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The LORD’s Case against His People
The LORD gave me another message. He said,
The LORD gave me another message. He said,
God’s Case Against Israel
Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
“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 holiness to the Lord,
The firstfruits of His increase.
All that devour him will offend;
Disaster will come upon them,” says the Lord.’ ”
The firstfruits of His increase.
All that devour him will offend;
Disaster will come upon them,” says the Lord.’ ”
Listen to the word of the LORD, people of Jacob — all you families of Israel!
Hear 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 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 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?’
Neither 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?’
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?’
“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.
I 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.
To eat its fruit and its goodness.
But when you entered, you defiled My land
And made My heritage an abomination.
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.
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;
The prophets prophesied by Baal,
And walked after things that do not profit.
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.
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 changed its gods,
Which are not gods?
But My people have changed their Glory
For what does not profit.
Which are not gods?
But My people have changed their Glory
For what does not profit.
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.
Be astonished, O heavens, at this,
And be horribly afraid;
Be very desolate,” says the Lord.
And be horribly afraid;
Be very desolate,” says the Lord.
“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
“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.
They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters,
And hewn themselves cisterns — broken cisterns that can hold no water.
“Why has Israel become a slave?
Why has he been carried away as plunder?
Why has he been carried away as plunder?
“Is Israel a servant?
Is he a homeborn slave?
Why is he plundered?
Is he a homeborn slave?
Why is he plundered?
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.
The young lions roared at him, and growled;
They made his land waste;
His cities are burned, without inhabitant.
They made his land waste;
His cities are burned, without inhabitant.
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!
Have you not brought this on yourself,
In that you have forsaken the Lord your God
When He led you in the way?
In that you have forsaken the Lord your God
When He led you in the way?
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 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.
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?
Yet 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?
How then have you turned before Me
Into the degenerate plant of an alien vine?
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
“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.
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!
A 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.
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.
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!’
Withhold 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.’
But you said, ‘There is no hope.
No! For I have loved aliens, and after them I will go.’
“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.
“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,
So is the house of Israel ashamed;
They and their kings and their princes, and their priests and their prophets,
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!’
Saying 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.’
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.’
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 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.
“Why will you plead with Me?
You all have transgressed against Me,” says the Lord.
You all have transgressed against Me,” says the Lord.
“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.
“In vain I have chastened your children;
They received no correction.
Your sword has devoured your prophets
Like a destroying lion.
They received no correction.
Your sword has devoured your prophets
Like a destroying lion.
“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,
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.
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.
“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!
“Why do you beautify your way to seek love?
Therefore you have also taught
The wicked women your ways.
Therefore you have also taught
The wicked women your ways.
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!
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.
Yet 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.’
Surely His anger shall turn from me.’
Behold, I will plead My case against you,
Because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’
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.
Why do you gad about so much to change your way?
Also you shall be ashamed of Egypt as you were ashamed of Assyria.
Also you shall be ashamed of Egypt as you were ashamed of Assyria.
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.
Indeed 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.
With your hands on your head;
For the Lord has rejected your trusted allies,
And you will not prosper by them.