Israel has Forsaken God
1Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
3Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.
4Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:
5Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
6Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?
7And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.
8The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
9Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children's children will I plead.
10For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.
11Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.
12Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.
13For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
The Results of Israel's Sin
14Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled?
15The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.
16Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head.
17Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?
18And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?
19Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
20For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.
21Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?
22For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.
Israel's Unfaithfulness
(Judges 2:11-15; Isaiah 43:22-28)
23How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;
24A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.
25Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.
26As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets,
27Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.
28But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.
29Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD.
30In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
31O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?
32Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
33Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.
34Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.
35Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.
36Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.
37Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head: for the LORD hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Israel Has Forsaken God
1 The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
2 “Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “I remember for you the kindness of your youth, the love of your weddings; how you went after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
3 Israel was holiness to Yahweh, the first fruits of his increase. All who devour him shall be held guilty. Evil shall come on them,”’ says Yahweh.”
4 Hear the word of Yahweh, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel!
5 Thus says Yahweh, “What unrighteousness have your fathers found in me, that they have gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
6 Neither did they say, ‘Where is Yahweh 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 the shadow of death, through a land that none passed through, and where no man lived?’
7 I brought you into a plentiful land, to eat its fruit and its goodness; but when you entered, you defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination.
8 The priests didn’t say, ‘Where is Yahweh?’ and those who handle the law didn’t know me. The rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
9 “Therefore I will yet contend with you,” says Yahweh, “and I will contend with your children’s children.
10 For pass over to the islands of Kittim, and see; and send to Kedar, and consider diligently; and see if there has been such a thing.
11 Has a nation changed its gods, which really are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.
12 “Be astonished, you heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid. Be very desolate,” says Yahweh.
13 “For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the spring of living waters, and cut them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
The Consequence of Israel’s Sin
14 Is Israel a servant? Is he a native-born slave? Why has he become a prey?
15 The young lions have roared at him, and yelled. They have made his land waste. His cities are burned up, without inhabitant.
16 The children also of Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken the crown of your head.
17 “Haven’t you procured this to yourself, in that you have forsaken Yahweh your God, when he led you by the way?
18 Now what have you to do in the way to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Shihor? Or what have you to do in the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?
19 “Your own wickedness shall correct you, and your backsliding shall reprove you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and a bitter, that you have forsaken Yahweh your God, and that my fear is not in you,” says the Lord, Yahweh of Armies.
20 “For of old time I have broken your yoke, and burst your bonds; and you said, ‘I will not serve;’ for on every high hill and under every green tree you bowed yourself, playing the prostitute.
21 Yet I had planted you a noble vine, wholly a right seed. How then have you turned into the degenerate branches of a foreign vine to me?
22 For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before me,” says the Lord Yahweh.
Israel’s Unfaithfulness
(Judges 2:10–15; Isaiah 43:22–28)
23 “How can you say, ‘I am not defiled. I have not gone after the Baals’? See your way in the valley. Know what you have done. You are a swift dromedary traversing her ways;
24 a wild donkey used to the wilderness, that snuffs up the wind in her desire. When she is in heat, who can turn her away? All those who seek her will not weary themselves. In her month, they will find her.
25 “Withhold your foot from being unshod, and your throat from thirst. But you said, ‘It is in vain. No, for I have loved strangers, and I will go after them.’
26 As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets;
27 who tell wood, ‘You are my father;’ and a stone, ‘You have brought me out:’ 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 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, Judah.
29 “Why will you contend with me? You all have transgressed against me,” says Yahweh.
30 “I have struck your children in vain. They received no correction. Your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
31 Generation, consider the word of Yahweh. Have I been a wilderness to Israel? Or a land of thick darkness? Why do my people say, ‘We have broken loose. We will come to you no more?’
32 “Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me for days without number.
33 How well you prepare your way to seek love! Therefore you have taught even the wicked women your ways.
34 Also the blood of the souls of the innocent poor is found in your skirts. You did not find them breaking in; but it is because of all these things.
35 “Yet you said, ‘I am innocent. Surely his anger has turned away from me.’ “Behold, I will judge you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’
36 Why do you go about so much to change your way? You will be ashamed of Egypt also, as you were ashamed of Assyria.
37 From there also you shall go forth, with your hands on your head; for Yahweh has rejected those in whom you trust, and you shall not prosper with them.
Israel Has Forsaken God
1 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says:
‘I remember the devotion of your youth,
your love as a bride,
how you followed Me in the wilderness,
in a land not sown.
3 Israel was holy to the LORD,
the firstfruits of His harvest.
All who devoured her
found themselves guilty;
disaster came upon them,’ ”
declares the LORD.
4 Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all you families of the house of Israel. 5 This is what the LORD says:
“What fault did your fathers find in Me
that they strayed so far from Me,
and followed worthless idols,
and became worthless themselves?
