1 And the word of the LORD {YHWH, Divine Speaker} came to me, saying {leemor: introducing direct speech},
2 Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, saying, “Thus says the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Remembrancer}: I remember for you the steadfast love of your youth {ne’urayikh: youthful devotion}, the love of your bridal days, your following after Me in the wilderness in a land not sown.”
3 Israel was holiness to the LORD {YHWH, Set-Apart Sovereign}, the first of His produce {tevuato: firstfruits}; all who ate of it were guilty, and evil shall come upon them, declares the LORD.
4 Hear the word of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Proclaimer}, house of Jacob, and all the families {mishpechot: extended households} of the house of Israel.
5 Thus says the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Judge}: “What injustice {avel: moral wrongfulness} did your fathers find in Me, that they distanced themselves from Me, walked after vanity, and became vain?”
6 And they did not ask, “Where is the LORD {YHWH, Liberator and Guide} who brought us up from the land of Egypt and led us in the wilderness in a land of desert plain {aravah: arid region} and pit, in a land of dryness and shadow of death, through a land where no one passed and no one dwelt?”
7 And I {YHWH, Sovereign Giver} brought you into the fruitful land {ha-karmel: fertile land} to eat its fruit and its goodness; but you came and defiled My land, and you made My inheritance an abomination.
8 The priests did not ask, “Where is the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Judge}?” and those who handle the law did not know Me {yada: intimate knowledge}. The shepherds likewise transgressed against Me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal and walked after what does not profit.
9 Therefore, I will yet contend with you {ariv: to bring a legal dispute or accusation}, declares the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Prosecutor}, and with your children’s children I will contend.
10 For cross over to the isles of Kittim {kiṭṭîyim: western coastlands} and see, and send to Kedar and consider diligently {hitbonenu: reflect thoughtfully}, and see if there has been anything like this.
11 Has a nation ever exchanged its gods—even though they are not gods? But My {YHWH, Covenant Lord} people have exchanged their glory for that which does not profit {yo’il: bring benefit}.
12 Be appalled {shomu: overwhelming horror}, O heavens, at this, and be shocked, and be utterly devastated to a great degree—declares the LORD {YHWH, Universal Judge}.
13 For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me {YHWH, Living Water Source} and dug for themselves cisterns {borot: false security}—broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
14 Is Israel {Yisra'el: the covenant people} a servant, or is he a homeborn slave? Why has he become plunder {lavaz: victim of looting}?
15 Upon him young lions have roared; they have raised their voices and have made his land a desolation {leshammah: utter ruin}. His cities are burned {nitzetu: set aflame} without an inhabitant.
16 Also the sons {benei: descendants} of Noph and Tahpanhes have stripped bare the crown {kadqod: place of honor} of your head.
17 Is this not what you have done to yourself by forsaking the LORD your God {YHWH Eloheikha, Covenant Guide}, when He was leading you in the way {darekh: journey or path}?
18 And now what is it to you on the way {derekh: path} to Egypt to drink the waters {mei: water source} of Shihor, and what is it to you on the way to Assyria to drink the waters of the river?
19 Your wickedness will discipline you, and your apostasies will reprove you. Know, therefore, and see that it is evil and bitter that you have forsaken the LORD your God {YHWH Eloheikh, Covenant Guardian} and that my fear is not in you, declares the Lord GOD of hosts {Adonai YHWH Tsevaot, Supreme Commander}.
20 For from of old I {YHWH, Sovereign Liberator} broke your yoke {’ul: instrument of bondage} and tore off your bonds, but you said, “I will not serve.” Indeed, on every high hill and under every green tree, you lay down as a prostitute.
21 And I {YHWH, Covenant Planter} planted you as a choice vine {soreq: select vine}, wholly of true seed; yet how have you turned into the degenerate shoots of a foreign vine?
22 For even if you wash yourself with neter {neter: mineral alkali} and apply abundant borit, your iniquity is stained before Me, declares the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH, Sovereign Judge}.
23 How can you say, "I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baals {ha-baalim: Canaanite fertility gods}"? Look at your way in the valley; know what you have done—you are a swift young camel {bikhrah: female camel} lightly traversing her own paths.
24 A wild donkey accustomed to the wilderness, in the desire of her soul {nefesh: life force}, she pants for the wind in her mating season {ta’anah: breeding time}. Who can turn her aside? All who seek her will not grow weary; in her month they will find her.
25 Withhold your foot from being barefoot and your throat from thirst {mitzim-’āh: inner longing}; but you said, “It is hopeless {nō-’āš: beyond recovery}; no, for I have loved strangers and after them I will go.”
26 As the shame of a thief {ganav: lawbreaker} when he is found, so has the house of Israel been put to shame; they, their kings, their princes {sareihem: leaders}, their priests, and their prophets.
27 They say to the tree, “You are my father,” and to the stone, “You gave birth to us.” For they have turned their back to Me {YHWH, Faithful Redeemer} and not their face. Yet in the time of their trouble {raʻatam: time of distress}, they will say, “Arise and save us!”
28 But where are your gods {elohekha: false deities} that you have made for yourself? Let them arise if they can save you in your time of calamity, O Judah {Yehudah: covenant people}; for you have as many gods as towns.
29 Why do you contend with Me? All of you have transgressed {peshatem: deliberate rebellion} against Me, declares the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Judge}.
30 In vain have I {YHWH, Disciplining Judge} struck your children; they have not received discipline {musar: corrective instruction}. Your sword has devoured your prophets like a destroying lion.
31 O generation—see the word of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Prosecutor}. Have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of thick darkness? Why do My people say, “We roam freely, radnu {radnu: we wander at will}, and we will not come any more to You?”
32 Can a maiden forget her ornament{edyah: ceremonial jewelry}, or a bride her decorations? Yet My people have forgotten Me{YHWH, Faithful Husband} for days without number.
33 How you improve your way {darkekh: pattern of conduct} to seek love! Therefore, even the wicked women you have taught {limadte: to instruct or cause to learn} your ways.
34 Also, in your skirts {biknafayikh: garment hem evidence} is found the blood of innocent poor souls; you did not find them breaking in {machteret: illegal break-in}, but because of all these things.
35 And you say, "Because I am innocent {niqqeti: declared pure}, surely His anger has turned from me." Behold, I {YHWH, Righteous Judge} will bring judgment against you because you say, "I have not sinned."
36 Why do you go about so much to change your way? You also shall be ashamed{boshet: public disgrace} of Egypt{mitzrayim: land of bondage} just as you were ashamed of Assyria.
37 Also from this you will go out with your hands upon your head, for the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Judge} has rejected your confidences {mivtachaikh: sources of security}, and you will not prosper through them.