Israel Has Forsaken God

1  וַיְהִ֥י (And came) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֵלַ֥י (to me) לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 2  הָלֹ֡ךְ (Go) וְקָֽרָאתָ֩ (and call out) בְאָזְנֵ֨י (in the ears) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֜ם (of Jerusalem), לֵאמֹ֗ר (saying), כֹּ֚ה (Thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH)

זָכַ֤רְתִּי (I remember) לָךְ֙ (you) חֶ֣סֶד (the loving devotion) נְעוּרַ֔יִךְ (of your youth),

אַהֲבַ֖ת (the love) כְּלוּלֹתָ֑יִךְ (of your betrothal),

לֶכְתֵּ֤ךְ (of your going) אַחֲרַי֙ (after Me) בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר (in the wilderness),

בְּאֶ֖רֶץ (in a land) לֹ֥א (not) זְרוּעָֽה׃ (sown).

3  קֹ֤דֶשׁ (Was holy) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (Israel) לַיהוָ֔ה (to YHWH),

רֵאשִׁ֖ית (and the firstfruit) תְּבוּאָתֹ֑ה (of His increase).

כָּל־ (All) אֹכְלָ֣יו (those eating it) יֶאְשָׁ֔מוּ (were guilty);

רָעָ֛ה (and disaster) תָּבֹ֥א (came) אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם (upon them)

נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָֽה׃פ (of YHWH).

4  שִׁמְע֥וּ (Hear) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH), בֵּ֣ית (O house) יַעֲקֹ֑ב (of Jacob), וְכָֽל־ (and all) מִשְׁפְּח֖וֹת (the families) בֵּ֥ית (of the house) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel). 5  כֹּ֣ה׀ (Thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH),

מַה־ (What) מָּצְא֨וּ (did find) אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֥ם (your⁺ fathers) בִּי֙ (in Me) עָ֔וֶל (injustice)

כִּ֥י (that) רָחֲק֖וּ (they have gone far away) מֵעָלָ֑י (from Me)

וַיֵּֽלְכ֛וּ (and went) אַחֲרֵ֥י (after) הַהֶ֖בֶל (the empty),

וַיֶּהְבָּֽלוּ׃ (and became empty)?

6  וְלֹ֣א (They did not) אָמְר֔וּ (say) אַיֵּ֣ה (Where is) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH)

הַמַּעֲלֶ֥ה (who brought up) אֹתָ֖נוּ (us) מֵאֶ֣רֶץ (from the land) מִצְרָ֑יִם (of Egypt),

הַמּוֹלִ֨יךְ (who led) אֹתָ֜נוּ (us through) בַּמִּדְבָּ֗ר (the wilderness),

בְּאֶ֨רֶץ (through a land) עֲרָבָ֤ה (of desert plain) וְשׁוּחָה֙ (and pit),

בְּאֶ֙רֶץ֙ (through a land) צִיָּ֣ה (of drought), וְצַלְמָ֔וֶת (and darkness),

בְּאֶ֗רֶץ (through a land) לֹֽא־ (that no) עָ֤בַר (passed), בָּהּ֙ (through) אִ֔ישׁ (man) וְלֹֽא־ (and where) יָשַׁ֥ב (dwelt)? אָדָ֖ם (No man) שָֽׁם׃ (there).

7  וָאָבִ֤יא (And I brought) אֶתְכֶם֙ (you⁺) אֶל־ (into) אֶ֣רֶץ (a land), הַכַּרְמֶ֔ל (of fertility)

לֶאֱכֹ֥ל (to eat) פִּרְיָ֖הּ (its fruit) וְטוּבָ֑הּ (and its goodness)

וַתָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ (and you⁺ came in), וַתְּטַמְּא֣וּ (and you⁺ defiled) אֶת־ (-) אַרְצִ֔י (My land),

וְנַחֲלָתִ֥י (and My heritage) שַׂמְתֶּ֖ם (made) לְתוֹעֵבָֽה׃ (into an abomination).

8  הַכֹּהֲנִ֗ים (The priests) לֹ֤א (did not), אָֽמְרוּ֙ (say)

אַיֵּ֣ה (Where is) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH)?

