International Standard Version

English Standard Version

1This message from the LORD came to me:

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

2"Go and announce to Jerusalem: 'This is what the LORD says: "I remember the loyal devotion of your youth, your love as a bride. You followed me in the desert, in a land that was not planted.

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.

3Israel was consecrated to the LORD, she was the first fruits of his produce. All who devoured her became guilty and disaster came on them," declares the LORD.'"

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.”

4Listen to this message from the LORD, you descendants of Jacob and all the families of the descendants of Israel.

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

5This is what the LORD says: "What did your ancestors find wrong with me that they left me, and pursued worthless things, and so they became worthless?

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?

6"They didn't ask, 'Where is the LORD who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through the land of desert and pits, through the land of dryness and deep darkness, a land that people don't pass through, and where no one lives?'

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?’

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

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.

8"The priests didn't say, 'Where is the LORD?' and those handling the Law didn't know me. The rulers transgressed against me, the prophets prophesied by Baal, and they followed that which does not profit.

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.

9"Therefore I'll again accuse you," declares the LORD, "and I'll accuse your grandchildren."

9“Therefore I still contend with you, declares the LORD, and with your children’s children I will contend.

10"Indeed, go over to the coasts of Cyprus and see, send to Kedar and pay very close attention. See if there has ever been such a thing as this!

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.

11Has a nation ever changed gods when they aren't even gods? But my people have exchanged their glory for that which does not profit.

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.

12Heavens, be appalled at this, be shocked, be utterly devastated," declares the LORD.

12Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD,

13"Indeed, my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living water, and they have dug cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that cannot hold water."

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.

14"Is Israel a slave, or was he born a servant? Why then has he become plunder?

14“Is Israel a slave? Is he a homeborn servant? Why then has he become a prey?

15Young lions roar at him, they cry out loudly. They have made his land into a wasteland, and his cities are destroyed so they are without inhabitants.

15The lions have roared against him; they have roared loudly. They have made his land a waste; his cities are in ruins, without inhabitant.

16Also, people from Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken your skull.

16Moreover, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the crown of your head.

17You have done this to yourselves, have you not, by forsaking the LORD your God, when he is the one who led you on the way?

17Have you not brought this upon yourself by forsaking the LORD your God, when he led you in the way?

18Now, what are you doing on the road to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Nile? And what are you doing on the road to Assyria, to drink the waters of the Euphrates?

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?

19Your wickedness will be punished, and you will be corrected due to your acts of apostasy. Know and see that it's evil and bitter for you to forsake the LORD your God, but the fear of me is not in you," declares the Lord GOD of the Heavenly Armies.

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.

20"For long ago I broke your yoke and tore off your bonds, But you said, 'I won't serve you!' Instead, on every high hill and under every green tree, you bend down to commit fornication.

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.

21I planted you myself as a choice vine, from the very best seed. How did you turn against me into a degenerate and foreign vine?

21Yet I planted you a choice vine, wholly of pure seed. How then have you turned degenerate and become a 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.

22Though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me, declares the Lord GOD.

23"How can you say, 'I'm not defiled. I haven't gone after the Baals.'? Look at what you've done in the valley. Know what you have done. You are a swift young camel galloping aimlessly;

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,

24a wild donkey accustomed to the desert, sniffing the wind in her passion. When she's in heat, who can turn her away? None of the males who pursue her need to tire themselves out, for in her month they'll find her."

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.

25"Don't run until your feet are bare and your throat is dry. But you say, 'It's hopeless! Because I love foreign gods, I'll go after them!'"

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.’

26"As a thief is disgraced when he's caught, so the house of Israel is disgraced— they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets,

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,

27who say to a tree, 'You are my father,' and to a stone, 'You gave birth to me.' They have turned their back to me, but not their faces. In the time of their trouble, they'll say, 'Rise up! Deliver 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 say, ‘Arise and save us!’

28"But where are your gods that you made for yourselves? Let them rise up, if they can deliver you in the time of your trouble. You have as many gods as you have towns, Judah.

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.

29Why do you contend with me? You have rebelled against me," declares the LORD.

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

30"I've punished your children with no results, they have accepted no discipline. Your sword has devoured your prophets like a destroying lion."

30In vain have I struck your children; they took no correction; your own sword devoured your prophets like a ravening lion.

31"You, generation, pay attention to this message from the LORD! Am I the desert to Israel, or a land of gloom? Why do my people say, 'We're free to roam? We won't come to you anymore.'

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’?

32Will a young woman forget her wedding ornaments, or a bride her attire? But my people have forgotten me days without number.

32Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

33How well you perfect your techniques for seeking love. Therefore you can teach even the most immoral women your techniques.

33“How well you direct your course to seek love! So that even to wicked women you have taught your ways.

34On your skirts is found the lifeblood of the innocent poor, even though you didn't catch them breaking in. Yet despite all these things,

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

35you say, 'I'm innocent. Surely his anger has turned away from me.'" "I'm about to bring charges against you because you say, 'I haven't sinned.'

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.’

36Why do you go about changing your mind so much? You will also be disappointed by Egypt, just as you were disappointed by Assyria.

36How much you go about, changing your way! You shall be put to shame by Egypt as you were put to shame by Assyria.

37You will also go out from this place with your hands over your heads. For the LORD has rejected those in whom you trust, and you won't prosper through them."

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.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

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.