New King James Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

1Now the word of the LORD came to me saying,

2“Go and cry in the hearing of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD: “I remember you, The kindness of your youth, The love of your betrothal, When you went after Me in the wilderness, In a land not sown.

2"Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the LORD, "I remember concerning you the devotion of your youth, The love of your betrothals, Your following after Me in the wilderness, Through a land not sown.

3Israel was holiness to the LORD, The firstfruits of His increase. All that devour him will offend; Disaster will come upon them,” says the LORD.’ ”

3"Israel was holy to the LORD, The first of His harvest. All who ate of it became guilty; Evil came upon them," declares the LORD.'"

4Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob and all the families of the house of Israel.

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 have your fathers found in Me, That they have gone far from Me, Have followed idols, And have become idolaters?

5Thus says the LORD, "What injustice did your fathers find in Me, That they went far from Me And walked after emptiness and became empty?

6Neither did they say, ‘Where is the LORD, Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, Who led us through the wilderness, Through a land of deserts and pits, Through a land of drought and the shadow of death, Through a land that no one crossed And where no one dwelt?’

6"They did not say, 'Where is the LORD Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, Who led us through the wilderness, Through a land of deserts and of pits, Through a land of drought and of deep darkness, Through a land that no one crossed And where no man dwelt?'

7I brought you into a bountiful country, To eat its fruit and its goodness. But when you entered, you defiled My land And made My heritage an abomination.

7"I brought you into the fruitful land To eat its fruit and its good things. But you came and defiled My land, And My inheritance you made an abomination.

8The priests did not say, ‘Where is the LORD?’ And those who handle the law did not know Me; The rulers also transgressed against Me; The prophets prophesied by Baal, And walked after things that do not profit.

8"The priests did not say, 'Where is the LORD?' And those who handle the law did not know Me; The rulers also transgressed against Me, And the prophets prophesied by Baal And walked after things that did not profit.

9“Therefore I will yet bring charges against you,” says the LORD, “And against your children’s children I will bring charges.

9"Therefore I will yet contend with you," declares the LORD, "And with your sons' sons I will contend.

10For pass beyond the coasts of Cyprus and see, Send to Kedar and consider diligently, And see if there has been such a thing.

10"For cross to the coastlands of Kittim and see, And send to Kedar and observe closely And see if there has been such a thing as this!

11Has a nation changed its gods, Which are not gods? But My people have changed their Glory For what does not profit.

11"Has a nation changed gods When they were not gods? But My people have changed their glory For that which does not profit.

12Be astonished, O heavens, at this, And be horribly afraid; Be very desolate,” says the LORD.

12"Be appalled, O heavens, at this, And shudder, be very desolate," declares the LORD.

13“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.

13"For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, To hew for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns That can hold no water.

14“Is Israel a servant? Is he a homeborn slave? Why is he plundered?

14"Is Israel a slave? Or is he a homeborn servant? Why has he become a prey?

15The young lions roared at him, and growled; They made his land waste; His cities are burned, without inhabitant.

15"The young lions have roared at him, They have roared loudly. And they have made his land a waste; His cities have been destroyed, without inhabitant.

16Also the people of Noph and Tahpanhes Have broken the crown of your head.

16"Also the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes Have shaved the crown of your head.

17Have you not brought this on yourself, In that you have forsaken the LORD your God When He led you in the way?

17"Have you not done this to yourself By your forsaking the LORD your God When He led you in the way?

18And now why take the road to Egypt, To drink the waters of Sihor? Or why take the road to Assyria, To drink the waters of the River?

18"But now what are you doing on the road to Egypt, To drink the waters of the Nile? Or what are you doing on the road to Assyria, To drink the waters of the Euphrates?

19Your own wickedness will correct you, And your backslidings will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing That you have forsaken the LORD your God, And the fear of Me is not in you,” Says the Lord GOD of hosts.

19"Your own wickedness will correct you, And your apostasies will reprove you; Know therefore and see that it is evil and bitter For you to forsake the LORD your God, And the dread of Me is not in you," declares the Lord GOD of hosts.

20“For of old I have broken your yoke and burst your bonds; And you said, ‘I will not transgress,’ When on every high hill and under every green tree You lay down, playing the harlot.