וְתֹפְשֵׂ֤י (And those handling) הַתּוֹרָה֙ (the law) לֹ֣א (did not); יְדָע֔וּנִי (know me)

וְהָרֹעִ֖ים (and the rulers) פָּ֣שְׁעוּ (transgressed) בִ֑י (against Me)

וְהַנְּבִיאִים֙ (and the prophets) נִבְּא֣וּ (prophesied) בַבַּ֔עַל (by Baal),

וְאַחֲרֵ֥י (and after things) לֹֽא־ (not) יוֹעִ֖לוּ (profitable) הָלָֽכוּ׃ (walked).

9  לָכֵ֗ן (Therefore) עֹ֛ד (still) אָרִ֥יב (I will contend) אִתְּכֶ֖ם (with you⁺)

נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH),

וְאֶת־ (And with) בְּנֵ֥י (the sons) בְנֵיכֶ֖ם (of your⁺ sons)

אָרִֽיב׃ (I will contend).

10  כִּ֣י (For) עִבְר֞וּ (pass over) אִיֵּ֤י (to the coasts) כִתִּיִּים֙ (of Cyprus),

וּרְא֔וּ (and see);

וְקֵדָ֛ר (to Kedar), שִׁלְח֥וּ (and send) וְהִֽתְבּוֹנְנ֖וּ (give consideration) מְאֹ֑ד (and much),

וּרְא֕וּ (and see) הֵ֥ן (if) הָיְתָ֖ה (there has been) כָּזֹֽאת׃ (such as this).

11  הַהֵימִ֥יר (Changed) גּוֹי֙ (has a nation) אֱלֹהִ֔ים (its gods),

וְהֵ֖מָּה (and they are) לֹ֣א (not) אֱלֹהִ֑ים (gods)?

וְעַמִּ֛י (And My people) הֵמִ֥יר (have changed) כְּבוֹד֖וֹ (their Glory)

בְּל֥וֹא (for what not) יוֹעִֽיל׃ (does profit).

12  שֹׁ֥מּוּ (Be dismayed), שָׁמַ֖יִם (O heavens), עַל־ (by) זֹ֑את (this),

וְשַׂעֲר֛וּ (and shudder),

חָרְב֥וּ (be desolate), מְאֹ֖ד (very)

נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

13  כִּֽי־ (For) שְׁתַּ֥יִם (two) רָע֖וֹת (evils); עָשָׂ֣ה (have committed) עַמִּ֑י (My people)

אֹתִ֨י (Me) עָזְב֜וּ (they have forsaken)

מְק֣וֹר׀ (the fountain) מַ֣יִם (waters), חַיִּ֗ים (of living)

לַחְצֹ֤ב (to hew) לָהֶם֙ (for themselves) בֹּאר֔וֹת (cisterns)

בֹּארֹת֙ (cisterns), נִשְׁבָּרִ֔ים (broken) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) לֹא־ (not) יָכִ֖לוּ (do hold) הַמָּֽיִם׃ (water).

The Consequence of Israel’s Sin

14  הַעֶ֙בֶד֙ (A slave)? יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Is Israel)

אִם־ (or) יְלִ֥יד (born) בַּ֖יִת (of the house) ה֑וּא (is he)

מַדּ֖וּעַ (why) הָיָ֥ה (has he become) לָבַֽז׃ (as plunder)?

15  עָלָיו֙ (At him) יִשְׁאֲג֣וּ (roared) כְפִרִ֔ים (the young lions)

נָתְנ֖וּ (they gave forth) קוֹלָ֑ם (their voice),

וַיָּשִׁ֤יתוּ (and they made) אַרְצוֹ֙ (his land) לְשַׁמָּ֔ה (into a desolation);

עָרָ֥יו (his cities) נִצְּתָה (are left in ruins) מִבְּלִ֥י (without) יֹשֵֽׁב׃ (a dweller).

16  גַּם־ (Even) בְּנֵי־ (the sons) נֹ֖ף (of Noph) וְתַחְפְּנֵס (and Tahpanhes)

יִרְע֖וּךְ (have shaved) קָדְקֹֽד׃ (the crown of your head).

