweh your God, when he led you by the way?

^{18 Ref} Now what have you to do in the way to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Shihor? or what have you to do in the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?

^{19 Ref} Your own wickedness shall correct you, and your backsliding shall reprove you: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and a bitter, that you have forsaken Yahweh your God, and that my fear is not in you, says the Lord, Yahweh of Hosts.

^{20 Ref} For of old time I have broken your yoke, and burst your bonds; and you said, I will not serve; for on every high hill and under every green tree you did bow yourself, playing the prostitute.

^{21 Ref} Yet I had planted you a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then are you turned into the degenerate branches of a foreign vine to me?

^{22 Ref} For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before me, says the Lord Yahweh.

^{23 Ref} 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 Ref} a wild donkey used to the wilderness, that snuffs up the wind in her desire; in her occasion who can turn her away? all those who seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.

^{25 Ref} Withhold your foot from being unshod, and your throat from thirst: but you said, It is in vain; no, for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.

^{26 Ref} 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 Ref} who tell a stock, You are my father; and to a stone, You have brought me forth: 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 Ref} But where are your gods that you have made you? 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, Judah.

^{29 Ref} Why will you contend with me? you all have transgressed against me, says Yahweh.

^{30 Ref} In vain have I struck your children; they received no correction: your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

^{31 Ref} Generation, see the word of Yahweh. Have I been a wilderness to Israel? or a land of thick darkness? why say my people, We are broken loose; we will come no more to you?

^{32 Ref} Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

^{33 Ref} How trimmest you your way to seek love! therefore even the wicked women have you taught your ways.

^{34 Ref} Also in your skirts is found the blood of the souls of the innocent poor: you did not find them breaking in; but it is because of all these things.

^{35 Ref} 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 Ref} Why go you about so much to change your way? you shall be ashamed of Egypt also, as you were ashamed of Assyria.

^{37 Ref} From there also shall you go forth, with your hands on your head: for Yahweh has rejected those in whom you trust, and you shall not prosper with them.