Israel Has Forsaken God

And the word of YHWH came to me saying, 2“Go and call out in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says YHWH,

“I remember you, the loving devotion of your youth,

the love of your betrothal,

of your going after Me in the wilderness

in a land not sown.

3“Israel was holy to YHWH,

and the firstfruit of His increase.

All those eating it were guilty;

and disaster came upon them,’”

a declaration of YHWH.

4Hear the word of YHWH, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel. 5Thus says YHWH,

“What injustice did your⁺ fathers find in Me,

that they have gone far away from Me,

and went after the empty,

and became empty?

6They did not say, ‘Where is YHWH

who brought us up from the land of Egypt,

who led us through the wilderness,

through a land of desert plain and pit,

through a land of drought and darkness,

through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt there?’

7“And I brought you⁺ into a land of fertility,

to eat its fruit and its goodness;

and you⁺ came in, and you⁺ defiled My land

and made My inheritance into an abomination!

8The priests did not say,

‘Where is YHWH?’

And those handling the law did not know Me;

and the rulers transgressed against Me,

and the prophets prophesied by Baal,

and walked after things not profitable.

9Therefore still I will contend with you⁺,”

a declaration of YHWH,

“And with your children’s children

I will contend.

10For pass over to the coasts of Kittim†

and see!

And send to Kedar, and give much consideration,

and see if there has been such as this!

11Has a nation changed its gods,

(and they are not gods)?

And My people have changed their Glory†

for what does not profit.

12Be dismayed, O heavens, by this,

and shudder,

Be very desolate,”

a declaration of YHWH.

13For My people have committed two evils:

They have forsaken Me,

the fountain of living waters,

to hew for themselves cisterns,

broken cisterns that hold no water.

The Consequence of Israel’s Sin

14Is Israel a slave?

Or is he born of the house?

Why has he become as plunder?

15The young lions roared at him;

they gave forth their voice.

And they made his land into a desolation:

His cities are left in ruins, without a dweller.

16Even the sons of Memphis† and Tahpanhes

have shaved the crown of your head.

17Have you not done this to yourself,

by your forsaking YHWH your God

in the time He led you in the way?

18And now, what is unto you in the way of Egypt—

to drink the waters of Shihor?†

Or what is unto you in the way of Assyria—

to drink the waters of the River?†

19Your own evil will discipline you,

and your turning away will rebuke you.

Know then and see

that it is evil and bitter,

your forsaking YHWH your God!

And the fear of Me is not in you,”

a declaration of the Lord YHWH of Hosts.

20“For from long ago I have broken your yoke,

and torn off your bonds.

And you said, I will not serve!’

For on every high hill

and under every green tree

you lay down as a prostitute.

21And I had planted you as a vine,

all of it a true seed.

How then did you turn before Me

into degenerates of a strange vine?

22For though you wash with lye,

and use for yourself much soap,

your iniquity is a stain

before My face,”

a declaration of the Lord YHWH.

Israel’s Unfaithfulness
(Judges 2:10–15; Isaiah 43:22–28)

23How 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—

a swift young she-camel

entangling her ways,

24a wild donkey, a pupil of the wilderness,

sniffing the wind of her desire;

in her heat, who can turn her away?

All those seeking her will not weary themselves;

in her month, they will find her.

25“Withhold your foot from being bare,

and your throat from thirst:

And you said, ‘It is hopeless!

No, for I have loved strangers,

and after them I shall go.’

26“Like the shame of a thief when he is found,

so the house of Israel is ashamed—

they, and their kings, and their princes,

and their priests, and their prophets—

27saying to a tree, ‘You are my father,’

and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’

For they have turned the nape to Me,

and not the faces;

but in the time of their trouble they will say,

‘Arise, and save us.’

28“And where are your gods that you made for yourselves?

Let them stand up, if they can save you

in the time of your trouble!

For as the number of your cities,

are your gods, O Judah.

29Why do you⁺ contend with Me?

You⁺ all have transgressed against Me,”

a declaration of YHWH.

30“In vain I have struck your⁺ sons;

they accepted no discipline,

and your⁺ own sword has devoured your⁺ prophets

like a destroying lion.”

31“O generation, consider you⁺ the word of YHWH.

“Have I been a wilderness to Israel,

or a land of darkness?

Why do My people say,

‘We are lords;

we will not come to You anymore?’

32Can a virgin forget her jewelry,

or a bride her sashes?

And My people have forgotten Me

for days without number.

33“Why do you beautify your way to seek love?

So even the wicked

you have taught your ways.

34“Also on your skirts is found

the blood of innocent needy souls—

and not breaking in did you find them!

But in spite of all these things,

35you also say ‘Because I am innocent,

surely His anger has turned away from me.’

Behold, I will plead with you,

because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’

36“Why you go about so so much,

changing your way?

You are even put to shame by Egypt,

as you were put to shame by Assyria.

37“Indeed you will go forth from this place,

and with your hands on your head;

for YHWH has rejected those you trust,

and you shall not prosper in them.”