Israel has Forsaken God
1Moreover the wordof the LORDcame to me, saying,
2Goand cryin the earsof Jerusalem,saying,Thus saiththe LORD;I rememberthee, the kindnessof thy youth,the loveof thine espousals,when thou wentestafterme in the wilderness,in a land[that was] not sown.
3Israel[was] holinessunto the LORD,[and] the firstfruitsof his increase:all that devourhim shall offend;evilshall comeupon them, saiththe LORD.
4Hearye the wordof the LORD,O houseof Jacob,and all the familiesof the houseof Israel:
5Thus saiththe LORD,What iniquityhave your fathersfoundin me, that they are gone farfrom me, and have walkedaftervanity,and are become vain?
6Neither saidthey, Where [is] the LORDthat brought us upout of the landof Egypt,that ledus through the wilderness,through a landof desertsand of pits,through a landof drought,and of the shadow of death,through a landthat no manpassed through,and where no mandwelt?
7And I broughtyou into a plentifulcountry,to eatthe fruitthereof and the goodnessthereof; but when ye entered,ye defiledmy land,and mademine heritagean abomination.
8The priestssaidnot, Where [is] the LORD?and they that handlethe lawknewme not: the pastorsalso transgressedagainst me, and the prophetsprophesiedby Baal,and walkedafter[things that] do not profit.
9Wherefore I will yet pleadwith you, saiththe LORD,and with your children'schildrenwill I plead.
10For pass overthe islesof Chittim,and see;and sendunto Kedar,and considerdiligently,and seeif there be such a thing.
11Hath a nationchanged[their] gods,which [are] yet no gods?but my peoplehave changedtheir gloryfor [that which] doth not profit.
12Be astonished,O ye heavens,at this, and be horribly afraid,be ye verydesolate,saiththe LORD.
13For my peoplehave committedtwoevils;they have forsakenme the fountainof livingwaters,[and] hewed them outcisterns,brokencisterns,that can holdno water.
The Results of Israel's Sin
14[Is] Israela servant?[is] he a homeborn[slave]? whyis he spoiled?
15The young lionsroaredupon him, [and] yelled,and they madehis landwaste:his citiesare burnedwithout inhabitant.
16Also the childrenof Nophand Tahapaneshave brokenthe crown of thy head.
17Hast thou not procuredthis unto thyself, in that thou hast forsakenthe LORDthy God,whenhe ledthee by the way?
18And now what hast thou to do in the wayof Egypt,to drinkthe watersof Sihor?or what hast thou to do in the wayof Assyria,to drinkthe watersof the river?
19Thine own wickednessshall correctthee, and thy backslidingsshall reprovethee: knowtherefore and seethat [it is] an evil[thing] and bitter,that thou hast forsakenthe LORDthy God,and that my fear[is] not in thee, saiththe LordGODof hosts.
20For of old timeI have brokenthy yoke,[and] burstthy bands;and thou saidst,I will not transgress{08675;05647:08799}; when upon every highhilland under every greentreethou wanderest,playing the harlot.
21Yet I had plantedthee a noble vine,wholly a rightseed:how then art thou turnedinto the degenerate plantof a strangevineunto me?
22For though thou washthee with nitre,and take thee muchsoap,[yet] thine iniquityis markedbeforeme, saiththe LordGOD.
Israel's Unfaithfulness
(Judges 2:11-15;Isaiah 43:22-28)
23How canst thou say,I am not polluted,I have not goneafterBaalim?seethy wayin the valley,knowwhat thou hast done:[thou art] a swiftdromedarytraversingher ways;
24A wild assusedto the wilderness,[that] snuffeth upthe windat her pleasure;in her occasionwho can turn her away?all they that seekher will not wearythemselves; in her monththey shall findher.
25Withholdthy footfrom being unshod,and thy throatfrom thirst:but thou saidst,There is no hope:no; for I have lovedstrangers,and afterthem will I go.
26As the thiefis ashamedwhen he is found,so is the houseof Israelashamed;they, their kings,their princes,and their priests,and their prophets,
27Sayingto a stock,Thou [art] my father;and to a stone,Thou hast brought me forth:for they have turned[their] backunto me, and not [their] face:but in the timeof their troublethey will say,Arise,and saveus.
28But where [are] thy godsthat thou hast madethee? let them arise,if they can savethee in the timeof thy trouble:for [according to] the numberof thy citiesare thy gods,O Judah.
29Wherefore will ye pleadwith me? ye all have transgressedagainst me, saiththe LORD.
30In vainhave I smittenyour children;they receivedno correction:your own swordhath devouredyour prophets,like a destroyinglion.
31O generation,seeye the wordof the LORD.Have I been a wildernessunto Israel?a landof darkness?wherefore saymy people,We are lords;we will comeno more unto thee?
32Can a maidforgether ornaments,[or] a brideher attire?yet my peoplehave forgottenme dayswithout number.
33Why trimmestthou thy wayto seeklove?therefore hast thou also taughtthe wicked onesthy ways.
34Also in thy skirtsis foundthe bloodof the soulsof the poorinnocents:I have not foundit by secret search,but upon all these.
35Yet thou sayest,Because I am innocent,surely his angershall turnfrom me. Behold, I will pleadwith thee, because thou sayest,I have not sinned.
36Why gaddest thou aboutso muchto changethy way?thou also shalt be ashamedof Egypt,as thou wast ashamedof Assyria.
37Yea, thou shalt go forthfrom him, and thine handsupon thine head:for the LORDhath rejectedthy confidences,and thou shalt not prosperin them.