20"For long ago I broke your yoke And tore off your bonds; But you said, 'I will not serve!' For on every high hill And under every green tree You have lain down as a harlot.

21Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a seed of highest quality. How then have you turned before Me Into the degenerate plant of an alien vine?

21"Yet I planted you a choice vine, A completely faithful seed. How then have you turned yourself before Me Into the degenerate shoots of a foreign vine?

22For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, Yet your iniquity is marked before Me,” says the Lord GOD.

22"Although you wash yourself with lye And use much soap, The stain of your iniquity is before Me," declares the Lord GOD.

23“How can you say, ‘I am not polluted, I have not gone after the Baals’? See your way in the valley; Know what you have done: You are a swift dromedary breaking loose in her ways,

23"How can you say, 'I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baals '? Look at your way in the valley! Know what you have done! You are a swift young camel entangling her ways,

24A wild donkey used to the wilderness, That sniffs at the wind in her desire; In her time of mating, who can turn her away? All those who seek her will not weary themselves; In her month they will find her.

24A wild donkey accustomed to the wilderness, That sniffs the wind in her passion. In the time of her heat who can turn her away? All who seek her will not become weary; In her month they will find her.

25Withhold your foot from being unshod, and your throat from thirst. But you said, ‘There is no hope. No! For I have loved aliens, and after them I will go.’

25"Keep your feet from being unshod And your throat from thirst; But you said, 'It is hopeless! No! For I have loved strangers, And after them I will walk.'

26“As the thief is ashamed when he is found out, So is the house of Israel ashamed; They and their kings and their princes, and their priests and their prophets,

26"As the thief is shamed when he is discovered, So the house of Israel is shamed; They, their kings, their princes And their priests and their prophets,

27Saying to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ And to a stone, ‘You gave birth to me.’ For they have turned their back to Me, and not their face. But in the time of their trouble They will say, ‘Arise and save us.’

27Who say to a tree, 'You are my father,' And to a stone, 'You gave me birth.' For they have turned their back to Me, And not their face; But in the time of their trouble they will say, 'Arise and save us.'

28But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, If they can save you in the time of your trouble; For according to the number of your cities Are your gods, O Judah.

28"But where are your gods Which you made for yourself? Let them arise, if they can save you In the time of your trouble; For according to the number of your cities Are your gods, O Judah.

29“Why will you plead with Me? You all have transgressed against Me,” says the LORD.

29"Why do you contend with Me? You have all transgressed against Me," declares the LORD.

30“In vain I have chastened your children; They received no correction. Your sword has devoured your prophets Like a destroying lion.

30"In vain I have struck your sons; They accepted no chastening. Your sword has devoured your prophets Like a destroying lion.

31“O generation, see the word of the LORD! Have I been a wilderness to Israel, Or a land of darkness? Why do My people say, ‘We are lords; We will come no more to You’?

31"O generation, heed the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness to Israel, Or a land of thick darkness? Why do My people say, 'We are free to roam; We will no longer come to You'?

32Can a virgin forget her ornaments, Or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number.

32"Can a virgin forget her ornaments, Or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me Days without number.

33“Why do you beautify your way to seek love? Therefore you have also taught The wicked women your ways.

33"How well you prepare your way To seek love! Therefore even the wicked women You have taught your ways.

34Also on your skirts is found The blood of the lives of the poor innocents. I have not found it by secret search, But plainly on all these things.

34"Also on your skirts is found The lifeblood of the innocent poor; You did not find them breaking in. But in spite of all these things,

35Yet you say, ‘Because I am innocent, Surely His anger shall turn from me.’ Behold, I will plead My case against you, Because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’

35Yet you said, 'I am innocent; Surely His anger is turned away from me.' Behold, I will enter into judgment with you Because you say, 'I have not sinned.'

36Why do you gad about so much to change your way? Also you shall be ashamed of Egypt as you were ashamed of Assyria.

36"Why do you go around so much Changing your way? Also, you will be put to shame by Egypt As you were put to shame by Assyria.

37Indeed you will go forth from him With your hands on your head; For the LORD has rejected your trusted allies, And you will not prosper by them.

37"From this place also you will go out With your hands on your head; For the LORD has rejected those in whom you trust, And you will not prosper with them."

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org