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Judah’s Apostasy
Now the word of the LORD came to me saying,
Now the word of the LORD came to me saying,
The LORD’s Case against His People
The LORD gave me another message. He said,
The LORD gave me another message. He said,
“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.
“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.
“Go and shout this message to Jerusalem. This is what the LORD says:
“I remember how eager you were to please me
as a young bride long ago,
how you loved me and followed me
even through the barren wilderness.
“I remember how eager you were to please me
as a young bride long ago,
how you loved me and followed me
even through the barren wilderness.
“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.’”
The first of His harvest.
All who ate of it became guilty;
Evil came upon them,” declares the LORD.’”
Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel.
Listen to the word of the LORD, people of Jacob — all you families of Israel!
Thus says the LORD,
“What injustice did your fathers find in Me,
That they went far from Me
And walked after emptiness and became empty?
“What injustice did your fathers find in Me,
That they went far from Me
And walked after emptiness and became empty?
This is what the LORD says:
“What did your ancestors find wrong with me
that led them to stray so far from me?
They worshiped worthless idols,
only to become worthless themselves.
“What did your ancestors find wrong with me
that led them to stray so far from me?
They worshiped worthless idols,
only to become worthless themselves.
“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?’
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?’
They did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD
who brought us safely out of Egypt
and led us through the barren wilderness —
a land of deserts and pits,
a land of drought and death,
where no one lives or even travels?’
who brought us safely out of Egypt
and led us through the barren wilderness —
a land of deserts and pits,
a land of drought and death,
where no one lives or even travels?’
“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.
To eat its fruit and its good things.
But you came and defiled My land,
And My inheritance you made an abomination.
“And when I brought you into a fruitful land
to enjoy its bounty and goodness,
you defiled my land
and corrupted the possession I had promised you.
to enjoy its bounty and goodness,
you defiled my land
and corrupted the possession I had promised you.
“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.
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.
The priests did not ask,
‘Where is the LORD?’
Those who taught my word ignored me,
the rulers turned against me,
and the prophets spoke in the name of Baal,
wasting their time on worthless idols.
‘Where is the LORD?’
Those who taught my word ignored me,
the rulers turned against me,
and the prophets spoke in the name of Baal,
wasting their time on worthless idols.
“Therefore I will yet contend with you,” declares the LORD,
“And with your sons’ sons I will contend.
“And with your sons’ sons I will contend.
Therefore, I will bring my case against you,”
says the LORD.
“I will even bring charges against your children’s children
in the years to come.
says the LORD.
“I will even bring charges against your children’s children
in the years to come.
“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!
And send to Kedar and observe closely
And see if there has been such a thing as this!
“Has a nation changed gods
When they were not gods?
But My people have changed their glory
For that which does not profit.
When they were not gods?
But My people have changed their glory
For that which does not profit.
“Be appalled, O heavens, at this,
And shudder, be very desolate,” declares the LORD.
And shudder, be very desolate,” declares the LORD.
The heavens are shocked at such a thing
and shrink back in horror and dismay,”
says the LORD.
and shrink back in horror and dismay,”
says the LORD.
“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.
They have forsaken Me,
The fountain of living waters,
To hew for themselves cisterns,
Broken cisterns
That can hold no water.
“For my people have done two evil things:
They have abandoned me —
the fountain of living water.
And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns
that can hold no water at all!
The Results of Israel’s Sin
They have abandoned me —
the fountain of living water.
And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns
that can hold no water at all!
The Results of Israel’s Sin
“Is Israel a slave? Or is he a homeborn servant?
Why has he become a prey?
Why has he become a prey?
“Why has Israel become a slave?
Why has he been carried away as plunder?
Why has he been carried away as plunder?
“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.
They have roared loudly.
And they have made his land a waste;
His cities have been destroyed, without inhabitant.
Strong lions have roared against him,
and the land has been destroyed.
The towns are now in ruins,
and no one lives in them anymore.
and the land has been destroyed.
The towns are now in ruins,
and no one lives in them anymore.
“Also the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes
Have shaved the crown of your head.
Have shaved the crown of your head.
“Have you not done this to yourself
By your forsaking the LORD your God
When He led you in the way?
By your forsaking the LORD your God
When He led you in the way?
And you have brought this upon yourselves
by rebelling against the LORD your God,
even though he was leading you on the way!
by rebelling against the LORD your God,
even though he was leading you on the way!
“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?
To drink the waters of the Nile?
Or what are you doing on the road to Assyria,
To drink the waters of the Euphrates?
“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.
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.
Your wickedness will bring its own punishment.
Your turning from me will shame you.
You will see what an evil, bitter thing it is
to abandon the LORD your God and not to fear him.
I, the Lord, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!
Your turning from me will shame you.
You will see what an evil, bitter thing it is
to abandon the LORD your God and not to fear him.
I, the Lord, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!
“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.
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.
“Long ago I broke the yoke that oppressed you
and tore away the chains of your slavery,
but still you said,
‘I will not serve you.’
On every hill and under every green tree,
you have prostituted yourselves by bowing down to idols.
and tore away the chains of your slavery,
but still you said,
‘I will not serve you.’
On every hill and under every green tree,
you have prostituted yourselves by bowing down to idols.
“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?
A completely faithful seed.
How then have you turned yourself before Me
Into the degenerate shoots of a foreign vine?
But I was the one who planted you,
choosing a vine of the purest stock — the very best.
How did you grow into this corrupt wild vine?
choosing a vine of the purest stock — the very best.
How did you grow into this corrupt wild vine?
