Study Desk

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

Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

"Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, 'This is what the LORD says: "I remember regarding you the devotion of your youth, Your love when you were a bride, Your following after Me in the wilderness, Through a land not sown.

Go 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.

"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.'"

Israel 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 .

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

Hear ye the word of the Lord , O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:

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

Thus 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?

"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 person lived?'

Neither 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?

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

And 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.

"The priests did not say, 'Where is the LORD?' And those who handle the Law did not know Me; The rulers also revolted against Me, And the prophets prophesied by Baal And walked after things that were of no benefit.

The 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.

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

Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the Lord , and with your children's children will I plead.

"For cross to the coastlands of Kittim and see, And send to Kedar and observe closely, And see if there has been anything like this!

For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.

"Has a nation changed gods, When they were not gods? But My people have exchanged their glory For that which is of no benefit.

Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.

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

Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the Lord .

"For My people have committed two evils: They have abandoned Me, The fountain of living waters, To carve out for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns That do not hold water.

For 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.

"Is Israel a slave? Or is he a servant born in the home? Why has he become plunder?

Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled?

"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.

The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.

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

Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head.

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

Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, when he led thee by the way?

"But now what are you doing on the road to Egypt, Except to drink the waters of the Nile? Or what are you doing on the road to Assyria, Except to drink the waters of the Euphrates River?

And 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?

"Your own wickedness will correct you, And your apostasies will punish you; Know therefore and see that it is evil and bitter For you to abandon the LORD your God, And the fear of Me is not in you," declares the Lord GOD of armies.

Thine 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.

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

For 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.

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

Yet 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?

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

For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord God .

"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 running about senselessly on her ways,

How 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;

A wild donkey accustomed to the wilderness, That sniffs the wind in her passion. Who can turn her away in her mating season? None who seek her will grow weary; In her month they will find her.

A 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.

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

Withhold 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.

"Like the shame of a thief when he is discovered, So the house of Israel is shamed; They, their kings, their leaders, Their priests, and their prophets,

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.

Who 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; But in the time of their trouble they will say, 'Arise and save us!'

Saying 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.

"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 as many as the number of your cities Are your gods, Judah.

But 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.

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

Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the Lord .

"In vain I have struck your sons; They did not accept discipline. Your sword has devoured your prophets Like a destroying lion.

In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

"You generation, look to 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'?

O 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?

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

Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

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

Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.

"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,

Also 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.

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.'

Yet 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.

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

Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.

"From this place as well 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."

Yea, 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.