Christian Standard Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1The word of the LORD came to me:

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

2"Go and announce directly to Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: I remember the loyalty of your youth, your love as a bride--how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.

2"Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the LORD, "I remember concerning you the devotion of your youth, The love of your betrothals, Your following after Me in the wilderness, Through a land not sown.

3Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of his harvest. All who ate of it found themselves guilty; disaster came on them." This is the LORD's declaration.

3"Israel was holy to the LORD, The first of His harvest. All who ate of it became guilty; Evil came upon them," declares the LORD.'"

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

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

5This is what the LORD says: What fault did your fathers find in me that they went so far from me, followed worthless idols, and became worthless themselves?

5Thus says the LORD, "What injustice did your fathers find in Me, That they went far from Me And walked after emptiness and became empty?

6They stopped asking, "Where is the LORD who brought us from the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and ravines, through a land of drought and darkness, a land no one traveled through and where no one lived?"

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 deep darkness, Through a land that no one crossed And where no man dwelt?'

7I brought you to a fertile land to eat its fruit and bounty, but after you entered, you defiled my land; you made my inheritance detestable.

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

8The priests quit asking, "Where is the LORD?" The experts in the law no longer knew me, and the rulers rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal and followed useless idols.

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 prophets prophesied by Baal And walked after things that did not profit.

9Therefore, I will bring a case against you again. This is the LORD's declaration. I will bring a case against your children's children.

9"Therefore I will yet contend with you," declares the LORD, "And with your sons' sons I will contend.

10Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and take a look. Send someone to Kedar and consider carefully; see if there has ever been anything like this:

10"For cross to the coastlands of Kittim and see, And send to Kedar and observe closely And see if there has been such a thing as this!

11Has a nation ever exchanged its gods? (But they were not gods!) Yet my people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols.

11"Has a nation changed gods When they were not gods? But My people have changed their glory For that which does not profit.

12Be appalled at this, heavens; be shocked and utterly desolated! This is the LORD's declaration.

12"Be appalled, O heavens, at this, And shudder, be very desolate," declares the LORD.

13For my people have committed a double evil: They have abandoned me, the fountain of living water, and dug cisterns for themselves-- cracked cisterns that cannot hold water.

13"For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, To hew for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns That can hold no water.

14Is Israel a slave? Was he born into slavery? Why else has he become a prey?

14"Is Israel a slave? Or is he a homeborn servant? Why has he become a prey?

15The young lions have roared at him; they have roared loudly. They have laid waste his land. His cities are in ruins, without inhabitants.

15"The young lions have roared at him, They have roared loudly. And they have made his land a waste; His cities have been destroyed, without inhabitant.

16The men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have also broken your skull.

16"Also the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes Have shaved the crown of your head.

17Have you not brought this on yourself by abandoning the LORD your God while he was leading you along the way?

17"Have you not done this to yourself By your forsaking the LORD your God When He led you in the way?

18Now what will you gain by traveling along the way to Egypt to drink the water of the Nile? What will you gain by traveling along the way to Assyria to drink the water of the Euphrates?

18"But now what 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?

19Your own evil will discipline you; your own apostasies will reprimand you. Recognize how evil and bitter it is for you to abandon the LORD your God and to have no fear of me. This is the declaration of the Lord GOD of Armies.

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 Lord GOD of hosts.

20For long ago I broke your yoke; I tore off your chains. You insisted, "I will not serve!" On every high hill and under every green tree you lay down like a prostitute.

20"For long ago I broke your yoke And tore off your bonds; But you said, 'I will not serve!' For on every high hill And under every green tree You have lain down as a harlot.

21I planted you, a choice vine from the very best seed. How then could you turn into a degenerate, foreign vine?

21"Yet I planted you a choice vine, A completely faithful seed. How then have you turned yourself before Me Into the degenerate shoots of a foreign vine?

22Even if you wash with lye and use a great amount of bleach, the stain of your iniquity is still in front of me. This is the Lord GOD's declaration.

22"Although you wash yourself with lye And use much soap, The stain of your iniquity is before Me," declares the Lord GOD.

23How can you protest, "I am not defiled; I have not followed the Baals"? Look at your behavior in the valley; acknowledge what you have done. You are a swift young camel twisting and turning on her way,

23"How can you say, 'I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baals '? Look at your way in the valley! Know what you have done! You are a swift young camel entangling her ways,

24a wild donkey at home in the wilderness. She sniffs the wind in the heat of her desire. Who can control her passion? All who look for her will not become weary; they will find her in her mating season.

24A wild 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.

25Keep your feet from going bare and your throat from thirst. But you say, "It's hopeless; I love strangers, and I will continue to follow them."

25"Keep your feet from being unshod And your throat from thirst; But you said, 'It is hopeless! No! For I have loved strangers, And after them I will walk.'

26Like the shame of a thief when he is caught, so the house of Israel has been put to shame. They, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets

26"As the thief is shamed when he is discovered, So the house of Israel is shamed; They, their kings, their princes And their priests and their prophets,

27say to a tree, "You are my father," and to a stone, "You gave birth to me." For they have turned their back to me and not their face, yet in their time of disaster they beg, "Rise up and save 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 will say, 'Arise and save us.'

28But where are your gods you made for yourself? Let them rise up and save you in your time of disaster if they can, for your gods are as numerous as your cities, Judah.

28"But where are your gods Which 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.

29Why do you bring a case against me? All of you have rebelled against me. This is the LORD's declaration.

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

30I have struck down your children in vain; they would not accept discipline. Your own sword has devoured your prophets like a ravaging lion.

30"In vain I have struck your sons; They accepted no chastening. Your sword has devoured your prophets Like a destroying lion.

31Evil generation, pay attention to the word of the LORD! Have I been a wilderness to Israel or a land of dense darkness? Why do my people claim, "We will go where we want; we will no longer come to you"?

31"O generation, heed the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness to Israel, Or a land of thick darkness? Why do My people say, 'We are free to roam; We will no longer come to You'?

32Can a young woman forget her jewelry or a bride her wedding sash? Yet my people have forgotten me for countless days.

32"Can a virgin forget her ornaments, Or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me Days without number.

33How skillfully you pursue love; you also teach evil women your ways.

33"How well you prepare your way To seek love! Therefore even the wicked women You have taught your ways.

34Moreover, your skirts are stained with the blood of the innocent poor. You did not catch them breaking and entering. But in spite of all these things

34"Also on your skirts is found The lifeblood of the innocent poor; You did not find them breaking in. But in spite of all these things,

35you claim, "I am innocent. His anger is sure to turn away from me." But I will certainly judge you because you have said, "I have not sinned."

35Yet you said, 'I am innocent; Surely His anger is turned away from me.' Behold, I will enter into judgment with you Because you say, 'I have not sinned.'

36How unstable you are, constantly changing your ways! You will be put to shame by Egypt just as you were put to shame by Assyria.

36"Why do you go around so much Changing your way? Also, you will be put to shame by Egypt As you were put to shame by Assyria.

37Moreover, you will be led out from here with your hands on your head since the LORD has rejected those you trust; you will not succeed even with their help.

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."

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org