Judah Transgresses Against Yahweh

1Now the word of Yahweh came to me saying, 2“Go and call out in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh,

“I remember concerning you the lovingkindness of your youth,

The love of your betrothals,

Your walking after Me in the wilderness,

Through a land not sown.

3Israel was holy to Yahweh,

The first of His produce.

All who ate of it became guilty;

Evil came upon them,” declares Yahweh.’”

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

“What injustice did your fathers find in Me,

That they went far from Me

And walked after vanity and became vain?

6They did not say, ‘Where is Yahweh

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 the shadow of death,

Through a land that no one crossed

And where no man inhabited?’

7I 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 Yahweh?’

And those who handle the law did not know Me;

The [†]shepherds also transgressed against Me,

And the prophets prophesied by Baal

And walked after things that did not profit.

9“Therefore I will yet contend with you,” declares Yahweh,

“And with your sons’ sons I will contend.

10For cross to the coastlands of [†]Kittim and see,

And send to Kedar and perceive closely

And see if there has been such a thing as this!

11Has a nation changed gods

Though they were not gods?

But My people have changed their glory

For that which does not profit.

12Be appalled, O heavens, at this,

And be horribly afraid, be very devastated,” declares Yahweh.

13“For My people have done 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 slave? Or is he a homeborn slave?

Why has he become plunder?

15The young lions have roared at him;

They have given forth their voice.

And they have made his land a desolation;

His cities have been turned into ruin, without inhabitant.

16Also the [†]men of Memphis and Tahpanhes

Have [†]shaved the top of your head.

17Have you not done this to yourself

By your forsaking Yahweh your God

When He led you in the way?

18But 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 [†]River?

19Your own evil will chastise you,

And your acts of faithlessness will reprove you;

Know therefore and see that it is evil and bitter

For you to forsake Yahweh your God,

And the dread of Me is not in you,” declares Lord Yahweh of hosts.

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 planted you a choice vine,

A completely true seed.

How then have you turned yourself before Me

Into the degenerate shoots of a foreign vine?

22Although you wash yourself with lye

And [†]use much soap,

The stain of your iniquity is before Me,” declares Lord Yahweh.

23“How can you say, ‘I am not defiled;

I have not walked 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 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.

25Keep your feet 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 walk.’

26“As the thief is shamed when he is found,

So the house of Israel is shamed;

They, their kings, their princes,

And their priests and their prophets,

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 when their evil comes they will say,

‘Arise and save us.’

28But where are your gods

Which you made for yourself?

Let them arise, if they can save you

In the time when your evil comes;

For according to the number of your cities

Are your gods, O Judah.

29“Why do you contend with Me?

You have all transgressed against Me,” declares Yahweh.

30“In vain I have struck your sons;

They received no discipline.

Your sword has devoured your prophets

Like a destroying lion.

31O generation, [†]behold the word of Yahweh.

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.

33How 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 lifeblood of the innocent needy;

You did not find them breaking in.

But in spite of all these things,

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 despise Him so much

In changing your way?

Also, you will be put to shame by Egypt

As you were put to shame by Assyria.

37From this place also you will go out

With your hands on your head;

For Yahweh has rejected those in whom you trust,

And you will not succeed with them.”