1 Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, 2 "Go and aproclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the Lord, "I remember concerning you the bdevotion of your youth, The love of your betrothals, cYour following after Me in the wilderness, Through a land not sown. 3 "Israel was aholy to the Lord, The bfirst of His harvest. cAll who ate of it became guilty; Evil came upon them," declares the Lord.'" 4 Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel. 5 Thus says the Lord, "aWhat injustice did your fathers find in Me, That they went far from Me And walked after bemptiness and became empty? 6 "They did not say, 'Where is the Lord Who abrought us up out of the land of Egypt, Who bled us through the wilderness, Through a land of deserts and of pits, Through a land of drought and of deep darkness, Through a land that no one crossed And where no man dwelt?' 7 "I brought you into the afruitful land To eat its fruit and its good things. But you came and bdefiled My land, And My inheritance you made an abomination. 8 "The apriests did not say, 'Where is the Lord?' And those who handle the law bdid not know Me; The rulers also transgressed against Me, And the cprophets prophesied by Baal And walked after dthings that did not profit. 9 "Therefore I will yet acontend with you," declares the Lord, "And with your sons' sons I will contend. 10 "For across to the coastlands of Kittim and see, And send to bKedar and observe closely And see if there has been such a thing as this! 11 "Has a nation changed gods When athey were not gods? But My people have bchanged their glory For that which does not profit. 12 "Be appalled, aO heavens, at this, And shudder, be very desolate," declares the Lord. 13 "For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The afountain of living waters, To hew for themselves bcisterns, Broken cisterns That can hold no water. 14 "Is Israel aa slave? Or is he a homeborn servant? Why has he become a prey? 15 "The young alions have roared at him, They have roared loudly. And they have bmade his land a waste; His cities have been destroyed, without inhabitant. 16 "Also the men of aMemphis and Tahpanhes Have shaved the bcrown of your head. 17 "Have you not adone this to yourself By your forsaking the Lord your God When He aled you in the way? 18 "But now what are you doing aon the road to Egypt, To drink the waters of the bNile? Or what are you doing on the road to Assyria, To drink the waters of the Euphrates? 19 "aYour own wickedness will correct you, And your bapostasies will reprove you; Know therefore and see that it is evil and cbitter For you to forsake the Lord your God, And dthe dread of Me is not in you," declares the Lord GOD of hosts. 20 "For long ago aI broke your yoke And tore off your bonds; But you said, 'I will not serve!' For on every bhigh hill And under every green tree You have lain down as a harlot. 21 "Yet I aplanted you a choice vine, A completely faithful seed. How then have you turned yourself before Me Into the bdegenerate shoots of a foreign vine? 22 "Although you awash yourself with lye And use much soap, The bstain of your iniquity is before Me," declares the Lord GOD. 23 "aHow can you say, 'I am not defiled, I have not gone after the bBaals'? Look at your way in the cvalley! Know what you have done! You are a swift young camel dentangling her ways, 24 A awild 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. 25 "Keep your feet from being unshod And your throat from thirst; But you said, 'aIt is hopeless! No! For I have bloved strangers, And after them I will walk.' 26 "As the athief is shamed when he is discovered, So the house of Israel is shamed; They, their kings, their princes And their priests and their prophets, 27 Who say to a tree, 'You are my father,' And to a stone, 'You gave me birth.' For they have turned their aback to Me, And not their face; But in the btime of their trouble they will say, 'Arise and save us.' 28 "But where are your agods Which you made for yourself? Let them arise, if they can bsave you In the time of your trouble; For caccording to the number of your cities Are your gods, O Judah. 29 "Why do you contend with Me? You have aall transgressed against Me," declares the Lord. 30 "aIn vain I have struck your sons; They accepted no chastening. Your bsword has devoured your prophets Like a destroying lion. 31 "O generation, heed the word of the Lord. Have I been a wilderness to Israel, Or a aland of thick darkness? Why do My people say, 'bWe are free to roam; We will no longer come to You'? 32 "Can a virgin forget her ornaments, Or a bride her attire? Yet My people have aforgotten Me Days without number. 33 "How well you prepare your way To seek love! Therefore even the wicked women You have taught your ways. 34 "Also on your skirts is found The alifeblood of the innocent poor; You did not find them bbreaking in. But in spite of all these things, 35 Yet you said, 'I am innocent; Surely His anger is turned away from me.' Behold, I will aenter into judgment with you Because you bsay, 'I have not sinned.' 36 "Why do you ago around so much Changing your way? Also, byou will be put to shame by Egypt As you were put to shame by cAssyria. 37 "From this place also you will go out With ayour hands on your head; For the Lord has rejected bthose in whom you trust, And you will not prosper with them."