6 They did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD
who brought us up from the land of Egypt,
who led us through the wilderness,
through a land of deserts and pits,
a land of drought and darkness,
a land where no one travels and no one lives?’
7 I brought you into a fertile land
to eat its fruit and bounty,
but you came and defiled My land,
and made My inheritance detestable.
8 The priests did not ask,
‘Where is the LORD?’
The experts in the law no longer knew Me,
and the leaders rebelled against Me.
The prophets prophesied by Baal
and followed useless idols.
9 Therefore, I will contend with you again,
declares the LORD,
and I will bring a case
against your children’s children.
10 Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus a
and take a look;
send to Kedar and consider carefully;
see if there has ever been anything like this:
11 Has a nation ever changed its gods,
though they are no gods at all?
Yet My people have exchanged their Glory b
for useless idols.
12 Be stunned by this, O heavens;
be shocked and utterly appalled,”
declares the LORD.
13 “For My people have committed two evils:
They have forsaken Me,
the fountain of living water,
and they have dug their own cisterns—
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
The Consequence of Israel’s Sin
14 Is Israel a slave?
Was he born into slavery?
Why then has he become prey?
15 The young lions have roared at him;
they have growled with a loud voice.
They have laid waste his land;
his cities lie in ruins, without inhabitant.
16 The men of Memphis c and Tahpanhes
have shaved the crown of your head.
17 Have you not brought this on yourself
by forsaking the LORD your God
when He led you in the way?
18 Now what will you gain on your way to Egypt
to drink the waters of the Nile d?
What will you gain on your way to Assyria
to drink the waters of the Euphrates e?
19 Your own evil will discipline you;
your own apostasies will reprimand you.
Consider and realize
how evil and bitter it is
for you to forsake the LORD your God
and to have no fear of Me,”
declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.
20 “For long ago you broke your yoke
and tore off your chains,
saying, ‘I will not serve!’
Indeed, on every high hill
and under every green tree
you lay down as a prostitute.
21 I had planted you like a choice vine
from the very best seed.
How could you turn yourself before Me
into a rotten, wild vine?
22 Although you wash with lye
and use an abundance of soap,
the stain of your guilt
is still before Me,”
declares the Lord GOD.
Israel’s Unfaithfulness
(Judges 2:10–15; Isaiah 43:22–28)
23 “How can you say, ‘I am not defiled;
I have not run after the Baals’?
Look at your behavior in the valley;
acknowledge what you have done.
You are a swift young she-camel
galloping here and there,
24 a wild donkey at home in the wilderness,
sniffing the wind in the heat of her desire.
Who can restrain her passion?
All who seek her need not weary themselves;
in mating season they will find her.
25 You should have kept your feet from going bare
and your throat from being thirsty.
But you said, ‘It is hopeless!
For I love foreign gods,
and I must go after them.’
26 As the thief is ashamed when he is caught,
so the house of Israel is disgraced.
They, their kings, their officials,
their priests, and their prophets
27 say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’
and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’
For they have turned their backs to Me
and not their faces,
yet in the time of trouble they beg,
‘Rise up and save us!’
28 But where are the gods you made for yourselves?
Let them rise up in your time of trouble
and save you if they can;
for your gods are as numerous
as your cities, O Judah.
29 Why do you bring a case against Me?
You have all rebelled against Me,”
declares the LORD.
30 “I have struck your sons in vain;
they accepted no discipline.
Your own sword has devoured your prophets
like a voracious lion.”
31 You people of this generation, consider the word of the LORD:
“Have I been a wilderness to Israel
or a land of dense darkness?
Why do My people say,
‘We are free to roam;
we will come to You no more’?
32 Does a maiden forget her jewelry
or a bride her wedding sash?
Yet My people have forgotten Me
for days without number.
33 How skillfully you pursue love!
Even the most immoral of women
could learn from your ways.
34 Moreover, your skirts are stained
with the blood of the innocent poor,
though you did not find them breaking in.
But in spite of all these things
35 you say, ‘I am innocent.
Surely His anger will turn from me.’
Behold, I will judge you,
because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’
36 How unstable you are,
constantly changing your ways!
You will be disappointed by Egypt
just as you were by Assyria.
37 Moreover, you will leave that place
with your hands on your head,
for the LORD has rejected those you trust;
you will not prosper by their help.”
Footnotes:
10 a Hebrew Kittim
11 b Or their glorious God
16 c LXX; Hebrew Noph
18 d Hebrew of Shihor , a branch of the Nile River
18 e Hebrew the River
Israel has Forsaken God
1And there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying,
2'Go, and thou hast called in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus said Jehovah: I have remembered for thee The kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, Thy going after Me in a wilderness, in a land not sown.
3Holy is Israel to Jehovah, The first-fruit of His increase, All consuming him are guilty, Evil cometh in unto them, an affirmation of Jehovah.
