1And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,2Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, saying: Thus says the LORD: I remember the kindness of your youth, the love of your betrothal, when you walked after Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.3Israel is holiness to the LORD, the first of His produce; all who eat it will be held guilty; distress will come upon them, declares the LORD.4Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel.5Thus says the LORD: What injustice did your fathers find in Me that they withdrew from Me and went after the vanity and became vain?6They did not say, Where is the LORD who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of Arabah and pit, through a land of dryness and shadow of death, through a land where no man passes and where no man dwells?7I brought you into the land of the plantation to eat its fruit and its goodness; but you came and defiled My land and made My inheritance an abomination.8The priests did not say, Where is the LORD? Those who handle the instruction did not know Me; the shepherds transgressed against Me; the prophets prophesied by Baal and went after what does not profit.9Therefore I will still contend with you, declares the LORD, and with your sons' sons I will contend.10For cross over to the coastlands of Kittim and see, and send to Kedar and observe carefully, and see whether anything like this has happened.11Has a nation changed its gods, though they are not gods? Yet My people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.12Be appalled, O heavens, at this; shudder and be utterly desolate, declares the LORD.13For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and have hewn out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that hold no water.14Is Israel a servant, or a home-born slave? Why then has he become plunder?15Young lions have roared against him; they have given their voice, and they have laid his land waste; his cities are burned, without inhabitant.16Also the sons of Memphis and Tahpanhes will graze on your crown.17Have you not done this to yourself by forsaking the LORD your God when He led you in the way?18And now what do you gain by going the way to Egypt to drink the waters of Shihor? What do you gain by going the way to Assyria to drink the waters of the River?19Your own distress will discipline you, and your faithlessnesses will rebuke you; know therefore and see that it is bad and bitter for you to have forsaken the LORD your God; the dread of Me is not in you, declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.20For long ago I broke your yoke and tore your bonds; but you said, I will not serve. On every high hill and under every luxuriant tree you marched as a fornicator.21Yet I planted you as a choice vine, all of it true seed; how then have you turned to Me as degenerate branches of the foreign vine?22Though you wash with lye and multiply soap for yourself, your iniquity remains stained before Me, declares the Lord GOD.23How can you say, I have not defiled myself; I have not gone after the Baals? See your way in the valley; know what you have done, a swift young camel twisting her ways.24A wild donkey, disciple of the wilderness, in the desire of her soul she sniffs the wind; in her estrous who can turn her back? All who seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they will find her.25Withhold your foot from being barefoot and your throat from thirst. But you said, It is hopeless; no, for I have loved strangers and after them I will go.26As a thief is ashamed when caught, so the house of Israel is ashamed, they, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets,27who say to the tree, You are my father, and to the stone, You gave me birth. They have turned their neck to Me and not their face; yet in the time of their distress they say, Arise and save us.28But where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them arise, if they can save you in your time of trouble; for your gods have become as numerous as your cities, O Judah.29Why do you contend with Me? You have all transgressed against Me, declares the LORD.30In vain I have struck your sons; they accepted no discipline; your own sword devoured your prophets like a ravening lion.31O generation, consider the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of thick darkness? Why then do My people say, 'We are free; we will come no more to You?'32Can a virgin forget her ornament, or a bride her sashes? Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number.33How well you direct your way to seek love! Therefore you have also taught the bad things your ways.34Also on your skirts is found the blood of the souls of the innocent needy; you did not find them breaking in; yet for all these things35you say, I have cleared myself; surely His anger has turned from me. Behold, I will judge you because you say, I have not sinned.36Why do you go about so much changing your way? You shall be put to shame by Egypt as you were put to shame by Assyria.37From it also you will go forth with your hands on your head, for the LORD has rejected those in whom you trust, and you will not prosper by them.
Chapter 3
1If a man sends away his wife and she goes from him and becomes another man's wife, will he return to her again? Would not that land be polluted? You have fornicated with many neighbors; yet return to Me, declares the LORD.2Lift up your eyes to the bare heights and see: where have you not been ravished? By the ways you sat for them like an Arab in the wilderness; you have polluted the land with your fornications and your distress.3The showers have been withheld, and the spring rain has not come; yet you have the forehead of a fornicating woman; you refuse to be humiliated.4Will you not from this time call to Me, My Father, the tame one of my youth?5Will He keep anger forever, or will He keep it to perpetuity? Behold, you have spoken, but you have done the bad things and you were able.