2 Moreover
the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 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. 3 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. 4 Hear
ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the
house of Israel: 5 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? 6 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? 7 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. 8 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. 9 Wherefore
I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children's children
will I plead. 10 For
pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider
diligently, and see if there be such a thing. 11 Hath
a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have
changed their glory for that which doth not profit. 12 Be
astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very
desolate, saith the LORD. 13 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. 14 Is
Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled? 15 The
young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste:
his cities are burned without inhabitant. 16 Also
the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head. 17 Hast
thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD
thy God, when he led thee by the way? 18 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?
19
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. 20 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. 21 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? 22 For
though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity
is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD. 23 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; 24 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. 25 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. 26 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. 27 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. 28 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. 29 Wherefore
will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD. 30 In
vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own
sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion. 31 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? 32 Can
a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten
me days without number. 33 Why
trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the
wicked ones thy ways. 34 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. 35 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. 36 Why
gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed
of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria. 37 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.