1Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying , 2Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem , saying , Thus saith the LORD ; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth , the love of thine espousals , when thou wentest after me in the wilderness , in a land that was not sown . 3Israel was holiness unto the LORD , and the firstfruits of his increase : all that devour him shall offend ; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD . 4Hear ye the word of the LORD , O house of Jacob , and all the families of the house of Israel : 5Thus saith the LORD , What iniquity 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 the LORD 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 no man passed through , and where no man dwelt ? 7And I brought you into a plentiful country , to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered , ye defiled my land , and made mine heritage an abomination . 8The priests said not, Where is the LORD ? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal , and walked after things that do not profit . 9Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD , and with your children’s children will I plead .
The Consequences of Abandoning God
10For pass over the isles of Chittim , and see ; and send unto Kedar , and consider diligently , and see if there be such a thing. 11Hath a nation changed their gods , which are yet 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 the LORD . 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 homeborn slave ? why is he spoiled ? 15The young lions roared upon him, and yelled , and they made his land waste : his cities are burned without inhabitant . 16Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head .
Desperate Times and Foolish Choices
17Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God , when he led thee by the way ? 18And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt , to drink the waters of Sihor ? or what hast thou to do in the way of 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 bitter , that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God , and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts . 20For of old time I have broken thy yoke , and burst thy bands ; and thou saidst , I will not transgress ; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest , playing the harlot . 21Yet I had planted thee a noble vine , wholly a right seed : how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me? 22For though thou wash thee with nitre , and take thee much soap , yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD . 23How canst thou say , I am not polluted , I have not gone after 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 at her pleasure ; 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 , There is no hope : 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 , 27Saying 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 plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD . 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 the LORD . Have I been a wilderness unto Israel ? a land of darkness ? wherefore say my people , We are lords ; we will come no more unto thee? 32Can a maid forget her ornaments , or a bride her attire ? yet my people have forgotten me days without number . 33Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love ? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways . 34Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents : I have not found it by secret search , but upon all these. 35Yet thou sayest , Because I am innocent , surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest , I have not sinned . 36Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way ? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt , as thou wast ashamed of Assyria . 37Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head : for the LORD hath rejected thy confidences , and thou shalt not prosper in them.