17  הֲלוֹא־ (Have you not) זֹ֖את (this) תַּעֲשֶׂה־ (done) לָּ֑ךְ (to yourself)

עָזְבֵךְ֙ (by your forsaking) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהַ֔יִךְ (your God),

בְּעֵ֖ת (in the time) מוֹלִיכֵ֥ךְ (He led you) בַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃ (in the way)?

18  וְעַתָּ֗ה (And now) מַה־ (what) לָּךְ֙ (is unto you) לְדֶ֣רֶךְ (in the way) מִצְרַ֔יִם (of Egypt),

לִשְׁתּ֖וֹת (to drink) מֵ֣י (the waters) שִׁח֑וֹר (of Shihor)?

וּמַה־ (Or what good) לָּךְ֙ (is unto you) לְדֶ֣רֶךְ (in the way) אַשּׁ֔וּר (of Assyria),

לִשְׁתּ֖וֹת (to drink) מֵ֥י (the waters) נָהָֽר׃ (of the River)?

19  תְּיַסְּרֵ֣ךְ (Will discipline you) רָעָתֵ֗ךְ (your own evil)

וּמְשֻֽׁבוֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ (and your turning away) תּוֹכִחֻ֔ךְ (will rebuke you)

וּדְעִ֤י (Know then) וּרְאִי֙ (and see)

כִּי־ (that) רַ֣ע (it is evil) וָמָ֔ר (and bitter),

עָזְבֵ֖ךְ (your forsaking) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהָ֑יִךְ (your God),

וְלֹ֤א (and there is not) פַחְדָּתִי֙ (the fear of Me) אֵלַ֔יִךְ (in you)

נְאֻם־ (a declaration) אֲדֹנָ֥י (of the Lord) יְהוִ֖ה (YHWH of) צְבָאֽוֹת׃ (Hosts).

20  כִּ֣י (For) מֵעוֹלָ֞ם (from long ago) שָׁבַ֣רְתִּי (I have broken) עֻלֵּ֗ךְ (your yoke),

נִתַּ֙קְתִּי֙ (and torn off) מוֹסְרֹתַ֔יִךְ (your bonds);

וַתֹּאמְרִ֖י (and you said), לֹ֣א (not) אֶעֱבֹד (I will serve)

כִּ֣י (For) עַֽל־ (on) כָּל־ (every) גִּבְעָ֞ה (hill) גְּבֹהָ֗ה (high)

וְתַ֙חַת֙ (and under) כָּל־ (every) עֵ֣ץ (tree) רַעֲנָ֔ן (green)

אַ֖תְּ (you) צֹעָ֥ה (lay down), זֹנָֽה׃ (as a prostitute).

21  וְאָֽנֹכִי֙ (And I) נְטַעְתִּ֣יךְ (had planted you) שֹׂרֵ֔ק (as a vine),

כֻּלֹּ֖ה (all of it) זֶ֣רַע (seed). אֱמֶ֑ת (A true)

וְאֵיךְ֙ (how then) נֶהְפַּ֣כְתְּ (did you turn) לִ֔י (before Me)

סוּרֵ֖י (into degenerates) הַגֶּ֥פֶן (vine) נָכְרִיָּֽה׃ (of a strange).

22  כִּ֤י (For) אִם־ (though) תְּכַבְּסִי֙ (you wash) בַּנֶּ֔תֶר (with lye),

וְתַרְבִּי־ (and use much) לָ֖ךְ (for yourself) בֹּרִ֑ית (soap),

נִכְתָּ֤ם (is marked) עֲוֺנֵךְ֙ (yet your iniquity)

לְפָנַ֔י (before My face)

נְאֻ֖ם (a declaration) אֲדֹנָ֥י (of the Lord) יְהוִֽה׃ (YHWH).

Israel’s Unfaithfulness
(Judges 2:10–15; Isaiah 43:22–28)

23  אֵ֣יךְ (How) תֹּאמְרִ֞י (can you say), לֹ֣א (Not) נִטְמֵ֗אתִי (I am defiled),

אַחֲרֵ֤י (after) הַבְּעָלִים֙ (the Baals)? לֹ֣א (I have not) הָלַ֔כְתִּי (I have gone)

רְאִ֤י (See) דַרְכֵּךְ֙ (your way) בַּגַּ֔יְא (in the valley),

דְּעִ֖י (know) מֶ֣ה (what) עָשִׂ֑ית (you have done)!

