1The word of the LORD again came to me, saying, 2“Go and proclaim this message to Jerusalem, ‘Thus says the LORD; “I remember how eager you were to please Me as a youth long ago, how you loved Me and followed Me through the barren wilderness. 3Israel was holy to the LORD, the first fruits of His harvest; any that devoured her were declared guilty; and disaster overtook them.”’”

4Hear the word of the LORD, descendants of Jacob, and all the tribes of Israel. 5“Thus says the LORD, ‘What fault have your fathers found in Me, that they have strayed so far from Me, and followed worthless idols?’ 6Nor did they ask, ‘Where is the LORD Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, Who led us through the wilderness, a land of deserts and of pits, a land of drought, and the shadow of death, through a land that no man passes through, or lives in?’ 7And I brought you into a fertile land, to enjoy its fruit and its bounty; but when you came in, you defiled My land, and made My heritage an abomination. 8The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD?’ And those who handle the law did not know Me. The leaders rebelled against Me; and the prophets prophesied in the name of Baal, and followed worthless idols. 9Therefore, I will bring My charges against you”, says the LORD, “and against your children's children.

10“Cross over the coasts of Kittim (Cyprus), and see; and send to Kedar, and consider diligently whether there has ever been such a thing. 11Has any nation changed (traded) their gods for others, that are not gods at all? But My people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols. 12Be shocked at this, O you heavens, and be utterly appalled and dismayed”, says the LORD. 13“For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and have dug out their own cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

14“Is Israel a servant, a slave by birth? Why then is he exploited and plundered? 15The young lions have roared and growled at him, and they destroyed his land; his cities are burned and deserted. 16The men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have also cracked your skull. 17Have you not brought this upon yourself, in that you have forsaken the LORD, your God, when He led you in the way? 18And now what have you gained by your alliances with Egypt, what good are the waters of Shihor (Nile) or the Euphrates River of Assyria?

19“Your own wickedness shall punish you, and your backslidings shall reprove you. Consider, then, and realize that it is an evil and bitter thing, that you have forsaken the LORD, your God, and that you have no regard or reverence for Me,” says the LORD God of hosts. 20“For long ago I broke your yoke and your chains; and you said, ‘I will not transgress’; but then, on every high hill and under every green tree, you bowed down to your worthless idols. 21I had planted you a noble vine, wholly a right seed. How, or why, then, did you turn into the degenerate plant that is a strange vine to Me? 22For though you wash yourself with lye, and much soap, yet the stain of your guilt is still before Me,” says the LORD God. 23“How can you say, ‘I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim.’? See how you acted in the valley, and acknowledge what you have done; you are a swift camel running where you please, 24A wild donkey used to the wilderness, sniffing the wind at her pleasure; in her lust for running free, who can restrain her? All they who seek her will not weary themselves; in her mating season they shall find her. 25When will you stop running – not until your feet no longer have shoes, and your throat has become dry? And still you said, ‘Save Your breath. For I love these strange gods, and I will go after them.’ 26As the thief is disgraced when he is caught, so is the house of Israel disgraced - they, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets, 27They say to a chunk of wood from a tree, ‘You are my father’; and to a stone, ‘You have given me life’; for they have turned their back to Me, and not their face; but in the time of their trouble, they will say, ‘Come, and save us.’ 28But where, then, are your gods that you have made for yourself? Let them come, if they can save you in your time of trouble; for as many cities as you have, there are that many of your gods, O Judah. 29Why will you accuse Me? It is you who have wronged Me,” says the LORD. 30“In vain I have punished your people; they do not respond to correction. Your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a marauding lion. 31You of this generation, consider the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness to Israel? A land of darkness? Why do My people say, ‘We are free to roam as we please; we will no longer come unto You.’? 32Does a young maiden forget her jewelry, or a bride her bridal gown? Yet My people have forgotten Me for days without number. 33How you plot and scheme in pursuit of love! Even an experienced prostitute could learn from you! 34Also your clothes are stained with the blood of poor innocents; I have not found evidence of innocent bloodshed by digging and diligent search, but it was found wherever I looked. 35Yet you say, ‘Because I have done nothing wrong, surely God is not angry with me.’ But now I will punish you severely, because you claim you have not sinned. 36Why do you flit from one ally to another, seeking help? You shall be disappointed by Egypt, as you were disappointed by Assyria. 37Yes, you shall leave this place with your hands upon your head; for the LORD has rejected those in whom you have placed your trust, and you shall not be helped by them.”