2The word of the Lord came to me:H1697H3068H5592"Go and announce to Jerusalem: 'This is what the Lord says: "I remember the loyal devotion of your youth, your love as a bride. You followed me in the desert, in a land that was not planted.H1980H7121H241H3389H559H559H3068H2142H2617H5271H160H3623H3212H310H4057H776H22323Israel was consecrated to the Lord, she was the first fruits of his produce. All who devoured her became guilty and disaster came on them," declares the Lord.'"H3478H6944H3068H7225H8393H398H816H7451H935H5002H30684Listen to the word of the Lord, you descendants of Jacob and all the families of the descendants of Israel.H8085H1697H3068H1004H3290H4940H1004H34785This is what the Lord says: "What did your ancestors find wrong with me that they left me, and pursued worthless things, and so they became worthless -H559H3068H5766H1H4672H7368H3212H310H1892H18916"They didn't say, 'Where is the Lord who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through the land of desert and pits, through the land of dryness and deep darkness, a land that people don't pass through, and where no one lives?H559H3068H5927H776H4714H3212H4057H776H6160H7745H776H6723H6757H776H376H5674H120H34277"I brought you into the fruitful land to eat its fruit and its good things. But you came in, defiled my land, and made my inheritance into an abomination.H935H3759H776H398H6529H2898H935H2930H776H7760H5159H84418"The priests didn't say, 'Where is the Lord? and those handling the law didn't know me. The rulers transgressed against me, the prophets prophesied by Baal, and they followed that which does not profit.H3548H559H3068H8610H8451H3045H7462H6586H5030H5012H1168H1980H310H32769"Therefore I'll again accuse you," declares the Lord, "and I'll accuse your grandchildren."H7378H5002H3068H1121H1121H737810"Indeed, go over to the coasts of Cyprus and see, send to Kedar and pay very close attention. See if there has ever been such a thing as this!H5674H339H3794H7200H7971H6938H995H3966H720011Has a nation ever changed gods when they aren't even gods?But my people have exchanged their glory for that which does not profit.H1471H3235H430H430H5971H4171H3519H327612Heavens, be appalled at this, be shocked, be utterly devastated," declares the Lord.H8074H8064H8175H3966H2717H5002H306813""Indeed, my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living water, and they have dug cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that cannot hold water."H5971H6213H8147H7451H5800H4726H2416H4325H2672H877H7665H877H3557H432514"Is Israel a slave, or was he born a servant?Why then has he become plunder?H3478H5650H1004H3211H4069H95715Young lions roar at him, they cry out loudly. They have made his land into a wasteland, and his cities are destroyed so they are without inhabitants.H3715H7580H5414H6963H7896H776H8047H5892H3341H342716Also, people from Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken your skull.H1121H5297H8471H7462H693617You have done this to yourselves, have you not, by forsaking the Lord your God, when he is the one who led you on the way.H6213H5800H3068H430H6256H3212H187018Now, what are you doing on the road to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Nile?And what are you doing on the road to Assyria, to drink the waters of the Euphrates?H1870H4714H8354H4325H7883H1870H804H8354H4325H510419Your wickedness will be punished, and you will be corrected due to your acts of apostasy. Know and see that it's evil and bitter for you to forsake the Lord your God, but the fear of me is not in you," declares the Lord GOD of the Heavenly Armies.H7451H3256H4878H3198H3045H7200H7451H4751H5800H3068H430H6345H5002H136H3069H663520"For long ago I broke your yoke and tore off your bonds, But you said, 'I won't serve you!' Instead on every high hill and under every green tree, you bend down to commit fornication.H5769H7665H5923H5423H4147H559H5674H5647H1364H1389H7488H6086H6808H218121I planted you myself as a choice vine, from the very best seed. How did you turn against me into a degenerate and foreign vine -H5193H8321H571H2233H2015H5494H5237H161222Though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me," declares the Lord GOD.H3526H5427H7235H1287H5771H3799H6440H5002H136H306923"How can you say, 'I'm not defiled. I haven't gone after the Baals? Look at what you've done in the valley. Know what you have done. You are a swift young camel galloping aimlessly,H559H2930H1980H310H1168H7200H1870H1516H3045H6213H7031H1072H8308H187024a wild donkey accustomed to the desert, sniffing the wind in her passion. When she's in heat, who can turn her away?None of the males who pursue her need to tire themselves out, for in her month they'll find her."H6501H3928H4057H7602H7307H185H5315H8385H7725H1245H3286H2320H467225"Don't run until your feet are bare and your throat is dry. But you say, 'It's hopeless! Because I love foreign gods, I'll go after them!'"H4513H7272H3182H1627H6773H559H2976H157H2114H310H321226"As a thief is disgraced when he's caught, so the house of Israel is disgraced, they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets,H1590H1322H4672H1004H3478H3001H4428H8269H3548H503027who say to a tree, 'You are my father,' and to a stone, 'You gave birth to me.' They have turned their back to me, but not their faces. In the time of their trouble, they'll say, 'Rise up! Deliver us!'"H559H6086H1H68H3205H6437H6203H6440H6256H7451H559H6965H346728"But where are your gods that you made for yourselves?Let them rise up, if they can deliver you in the time of your trouble. You have as many gods as you have towns, Judah.H430H6213H6965H3467H6256H7451H4557H5892H430H306329Why do you contend with me?You have rebelled against me," declares the Lord.H7378H6586H5002H306830"I've punished your children with no results, they have accepted no discipline. Your sword has devoured your prophets like a destroying lion."H7723H5221H1121H3947H4148H2719H398H5030H7843H73831"You, generation, pay attention to the word of the Lord! Am I the desert to Israel, or a land of gloom?Why do my people say, 'We're free to roam?We won't come to you any more.'2H1755H7200H1697H3068H4057H3478H776H3991H559H5971H7300H93532Will a young woman forget her wedding ornaments, or a bride her attire?But my people have forgotten me days without number.H1330H7911H5716H3618H7196H5971H7911H3117H455733How well you perfect your techniques for seeking love. Therefore you can teach even the most immoral women your techniques.H3190H1870H1245H160H3925H7451H187034On your skirts is found the lifeblood of the innocent poor, even though you didn't catch them breaking in. Yet despite all these things,H3671H4672H1818H5315H34H5355H4672H429035you say, 'I'm innocent. Surely his anger has turned away from me.'" "I'm about to bring charges against you because you say, 'I haven't sinned.'H559H5352H639H7725H8199H559H239836Why do you go about changing your mind so much?You will also be disappointed by Egypt, just as you were disappointed by Assyria.H235H3966H8138H1870H954H4714H954H80437You will also go out from this place with your hands over your heads. For the Lord has rejected those in whom you trust, and you won't prosper through them."H3318H3027H7218H3068H3988H4009H6743
Dublin, OH