בִּכְרָ֥ה (Young she-camel) קַלָּ֖ה (a swift)

מְשָׂרֶ֥כֶת (entangling) דְּרָכֶֽיהָ׃ (her ways);

24  פֶּ֣רֶה׀ (a wild donkey) לִמֻּ֣ד (a pupil) מִדְבָּ֗ר (of the wilderness),

בְּאַוַּ֤ת (desire); נַפְשׁוֹ (of her); שָׁאֲפָ֣ה (sniffing) ר֔וּחַ (the wind)

תַּאֲנָתָ֖הּ (in her heat) מִ֣י (who) יְשִׁיבֶ֑נָּה (can turn her away)?

כָּל־ (All) מְבַקְשֶׁ֙יהָ֙ (those seeking her) לֹ֣א (not) יִיעָ֔פוּ (will weary themselves)

בְּחָדְשָׁ֖הּ (in her month) יִמְצָאֽוּנְהָ׃ (they will find her).

25  מִנְעִ֤י (Withhold) רַגְלֵךְ֙ (your foot) מִיָּחֵ֔ף (from being bare),

וְגוֹרְנֵךְ (and your throat) מִצִּמְאָ֑ה (from thirst);

וַתֹּאמְרִ֣י (and you said), נוֹאָ֔שׁ (It is hopeless)!

ל֕וֹא (No); כִּֽי־ (for) אָהַ֥בְתִּי (I have loved) זָרִ֖ים (strangers),

וְאַחֲרֵיהֶ֥ם (and after them) אֵלֵֽךְ׃ (I shall go).

26  כְּבֹ֤שֶׁת (Like the shame) גַּנָּב֙ (of a thief) כִּ֣י (when) יִמָּצֵ֔א (he is found),

כֵּ֥ן (so) הֹבִ֖ישׁוּ (is ashamed); בֵּ֣ית (the house) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel)

הֵ֤מָּה (they), מַלְכֵיהֶם֙ (and their kings), שָֽׂרֵיהֶ֔ם (and their princes),

וְכֹהֲנֵיהֶ֖ם (and their priests), וּנְבִיאֵיהֶֽם׃ (and their prophets),

27  אֹמְרִ֨ים (saying) לָעֵ֜ץ (to a tree), אָ֣בִי (My father); אַ֗תָּה (you are)

וְלָאֶ֙בֶן֙ (and to a stone), אַ֣תְּ (You) יְלִדְתִּנִי (gave me birth);

כִּֽי־ (For) פָנ֥וּ (they have turned) אֵלַ֛י (to Me) עֹ֖רֶף (the nape)

וְלֹ֣א (and not) פָנִ֑ים (the faces);

וּבְעֵ֤ת (but in the time) רָֽעָתָם֙ (of their trouble) יֹֽאמְר֔וּ (they will say),

ק֖וּמָה (Arise), וְהוֹשִׁיעֵֽנוּ׃ (and save us).

28  וְאַיֵּ֤ה (And where are) אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ (your gods) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) עָשִׂ֣יתָ (you made) לָּ֔ךְ (for yourselves)

יָק֕וּמוּ (let them stand up), אִם־ (if) יוֹשִׁיע֖וּךָ (they can save you)

בְּעֵ֣ת (in the time) רָעָתֶ֑ךָ (of your trouble);

כִּ֚י (for as) מִסְפַּ֣ר (the number) עָרֶ֔יךָ (of your cities)

הָי֥וּ (are) אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ (your gods), יְהוּדָֽה׃ס (O Judah).

29  לָ֥מָּה (Why) תָרִ֖יבוּ (do you⁺ contend) אֵלָ֑י (with Me)

כֻּלְּכֶ֛ם (You⁺ all) פְּשַׁעְתֶּ֥ם (have transgressed) בִּ֖י (against Me)

נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

30  לַשָּׁוְא֙ (In vain) הִכֵּ֣יתִי (I have struck) אֶת־ (-) בְּנֵיכֶ֔ם (your⁺ sons);

מוּסָ֖ר (discipline). לֹ֣א (No) לָקָ֑חוּ (they accepted)

אָכְלָ֧ה (has devoured) חַרְבְּכֶ֛ם (and your⁺ own sword) נְבִֽיאֵיכֶ֖ם (your⁺ prophets),

כְּאַרְיֵ֥ה (lion) מַשְׁחִֽית׃ (like a destroying).

