Now the word of the LORD came to me , saying ,
“ Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem that this is what ... the LORD says : ‘ I remember the devotion of your youth , your love as a bride , how you followed Me ... in the wilderness , in a land not sown.
Israel was holy to the LORD , the firstfruits of His harvest. All who devoured her found themselves guilty ; disaster came upon them , ’” declares the LORD.
Hear the word of the LORD , O house of Jacob , and all you families of the house of Israel.
This is what the LORD says : “ What fault did your fathers find that they strayed so far from Me , and followed ... worthless idols , and became worthless themselves ?
They did not ask , ‘ Where is the LORD who brought us up from the land of Egypt , who led us through the wilderness , through a land of deserts and pits , a land of drought and darkness , a land where no one travels and no one lives ? ’
I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and bounty , but you came and defiled - My land , and made My inheritance detestable.
The priests did not ask , ‘ Where is the LORD ? ’ The experts in the law no longer knew Me , and the leaders rebelled The prophets prophesied by Baal and followed ... useless idols.
Therefore , I will contend with you again , declares the LORD , and I will bring a case against your children’s children.
- Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and take a look ; send to Kedar and consider carefully ; see if there has ever been anything like this :
Has a nation ever changed its gods , though they (are) no gods (at all) ? Yet My people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols.
Be stunned by this , O heavens ; be shocked and utterly appalled , ” declares the LORD.
“ For My people - have committed two evils : They have forsaken Me , the fountain of living water , and they have dug cisterns — broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
Is Israel ... a slave ? Was he born into slavery ... ? Why then has he become prey ?
The young lions have roared at him ; they have growled with a loud voice. They have laid waste his land ; his cities lie in ruins , without inhabitant.
The men of Memphis and Tahpanhes - have shaved the crown of your head.
Have you not brought this by forsaking - the LORD your God when He led you in the way ?
Now what will you gain on your way to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile ? What will you gain on your way to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates ?
Your own evil will discipline you ; your own apostasies will reprimand you. Consider and realize how evil and bitter it is for you to forsake - the LORD your God and to have no fear of Me , ” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.
“ For long ago you broke your yoke and tore off your chains , saying , ‘ I will not serve !’ Indeed , on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute.
I had planted you like a choice vine from the very best seed. How could you turn yourself into a rotten , wild vine ?
Although ... you wash with lye and use an abundance of soap , the stain of your guilt is still before Me , ” declares the Lord GOD.
“ How can you say , ‘ I am not defiled ; I have not run after the Baals ’ ? Look at your behavior in the valley ; acknowledge what you have done. You are a swift young she-camel galloping here and there ... ,
a wild donkey at home in the wilderness , sniffing the wind in the heat of her desire. Who can restrain her passion ? All who seek her need not weary themselves ; in mating season they will find her.
You should have kept your feet from going bare and your throat from being thirsty. But you said , ‘ It is hopeless ... ! For I love foreign (gods) , and I must go after them. ’
As the thief is ashamed when he is caught , so the house of Israel is disgraced. They , their kings , their officials , their priests , and their prophets
say to a tree , ‘ You are my father , ’ and to a stone , ‘ You gave me birth. ’ For they have turned their backs to Me and not their faces , yet in the time of trouble they beg , ‘ Rise up and save us ! ’
But where are the gods - you made Let them rise up in your time of trouble and save you if they can ; for your gods are as numerous as your cities , O Judah.
Why do you bring a case against Me ? You have all rebelled declares the LORD.
“ I have struck - your sons in vain ; they accepted no discipline. Your own sword has devoured your prophets like a voracious lion. ”
You (people) of this generation , consider the word of the LORD : “ Have I been a wilderness to Israel or a land of dense darkness ? Why do My people say , ‘ We (are free to) roam ; we will come to You no more ’ ?
Does a maiden forget her jewelry or a bride her wedding sash ? Yet My people have forgotten Me for days without number.
How skillfully ... you pursue love ! ... Even - the most immoral of women could learn - from your ways.
Moreover , your skirts are stained with the blood ... of the innocent poor , though you did not find them breaking in. But in spite of all these things
you say , ... ‘ I am innocent. Surely His anger will turn from me.’ Behold , I will judge you , because you say , ‘ I have not sinned.’
How unstable you are , constantly changing - your ways ! ... You will be disappointed by Egypt just as you (were) by Assyria.
Moreover , ... you will leave that place with your hands on your head , for the LORD has rejected those you trust ; you will not prosper