4Hear a word of Jehovah, O house of Jacob, And all ye families of the house of Israel.
5Thus said Jehovah: What -- have your fathers found in Me perversity, That they have gone far off from Me, And go after the vanity, and become vain,
6And have not said, Where is Jehovah, Who bringeth us up out of the land of Egypt, Who leadeth us in a wilderness, In a land of deserts and pits, In a dry land, and of death-shade, In a land -- none hath passed through it, Nor dwelt hath man there?'
7Yea, I bring you in to a land of fruitful fields, To eat its fruit and its goodness, And ye come in and defile My land, And Mine inheritance have made an abomination.
8The priests have not said, 'Where is Jehovah?' And those handling the law have not known Me. And the shepherds transgressed against Me, And the prophets have prophesied by Baal, And after those who profit not have gone.
9Therefore, yet I plead with you, An affirmation of Jehovah, And with your sons' sons I plead.
10For, pass to the isles of Chittim, and see, And to Kedar send, and consider well, And see if there hath been like this:
11Hath a nation changed gods? (And they are no gods!) And My people hath changed its honour For that which doth not profit.
12Be astonished, ye heavens, at this, Yea, be frightened, be greatly wasted, An affirmation of Jehovah.
13For two evils hath My people done, Me they have forsaken, a fountain of living waters, To hew out for themselves wells -- broken wells, That contain not the waters.
The Results of Israel's Sin
14A servant is Israel? Is he a child of the house? Wherefore hath he been for a prey?
15Against him roar do young lions, They have given forth their voice, And make his land become a desolation, His cities have been burnt without inhabitant.
16Also sons of Noph and Tahapanes Consume thee -- the crown of the head!
17Dost thou not do this to thyself? By thy forsaking Jehovah thy God, At the time He is leading thee in the way?
18And now, what -- to thee in the way of Egypt, To drink the waters of Sihor? And what -- to thee in the way of Asshur, To drink the waters of the River?
19Instruct thee doth thy wickedness, And thy backslidings reprove thee, Know and see that an evil and a bitter thing Is thy forsaking Jehovah thy God, And My fear not being on thee, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah of Hosts.
20For from of old thou hast broken thy yoke, Drawn away thy bands, and sayest, 'I do not serve,' For, on every high height, and under every green tree, Thou art wandering -- a harlot.
21And I planted thee a choice vine, wholly a true seed, And how hast thou been turned to Me, To the degenerate shoots of a strange vine?
22But though thou dost wash with nitre, And dost multiply to thyself soap, Marked is thine iniquity before Me, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah.
Israel's Unfaithfulness
(Judges 2:11-15; Isaiah 43:22-28)
23How sayest thou, 'I have not been defiled, After the Baalim I have not gone?' See thy way in a valley, know what thou hast done, A swift dromedary winding her ways,
24A wild ass accustomed to a wilderness, In the desire of her soul she hath swallowed up wind, Her meeting -- who doth turn her back? None seeking her do weary themselves, In her month they find her.
25Withhold thy foot from being unshod, And thy throat from thirst, And thou sayest, 'It is incurable, No, for I have loved strangers, and after them I go.'
26As the shame of a thief when he is found, So put to shame have been the house of Israel, They, their kings, their heads, And their priests, and their prophets,
27Saying to wood, 'My father art thou!' And to a stone, 'Thou hast brought me forth,' For they turned unto me the back and not the face, And in the time of their vexation, They say, 'Arise Thou, and save us.'
28And where are thy gods, that thou hast made to thyself? Let them arise, if they may save thee, In the time of thy vexation, For -- the number of thy cities have been thy gods, O Judah,
29Why do ye strive with Me? All of you have transgressed against Me, An affirmation of Jehovah.
30In vain I have smitten your sons, Instruction they have not accepted, Devoured hath your sword your prophets, As a destroying lion.
31O generation, see ye the word of Jehovah: A wilderness have I been to Israel? A land of thick darkness? Wherefore have My people said, 'We mourned, We come not in again unto Thee.'
32Doth a virgin forget her ornaments? A bride her bands? And My people have forgotten Me days without number.
33What -- dost thou make pleasing thy ways to seek love? Therefore even the wicked thou hast taught thy ways.
34Also in thy skirts hath been found the blood of innocent needy souls, Not by digging have I found them, but upon all these.
35And thou sayest, 'Because I have been innocent, Surely turned back hath His anger from me?' Lo, I have been judged with thee, Because of thy saying, 'I have not sinned.'
36What? thou art very vile to repeat thy way, Even of Egypt thou art ashamed, As thou hast been ashamed of Asshur,
37Also from this thou goest out, And thy hands on thy head, For Jehovah hath kicked at thy confidences, And thou dost not give prosperity to them!
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