31  הַדּ֗וֹר (O generation), אַתֶּם֙ (you⁺) רְא֣וּ (consider) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH).

הֲמִדְבָּ֤ר (A wilderness) הָיִ֙יתִי֙ (Have I been) לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (to Israel)?

אִ֛ם (Or) אֶ֥רֶץ (a land) מַאְפֵּ֖לְיָ֑ה (of darkness)?

מַדּ֜וּעַ (Why) אָמְר֤וּ (say) עַמִּי֙ (do My people),

רַ֔דְנוּ (We are lords);

לֽוֹא־ (not) נָב֥וֹא (we will come) ע֖וֹד (anymore) אֵלֶֽיךָ׃ (to You).

32  הֲתִשְׁכַּ֤ח (Forget) בְּתוּלָה֙ (Can a virgin) עֶדְיָ֔הּ (her jewelry),

כַּלָּ֖ה (or a bride) קִשֻּׁרֶ֑יהָ (her sashes)?

וְעַמִּ֣י (And My people) שְׁכֵח֔וּנִי (have forgotten Me)

יָמִ֖ים (for days) אֵ֥ין (without) מִסְפָּֽר׃ (number).

33  מַה־ (How) תֵּיטִ֥בִי (Why) דַּרְכֵּ֖ךְ (do you beautify) לְבַקֵּ֣שׁ (your way) אַהֲבָ֑ה (to seek)?

לָכֵן֙ (So) גַּ֣ם (even) אֶת־ (-) הָרָע֔וֹת (the wicked)

לִמַּדְתִּי (you have taught) אֶת־ (-) דְּרָכָֽיִךְ׃ (your ways).

34  גַּ֤ם (Also) בִּכְנָפַ֙יִךְ֙ (on your skirts) נִמְצְא֔וּ (is found)

דַּ֛ם (the blood) נַפְשׁ֥וֹת (souls) אֶבְיוֹנִ֖ים (needy) נְקִיִּ֑ים (of innocent);

לֹֽא־ (and not) בַמַּחְתֶּ֥רֶת (breaking in), מְצָאתִ֖ים (did you find them)

כִּ֥י (but) עַל־ (in spite) כָּל־ (of all) אֵֽלֶּה׃ (these things).

35  וַתֹּֽאמְרִי֙ (You also say), כִּ֣י (Because) נִקֵּ֔יתִי (I am innocent),

אַ֛ךְ (surely) שָׁ֥ב (has turned) אַפּ֖וֹ (His anger) מִמֶּ֑נִּי (away from me)

הִנְנִי֙ (Behold, I) נִשְׁפָּ֣ט (will plead) אוֹתָ֔ךְ (with you)

עַל־ (because) אָמְרֵ֖ךְ (you say), לֹ֥א (Not) חָטָֽאתִי׃ (I have sinned).

36  מַה־ (Why) תֵּזְלִ֥י (you go about so) מְאֹ֖ד (so much)

לְשַׁנּ֣וֹת (changing) אֶת־ (-) דַּרְכֵּ֑ךְ (your way)?

גַּ֤ם (Even) מִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙ (by Egypt) תֵּב֔וֹשִׁי (you are put to shame)

כַּאֲשֶׁר־ (as) בֹּ֖שְׁתְּ (you were put to shame) מֵאַשּֽׁוּר׃ (by Assyria).

37  גַּ֣ם (Indeed), מֵאֵ֥ת (from) זֶה֙ (this place), תֵּֽצְאִ֔י (you will go forth)

וְיָדַ֖יִךְ (and with your hands) עַל־ (on) רֹאשֵׁ֑ךְ (your head);

כִּֽי־ (for) מָאַ֤ס (has rejected) יְהֹוָה֙ (YHWH) בְּמִבְטַחַ֔יִךְ (those you trust),

וְלֹ֥א (and not) תַצְלִ֖יחִי (you shall prosper) לָהֶֽם׃ (in them).