New King James Version

English Standard Version

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

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

2“Go and cry in the hearing of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD: “I remember you, The kindness of your youth, The love of your betrothal, When you went after Me in the wilderness, In a land not sown.

2“Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the LORD, “I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.

3Israel was holiness to the LORD, The firstfruits of His increase. All that devour him will offend; Disaster will come upon them,” says the LORD.’ ”

3Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of his harvest. All who ate of it incurred guilt; disaster came upon them, declares the LORD.”

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

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

5Thus says the LORD: “What injustice have your fathers found in Me, That they have gone far from Me, Have followed idols, And have become idolaters?

5Thus says the LORD: “What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?

6Neither did they 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 pits, Through a land of drought and the shadow of death, Through a land that no one crossed And where no one dwelt?’

6They did not say, ‘Where is the LORD who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us in the wilderness, in a land of deserts and pits, in a land of drought and deep darkness, in a land that none passes through, where no man dwells?’

7I brought you into a bountiful country, To eat its fruit and its goodness. But when you entered, you defiled My land And made My heritage an abomination.

7And I brought you into a plentiful land to enjoy its fruits and its good things. But when you came in, you defiled my land and made my heritage an abomination.

8The priests did not say, ‘Where is the LORD?’ And those who handle the law did not know Me; The rulers also transgressed against Me; The prophets prophesied by Baal, And walked after things that do not profit.

8The priests did not say, ‘Where is the LORD?’ Those who handle the law did not know me; the shepherds transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal and went after things that do not profit.

9“Therefore I will yet bring charges against you,” says the LORD, “And against your children’s children I will bring charges.

9“Therefore I still contend with you, declares the LORD, and with your children’s children I will contend.

10For pass beyond the coasts of Cyprus and see, Send to Kedar and consider diligently, And see if there has been such a thing.

10For cross to the coasts of Cyprus and see, or send to Kedar and examine with care; see if there has been such a thing.

11Has a nation changed its gods, Which are not gods? But My people have changed their Glory For what does not profit.

11Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.

12Be astonished, O heavens, at this, And be horribly afraid; Be very desolate,” says the LORD.

12Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD,

13“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.

13for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.

14“Is Israel a servant? Is he a homeborn slave? Why is he plundered?

14“Is Israel a slave? Is he a homeborn servant? Why then has he become a prey?

15The young lions roared at him, and growled; They made his land waste; His cities are burned, without inhabitant.

15The lions have roared against him; they have roared loudly. They have made his land a waste; his cities are in ruins, without inhabitant.

16Also the people of Noph and Tahpanhes Have broken the crown of your head.

16Moreover, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the crown of your head.

17Have you not brought this on yourself, In that you have forsaken the LORD your God When He led you in the way?

17Have you not brought this upon yourself by forsaking the LORD your God, when he led you in the way?

18And now why take the road to Egypt, To drink the waters of Sihor? Or why take the road to Assyria, To drink the waters of the River?

18And now what do you gain by going to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile? Or what do you gain by going to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates?

19Your own wickedness will correct you, And your backslidings will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing That you have forsaken the LORD your God, And the fear of Me is not in you,” Says the Lord GOD of hosts.

19Your evil will chastise you, and your apostasy will reprove you. Know and see that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake the LORD your God; the fear of me is not in you, declares the Lord GOD of hosts.

20“For of old I have broken your yoke and burst your bonds; And you said, ‘I will not transgress,’ When on every high hill and under every green tree You lay down, playing the harlot.

20“For long ago I broke your yoke and burst your bonds; but you said, ‘I will not serve.’ Yes, on every high hill and under every green tree you bowed down like a whore.

21Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a seed of highest quality. How then have you turned before Me Into the degenerate plant of an alien vine?

21Yet I planted you a choice vine, wholly of pure seed. How then have you turned degenerate and become a wild vine?

22For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, Yet your iniquity is marked before Me,” says the Lord GOD.

22Though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me, declares the Lord GOD.

23“How can you say, ‘I am not polluted, I have not gone after the Baals’? See your way in the valley; Know what you have done: You are a swift dromedary breaking loose in her ways,

23How can you say, ‘I am not unclean, I have not gone after the Baals’? Look at your way in the valley; know what you have done— a restless young camel running here and there,

24A wild donkey used to the wilderness, That sniffs at the wind in her desire; In her time of mating, who can turn her away? All those who seek her will not weary themselves; In her month they will find her.

24a wild donkey used to the wilderness, in her heat sniffing the wind! Who can restrain her lust? None who seek her need weary themselves; in her month they will find her.

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

25Keep your feet from going unshod and your throat from thirst. But you said, ‘It is hopeless, for I have loved foreigners, and after them I will go.’

26“As the thief is ashamed when he is found out, So is the house of Israel ashamed; They and their kings and their princes, and their priests and their prophets,

26“As a thief is shamed when caught, so the house of Israel shall be shamed: they, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets,

27Saying 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. But in the time of their trouble They will say, ‘Arise 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 say, ‘Arise and save us!’

28But where are your gods that you have made for 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, O Judah.

28But where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them arise, if they can save you, in your time of trouble; for as many as your cities are your gods, O Judah.

29“Why will you plead with Me? You all have transgressed against Me,” says the LORD.

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

30“In vain I have chastened your children; They received no correction. Your sword has devoured your prophets Like a destroying lion.

30In vain have I struck your children; they took no correction; your own sword devoured your prophets like a ravening lion.

31“O generation, see the word of the LORD! Have I been a wilderness to Israel, Or a land of darkness? Why do My people say, ‘We are lords; We will come no more to You’?

31And you, O generation, behold the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of thick darkness? Why then do my people say, ‘We are free, we will come no more to you’?

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

32Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

33“Why do you beautify your way to seek love? Therefore you have also taught The wicked women your ways.

33“How well you direct your course to seek love! So that even to wicked women you have taught your ways.

34Also on your skirts is found The blood of the lives of the poor innocents. I have not found it by secret search, But plainly on all these things.

34Also on your skirts is found the lifeblood of the guiltless poor; you did not find them breaking in. Yet in spite of all these things

35Yet you say, ‘Because I am innocent, Surely His anger shall turn from me.’ Behold, I will plead My case against you, Because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’

35you say, ‘I am innocent; surely his anger has turned from me.’ Behold, I will bring you to judgment for saying, ‘I have not sinned.’

36Why do you gad about so much to change your way? Also you shall be ashamed of Egypt as you were ashamed of Assyria.

36How much you go about, changing your way! You shall be put to shame by Egypt as you were put to shame by Assyria.

37Indeed you will go forth from him With your hands on your head; For the LORD has rejected your trusted allies, And you will not prosper by them.

37From it too you will come away with your hands on your head, for the LORD has rejected those in whom you trust, and you will not prosper by them.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.