“Although you wash yourself with lye
And use much soap,
The stain of your iniquity is before Me,” declares the Lord GOD.
And use much soap,
The stain of your iniquity is before Me,” declares the Lord GOD.
No amount of soap or lye can make you clean.
I still see the stain of your guilt.
I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!
Israel, an Unfaithful Wife
I still see the stain of your guilt.
I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!
Israel, an Unfaithful Wife
“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,
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,
“You say, ‘That’s not true!
I haven’t worshiped the images of Baal!’
But how can you say that?
Go and look in any valley in the land!
Face the awful sins you have done.
You are like a restless female camel
desperately searching for a mate.
I haven’t worshiped the images of Baal!’
But how can you say that?
Go and look in any valley in the land!
Face the awful sins you have done.
You are like a restless female camel
desperately searching for a mate.
A 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.
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.
You are like a wild donkey,
sniffing the wind at mating time.
Who can restrain her lust?
Those who desire her don’t need to search,
for she goes running to them!
sniffing the wind at mating time.
Who can restrain her lust?
Those who desire her don’t need to search,
for she goes running to them!
“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.’
And your throat from thirst;
But you said, ‘It is hopeless!
No! For I have loved strangers,
And after them I will walk.’
When will you stop running?
When will you stop panting after other gods?
But you say, ‘Save your breath.
I’m in love with these foreign gods,
and I can’t stop loving them now!’
When will you stop panting after other gods?
But you say, ‘Save your breath.
I’m in love with these foreign gods,
and I can’t stop loving them now!’
“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,
So the house of Israel is shamed;
They, their kings, their princes
And their priests and their prophets,
“Israel is like a thief
who feels shame only when he gets caught.
They, their kings, officials, priests, and prophets —
all are alike in this.
who feels shame only when he gets caught.
They, their kings, officials, priests, and prophets —
all are alike in this.
Who 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.’
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.’
To an image carved from a piece of wood they say,
‘You are my father.’
To an idol chiseled from a block of stone they say,
‘You are my mother.’
They turn their backs on me,
but in times of trouble they cry out to me,
‘Come and save us!’
‘You are my father.’
To an idol chiseled from a block of stone they say,
‘You are my mother.’
They turn their backs on me,
but in times of trouble they cry out to me,
‘Come 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 according to the number of your cities
Are your gods, O Judah.
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.
But why not call on these gods you have made?
When trouble comes, let them save you if they can!
For you have as many gods
as there are towns in Judah.
When trouble comes, let them save you if they can!
For you have as many gods
as there are towns in Judah.
“Why do you contend with Me?
You have all transgressed against Me,” declares the LORD.
You have all transgressed against Me,” declares the LORD.
Why do you accuse me of doing wrong?
You are the ones who have rebelled,”
says the LORD.
You are the ones who have rebelled,”
says the LORD.
“In vain I have struck your sons;
They accepted no chastening.
Your sword has devoured your prophets
Like a destroying lion.
They accepted no chastening.
Your sword has devoured your prophets
Like a destroying lion.
“I have punished your children,
but they did not respond to my discipline.
You yourselves have killed your prophets
as a lion kills its prey.
but they did not respond to my discipline.
You yourselves have killed your prophets
as a lion kills its prey.
“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’?
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 my people, listen to the words of the LORD!
Have I been like a desert to Israel?
Have I been to them a land of darkness?
Why then do my people say, ‘At last we are free from God!
We don’t need him anymore!’
Have I been like a desert to Israel?
Have I been to them a land of darkness?
Why then do my people say, ‘At last we are free from God!
We don’t need him anymore!’
“Can a virgin forget her ornaments,
Or a bride her attire?
Yet My people have forgotten Me
Days without number.
Or a bride her attire?
Yet My people have forgotten Me
Days without number.
Does a young woman forget her jewelry,
or a bride her wedding dress?
Yet for years on end
my people have forgotten me.
or a bride her wedding dress?
Yet for years on end
my people have forgotten me.
“How well you prepare your way
To seek love!
Therefore even the wicked women
You have taught your ways.
To seek love!
Therefore even the wicked women
You have taught your ways.
“How you plot and scheme to win your lovers.
Even an experienced prostitute could learn from you!
Even an experienced prostitute could learn from you!
“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,
The lifeblood of the innocent poor;
You did not find them breaking in.
But in spite of all these things,
Your clothing is stained with the blood of the innocent and the poor,
though you didn’t catch them breaking into your houses!
though you didn’t catch them breaking into your houses!
Yet 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.’
Surely His anger is turned away from me.’
Behold, I will enter into judgment with you
Because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’
And yet you say,
‘I have done nothing wrong.
Surely God isn’t angry with me!’
But now I will punish you severely
because you claim you have not sinned.
‘I have done nothing wrong.
Surely God isn’t angry with me!’
But now I will punish you severely
because you claim you have not sinned.
“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.
Changing your way?
Also, you will be put to shame by Egypt
As you were put to shame by Assyria.
First here, then there —
you flit from one ally to another asking for help.
But your new friends in Egypt will let you down,
just as Assyria did before.
you flit from one ally to another asking for help.
But your new friends in Egypt will let you down,
just as Assyria did before.
“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.”
With your hands on your head;
For the LORD has rejected those in whom you trust,
And you will not prosper with them.”
In despair, you will be led into exile
with your hands on your heads,
for the LORD has rejected the nations you trust.
They will not help you at all.
with your hands on your heads,
for the LORD has rejected the nations you trust.
They will not help you at all.