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Israel Forsakes God
The word of the Lord came to me:
The word of the Lord came to me:
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 hearing of Jerusalem:
“This is what the Lord says:
“ ‘I remember the devotion of your youth,
how as a bride you loved me
and followed me through the wilderness,
through a land not sown.
“This is what the Lord says:
“ ‘I remember the devotion of your youth,
how as a bride you loved me
and followed me through 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 firstfruits of his harvest;
all who devoured her were held guilty,
and disaster overtook them,’ ”
declares the Lord.
the firstfruits of his harvest;
all who devoured her were held guilty,
and disaster overtook them,’ ”
declares the Lord.
Hear the word of the Lord, you descendants of Jacob,
all you clans of Israel.
all you clans of Israel.
Listen to the word of the LORD, people of Jacob — all you families of Israel!
This is what the Lord says:
“What fault did your ancestors find in me,
that they strayed so far from me?
They followed worthless idols
and became worthless themselves.
“What fault did your ancestors find in me,
that they strayed so far from me?
They followed worthless idols
and became worthless themselves.
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 ask, ‘Where is the Lord,
who brought us up out of Egypt
and led us through the barren wilderness,
through a land of deserts and ravines,
a land of drought and utter darkness,
a land where no one travels and no one lives?’
who brought us up out of Egypt
and led us through the barren wilderness,
through a land of deserts and ravines,
a land of drought and utter darkness,
a land where no one travels and no one lives?’
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 a fertile land
to eat its fruit and rich produce.
But you came and defiled my land
and made my inheritance detestable.
to eat its fruit and rich produce.
But you came and defiled my land
and made my inheritance detestable.
“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 ask,
‘Where is the Lord?’
Those who deal with the law did not know me;
the leaders rebelled against me.
The prophets prophesied by Baal,
following worthless idols.
‘Where is the Lord?’
Those who deal with the law did not know me;
the leaders rebelled against me.
The prophets prophesied by Baal,
following worthless idols.
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 bring charges against you again,”
declares the Lord.
“And I will bring charges against your children’s children.
declares the Lord.
“And I will bring charges against your children’s children.
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.
Has a nation ever changed its gods?
(Yet they are not gods at all.)
But my people have exchanged their glorious God
for worthless idols.
(Yet they are not gods at all.)
But my people have exchanged their glorious God
for worthless idols.
Be appalled at this, you heavens,
and shudder with great horror,”
declares the Lord.
and shudder with great horror,”
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.
“My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold 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 servant, a slave by birth?
Why then has he become plunder?
Why then has he become plunder?
“Why has Israel become a slave?
Why has he been carried away as plunder?
Why has he been carried away as plunder?
Lions have roared;
they have growled at him.
They have laid waste his land;
his towns are burned and deserted.
they have growled at him.
They have laid waste his land;
his towns are burned and deserted.
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 cracked your skull.
have cracked your skull.
Have you not brought this on yourselves
by forsaking the Lord your God
when he led you in the way?
by 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!
Your wickedness will punish you;
your backsliding will rebuke you.
Consider then and realize
how evil and bitter it is for you
when you forsake the Lord your God
and have no awe of me,”
declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.
your backsliding will rebuke you.
Consider then and realize
how evil and bitter it is for you
when you forsake the Lord your God
and have no awe of me,”
declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.
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!
“Long ago you broke off your yoke
and tore off your bonds;
you said, ‘I will not serve you!’
Indeed, on every high hill
and under every spreading tree
you lay down as a prostitute.
and tore off your bonds;
you said, ‘I will not serve you!’
Indeed, on every high hill
and under every spreading tree
you lay down as a prostitute.
“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.
I had planted you like a choice vine
of sound and reliable stock.
How then did you turn against me
into a corrupt, wild vine?
of sound and reliable stock.
How then did you turn against me
into a corrupt, wild 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 soap
and use an abundance of cleansing powder,
the stain of your guilt is still before me,”
declares the Sovereign Lord.
and use an abundance of cleansing powder,
the stain of your guilt is still before me,”
declares the Sovereign Lord.
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 run after the Baals’?
See how you behaved in the valley;
consider what you have done.
You are a swift she-camel
running here and there,
I have not run after the Baals’?
See how you behaved in the valley;
consider what you have done.
You are a swift she-camel
running here and there,
“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 desert,
sniffing the wind in her craving —
in her heat who can restrain her?
Any males that pursue her need not tire themselves;
at mating time they will find her.
sniffing the wind in her craving —
in her heat who can restrain her?
Any males that pursue her need not tire themselves;
at mating time 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!
Do not run until your feet are bare
and your throat is dry.
But you said, ‘It’s no use!
I love foreign gods,
and I must go after them.’
and your throat is dry.
But you said, ‘It’s no use!
I love foreign gods,
and I must go after them.’
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 a thief is disgraced when he is caught,
so the people of Israel are disgraced —
they, their kings and their officials,
their priests and their prophets.
so the people of Israel are disgraced —
they, their kings and their officials,
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.
They say to wood, ‘You are my father,’
and to stone, ‘You gave me birth.’
They have turned their backs to me
and not their faces;
yet when they are in trouble, they say,
‘Come and save us!’
and to stone, ‘You gave me birth.’
They have turned their backs to me
and not their faces;
yet when they are in trouble, they say,
‘Come 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!’
Where then are the gods you made for yourselves?
Let them come if they can save you
when you are in trouble!
For you, Judah, have as many gods
as you have towns.
Let them come if they can save you
when you are in trouble!
For you, Judah, have as many gods
as you have towns.
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 bring charges against me?
You have all rebelled against me,”
declares the Lord.
You have all rebelled 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 punished your people;
they did not respond to correction.
Your sword has devoured your prophets
like a ravenous lion.
they did not respond to correction.
Your sword has devoured your prophets
like a ravenous 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.
“You of this generation, consider the word of the Lord:
“Have I been a desert to Israel
or a land of great darkness?
Why do my people say, ‘We are free to roam;
we will come to you no more’?
“Have I been a desert to Israel
or a land of great darkness?
Why do my people say, ‘We are free to roam;
we will come to you no more’?
“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!’
Does a young woman forget her jewelry,
a bride her wedding ornaments?
Yet my people have forgotten me,
days without number.
a bride her wedding ornaments?
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 skilled you are at pursuing love!
Even the worst of women can learn from your ways.
Even the worst of women can learn from 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!
On your clothes is found
the lifeblood of the innocent poor,
though you did not catch them breaking in.
Yet in spite of all this
the lifeblood of the innocent poor,
though you did not catch them breaking in.
Yet in spite of all this
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!
you say, ‘I am innocent;
he is not angry with me.’
But I will pass judgment on you
because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’
he is not angry with me.’
But I will pass judgment on 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 about so much,
changing your ways?
You will be disappointed by Egypt
as you were by Assyria.
changing your ways?
You will be disappointed by Egypt
as you were 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.