| English Standard Version | New International Version |
| 1The word of the LORD came to me, saying, | 1The word of the LORD came to me: |
| 2“Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the LORD, “I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown. | 2"Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem: "This is what the LORD says: "'I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown. |
| 3Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of his harvest. All who ate of it incurred guilt; disaster came upon them, declares the LORD.” | 3Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of his harvest; all who devoured her were held guilty, and disaster overtook them,'" declares the LORD. |
| 4Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the clans of the house of Israel. | 4Hear the word of the LORD, you descendants of Jacob, all you clans of Israel. |
| 5Thus says the LORD: “What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless? | 5This is what the LORD says: "What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves. |
| 6They did not say, ‘Where is the LORD who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us in the wilderness, in a land of deserts and pits, in a land of drought and deep darkness, in a land that none passes through, where no man dwells?’ | 6They did not ask, 'Where is the LORD, who brought us up out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness, through a land of deserts and ravines, a land of drought and utter darkness, a land where no one travels and no one lives?' |
| 7And I brought you into a plentiful land to enjoy its fruits and its good things. But when you came in, you defiled my land and made my heritage an abomination. | 7I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and made my inheritance detestable. |
| 8The priests did not say, ‘Where is the LORD?’ Those who handle the law did not know me; the shepherds transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal and went after things that do not profit. | 8The priests did not ask, 'Where is the LORD?' Those who deal with the law did not know me; the leaders rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal, following worthless idols. |
| 9“Therefore I still contend with you, declares the LORD, and with your children’s children I will contend. | 9"Therefore I bring charges against you again," declares the LORD. "And I will bring charges against your children's children. |
| 10For cross to the coasts of Cyprus and see, or send to Kedar and examine with care; see if there has been such a thing. | 10Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and look, send to Kedar and observe closely; see if there has ever been anything like this: |
| 11Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. | 11Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols. |
| 12Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD, | 12Be appalled at this, you heavens, and shudder with great horror," declares the LORD. |
| 13for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water. | 13"My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water. |
| 14“Is Israel a slave? Is he a homeborn servant? Why then has he become a prey? | 14Is Israel a servant, a slave by birth? Why then has he become plunder? |
| 15The lions have roared against him; they have roared loudly. They have made his land a waste; his cities are in ruins, without inhabitant. | 15Lions have roared; they have growled at him. They have laid waste his land; his towns are burned and deserted. |
| 16Moreover, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the crown of your head. | 16Also, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have cracked your skull. |
| 17Have you not brought this upon yourself by forsaking the LORD your God, when he led you in the way? | 17Have you not brought this on yourselves by forsaking the LORD your God when he led you in the way? |
| 18And now what do you gain by going to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile? Or what do you gain by going to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates? | 18Now why go to Egypt to drink water from the Nile? And why go to Assyria to drink water from the Euphrates? |
| 19Your evil will chastise you, and your apostasy will reprove you. Know and see that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake the LORD your God; the fear of me is not in you, declares the Lord GOD of hosts. | 19Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you. Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the LORD your God and have no awe of me," declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty. |
| 20“For long ago I broke your yoke and burst your bonds; but you said, ‘I will not serve.’ Yes, on every high hill and under every green tree you bowed down like a whore. | 20"Long ago you broke off your yoke and tore off your bonds; you said, 'I will not serve you!' Indeed, on every high hill and under every spreading tree you lay down as a prostitute. |
| 21Yet I planted you a choice vine, wholly of pure seed. How then have you turned degenerate and become a wild vine? | 21I had planted you like a choice vine of sound and reliable stock. How then did you turn against me into a corrupt, wild vine? |
| 22Though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me, declares the Lord GOD. | 22Although you wash yourself with soap and use an abundance of cleansing powder, the stain of your guilt is still before me," declares the Sovereign LORD. |
| 23How can you say, ‘I am not unclean, I have not gone after the Baals’? Look at your way in the valley; know what you have done— a restless young camel running here and there, | 23"How can you say, 'I am not defiled; I have not run after the Baals'? See how you behaved in the valley; consider what you have done. You are a swift she-camel running here and there, |
| 24a wild donkey used to the wilderness, in her heat sniffing the wind! Who can restrain her lust? None who seek her need weary themselves; in her month they will find her. | 24a wild donkey accustomed to the desert, sniffing the wind in her craving-- in her heat who can restrain her? Any males that pursue her need not tire themselves; at mating time they will find her. |
| 25Keep your feet from going unshod and your throat from thirst. But you said, ‘It is hopeless, for I have loved foreigners, and after them I will go.’ | 25Do not run until your feet are bare and your throat is dry. But you said, 'It's no use! I love foreign gods, and I must go after them.' |
| 26“As a thief is shamed when caught, so the house of Israel shall be shamed: they, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets, | 26"As a thief is disgraced when he is caught, so the people of Israel are disgraced-- they, their kings and their officials, 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 of their trouble they say, ‘Arise and save us!’ | 27They say to wood, 'You are my father,' and to stone, 'You gave me birth.' They have turned their backs to me and not their faces; yet when they are in trouble, they say, 'Come 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 as many as your cities are your gods, O Judah. | 28Where then are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them come if they can save you when you are in trouble! For you, Judah, have as many gods as you have towns. |
| 29“Why do you contend with me? You have all transgressed against me, declares the LORD. | 29"Why do you bring charges against me? You have all rebelled against me," declares the LORD. |
| 30In vain have I struck your children; they took no correction; your own sword devoured your prophets like a ravening lion. | 30"In vain I punished your people; they did not respond to correction. Your sword has devoured your prophets like a ravenous lion. |
| 31And you, O generation, behold 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’? | 31"You of this generation, consider the word of the LORD: "Have I been a desert to Israel or a land of great darkness? Why do my people say, 'We are free to roam; we will come to you no more'? |
| 32Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number. | 32Does a young woman forget her jewelry, a bride her wedding ornaments? Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number. |
| 33“How well you direct your course to seek love! So that even to wicked women you have taught your ways. | 33How skilled you are at pursuing love! Even the worst of women can learn from your ways. |
| 34Also on your skirts is found the lifeblood of the guiltless poor; you did not find them breaking in. Yet in spite of all these things | 34On your clothes is found the lifeblood of the innocent poor, though you did not catch them breaking in. Yet in spite of all this |
| 35you say, ‘I am innocent; surely his anger has turned from me.’ Behold, I will bring you to judgment for saying, ‘I have not sinned.’ | 35you say, 'I am innocent; he is not angry with me.' But I will pass judgment on you because you say, 'I have not sinned.' |
| 36How much you go about, changing your way! You shall be put to shame by Egypt as you were put to shame by Assyria. | 36Why do you go about so much, changing your ways? You will be disappointed by Egypt as you were by Assyria. |
| 37From it too you will come away with your hands on your head, for the LORD has rejected those in whom you trust, and you will not prosper by them. | 37You will also leave that place with your hands on your head, for the LORD has rejected those you trust; you will not be helped by them. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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