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

2 “Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem (Yerushalayim), saying, ‘Thus saith יהוה: I remember you, the kindness of your youth, the love of your espousals, when you wentest after Me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.

3 Yisrael was holiness unto יהוה, and the firstfruits of His increase; all that devour Him shall offend; evil shall come upon them,” saith יהוה.’”

4 Hear you the word of יהוה, O house of Jacob (Yaaqov), and all the families of the house of Yisrael.

5 Thus saith יהוה, ‘What iniquity have your fathers found in Me, that they are gone far from Me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?

6 Neither said they, ‘Where is יהוה that brought us up out of the land of Egypt (Mitsrayim), that 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 man passed through, and where no man dwelt?’

7 And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when you entered, you defiled My land, and made Mine heritage an abomination.

8 The priests (kohanim) said not, ‘Where is יהוה?’ And they that handle the Torah knew Me not; the pastors also transgressed against Me, and the prophets prophesied by the Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

9 “Wherefore I will yet plead with you,” saith יהוה, “And with your children’s children will I plead.

10 For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.

11 Hath a nation exchanged gods (elohim), which are yet not God (Elohim)? But My people have exchanged their glory for that which doth not profit.

12 Be astonished, O you heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be you very desolate,” saith יהוה.

13 “For My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me the fountain of living waters, and hewed themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

14 “Is Yisrael a servant? Is he a homeborn slave? Why is he spoiled?

15 The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste; his cities are burned without inhabitant.

16 Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of your head.

17 Have you not procured this unto yourself, in that you have forsaken יהוה your God (Elohim), when He led you by the way?

18 And now what have you to do in the way of Egypt (Mitsrayim), to drink the waters of Sihor? Or what have you to do in the way of Assyria (Ashshur), to drink the waters of the river?

19 Your own wickedness shall correct you, and your backslidings shall reprove you; know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that you have forsaken יהוה your God (Elohim), and that My fear is not in you,” saith Lord יהוה of hosts (Adonai YHWH Tsevaot).

20 For of old time I have broken your yoke, and burst your bands; and you saidst, ‘I will not transgress’; when upon every high hill and under every green tree you wanderest, playing the harlot.

21 Yet I had planted you a noble vine, wholly a right seed. How then are you turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto Me?

22 For though you wash you with nitre, and take you much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before Me,” saith Lord (Adonai) יהוה.

23 “How canst you say, ‘I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baals (Baalim)? See your way in the valley, know what you have done. You are a swift dromedary traversing her ways;

24 A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? All they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.

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

26 As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Yisrael ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests (kohanim), and their prophets,

27 Saying to a stock, ‘You are my father’; and to a stone, ‘You have brought me forth.’ For they have turned their back unto Me, and not their face; but in the time of their trouble they will say, ‘Arise, and save us.’

28 But where are your gods (elohim) that you have made 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 (elohim), O Judah (Yehudah).

29 “Wherefore will you plead with Me? You all have transgressed against Me,” saith יהוה.

30 “In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction; your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

31 O generation, see you the word of יהוה. Have I been a wilderness unto Yisrael? A land of darkness? Wherefore say My people, ‘We will roam; we will come no more unto You’?

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

33 “Why trimmest you your way to seek love? Therefore have you also taught the wicked ones your ways.

34 Also in your skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents; I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.

35 Yet you sayest, ‘Because I am innocent, surely His anger shall turn from me.’ Behold, I will plead with you, because you sayest, ‘I have not sinned.’

36 Why gaddest you about so much to change your way? You also shalt be ashamed of Egypt (Mitsrayim), as you wast ashamed of Assyria (Ashshur).

37 Yea, you shalt go forth from him, and your hands upon your head; for יהוה hath rejected your confidences, and you shalt not prosper in them.