2
"Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thussays the LORD, "I remember concerning you the devotion of your youth, The love of your betrothals, Your followingafter Me in the wilderness, Through a land not sown.
6
"They did not say, 'Where is the LORD 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 deepdarkness, Through a land that noonecrossed And wherenomandwelt?'
7
"I brought you into the fruitfulland To eat its fruit and its goodthings. But you came and defiled My land, And My inheritance you made an abomination.
8
"The priests did not say, 'Where is the LORD?' And those who handle the law did not know Me; The rulers also transgressed against Me, And the prophetsprophesied by Baal And walkedafter things that did not profit.
13
"For My people have committedtwoevils: They have forsaken Me, The fountain of livingwaters, To hew for themselves cisterns, Brokencisterns That canholdnowater.
15
"The younglions have roared at him, They have roared*loudly*. And they have made his land a waste; His cities have been destroyed, withoutinhabitant.
18
"But nowwhat 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 Euphrates?
19
"Your own wickedness will correct you, And your apostasies will reprove you; Know therefore and see that it is evil and bitter For you to forsake the LORD your God, And the dread of Me is not in you," declares the LordGOD of hosts.
20
"For longago I broke your yoke And toreoff your bonds; But you said, 'I will not serve!' For on everyhighhill And undereverygreentree You have laindown as a harlot.
23
"How can you say, 'I am not defiled, I have not goneafter the Baals '? Look at your way in the valley! Knowwhat you have done! You are a swiftyoungcamelentangling her ways,
24
A wilddonkeyaccustomed to the wilderness, That sniffs the wind in her passion*. In the time of her heatwho can turn her away? All who seek her will not becomeweary; In her month they will find her.
25
"Keep your feet from being unshod And your throat from thirst; But you said, 'It is hopeless! No! For I have lovedstrangers, And after them I will walk.'
26
"As the thief is shamedwhen 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 back to Me, And not their face; But in the time of their trouble they will say, 'Arise and save us.'
28
"But where are your godsWhich you made for yourself? 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, O Judah.
31
"O generation, heed the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness to Israel, Or a land of thickdarkness? Why do My peoplesay, 'We are free to roam; We will nolongercome to You'?
35
Yet you said, 'I am innocent; Surely His anger is turnedaway from me.' Behold, I will enter into judgment with you Because you say, 'I have not sinned.'
37
"From this place also you will go out With your hands on your head; For the LORD has rejected those in whom you trust, And you will not prosper with them."