Israel Has Forsaken God
1   Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2   Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus says the LORD; I remember you, the kindness of your youth, the love of your betrothal, when you followed 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, says the LORD.
4   Hear you the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:
5   Thus says the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they have 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 its fruit and its goodness; but when you entered, you defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination.
8   The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
9   Therefore I will yet plead with you, says the LORD, and with your children’s children will I plead.
10   For pass over the coasts of Chittim, and see;   and   send   unto   Kedar,   and   consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.
11   Has a nation changed its gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.
12   Be astonished, O you heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be you very desolate, says the LORD.
13   For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed themselves out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
14   Is  Israel  a  servant?  is  he  a  homeborn slave? why is he plundered?
15   The young lions roared upon him, and growled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.
16   Also the children of Noph and Tahpanes have broken the crown of your head.
17   Have you not brought this unto yourself, in that  you  have  forsaken  the  LORD  your  God, when he led you by the way?
18   And now what have you to do in the way to Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what have you  to  do  in  the  way to  Assyria,  to  drink  the waters of the river?
19   Your own wickedness shall correct you, and your backslidings shall reprove you: know therefore  and  see  that  it  is  an  evil  thing  and bitter,  that  you  have  forsaken  the  LORD  your God, and that my fear is not in you, says the Lord GOD of hosts.
20   For from of old I have broken your yoke, and burst your bands; and you said, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree you wander, playing the harlot.
21   Yet I had planted you a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then are you turned into the degenerate plant of a wild vine unto me?
22   For though you wash yourself with lye, and use  much  soap,  yet  your  iniquity  is  marked before me, says the Lord GOD.
23   How can you say, I am not polluted, I have not  gone  after  Baalim?  see  your  way  in  the valley, know what you have done: you are a swift dromedary traversing her ways;
24   A wild donkey used to the wilderness, that sniffs in the wind in her desire; in her mating time who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.
25   Withhold your foot from being unshod, and your throat from thirst: but you said, 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 tree, You are my father; and to a  stone,  You  have  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 your gods that you have made 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.
29   Why will you plead with me? you all have transgressed against me, says the LORD.
30   In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
31   O generation, see you the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? why say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto you?
32   Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
33   Why beautify your way to seek love? therefore have you also taught the wicked ones your ways.
34   Also on your skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but plainly upon all these things.
35   Yet you say, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with you, because you say, I have not sinned.
36   Why gad you about so much to change your way? you also shall be ashamed of Egypt, as you were ashamed of Assyria.
37   Yea, you shall go forth from him, with your hands  upon  your  head:  for  the  LORD  has rejected your trusted ones, and you shall not prosper in them.