1And the word of Jehovah came to me , saying , 2Go , 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 . 3Israel 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 . 4Hear ye the word of Jehovah , O house of Jacob , and all the families of the house of Israel : 5Thus 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 ? 6Neither 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 ? 7And 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 . 8The 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 . 9Wherefore I will yet contend with you , saith Jehovah , and with your children ’s children will I contend .
The Consequences of Abandoning God
10For 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 . 11Hath a nation changed its gods, which yet are no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit . 12Be astonished , O ye heavens , at this , and be horribly afraid , be ye very desolate , saith Jehovah . 13For 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 . 14Is Israel a servant ? is he a home-born slave ? why is he become a prey? 15The young lions have roared upon him , and yelled ; and they have made his land waste : his cities are burned up , without inhabitant . 16The children also of Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken the crown of thy head .
Desperate Times and Foolish Choices
17Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken Jehovah thy God , when he led thee by the way ? 18And 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 ? 19Thine 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 . 20For 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 . 21Yet 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 ? 22For though thou wash thee with lye , and take thee much soap , yet thine iniquity is marked before me , saith the Lord Jehovah . 23How 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 ; 24a 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 .
A Call to Remember and Repent
25Withhold 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 . 26As 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 ; 27who 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 . 28But 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 . 29Wherefore will ye contend with me ? ye all have transgressed against me , saith Jehovah . 30In vain have I smitten your children ; they received no correction : your own sword hath devoured your prophets , like a destroying lion.
God's Faithfulness Amidst Infidelity
31O 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 ? 32Can a virgin forget her ornaments , or a bride her attire ? yet my people have forgotten me days without number . 33How trimmest thou thy way to seek love! therefore even the wicked women hast thou taught thy ways . 34Also 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 . 35Yet 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 . 36Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way ? thou shalt be ashamed of Egypt also , as thou wast ashamed of Assyria. 37From 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 .