1 GLT And the word of Yahweh was to me, saying, BSB BSB: Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2 GLT “Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying,‘Thus says Yahweh: I have recalled for you the covenant faithfulness of your youth, the love of your betrothal{ time}, your going after me in the wilderness, in the land not sown. BSB BSB: “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: ‘I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.
3 GLT Israel{ was} holy to Yahweh, the first of his harvest! All those who ate it became guilty; disaster came upon them— the declaration of Yahweh.’” BSB BSB: Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of His harvest. All who devoured her were found guilty; disaster came upon them,’” declares the LORD.
4 GLT Hear the word of Yahweh, house of Jacob, and all clans of the house of Israel. BSB BSB: Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all you families of the house of Israel.
5 GLT Thus says Yahweh,“What did your fathers find wrong with me, that they went far away from upon me, and they went after the empty, and became empty? BSB BSB: This is what the LORD says: “What fault did your fathers find in Me that they strayed so far from Me? They followed worthless idols, and became worthless themselves.
6 GLT And they did not say,‘Where{ is} Yahweh, who led us up from the land of Egypt? The one who led us in the wilderness, in a land of a desert and a pit, in a land of dryness and thick darkness, in a land— no human passes through it and no man lives there?’ BSB BSB: They did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and pits, a land of drought and darkness, a land where no one travels and no one lives?’
7 GLT And I brought you to the land of Carmel, to eat its fruit and its good things! But you came and defiled my land, and you made my inheritance into an abomination! BSB BSB: I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and bounty, but you came and defiled My land and made My inheritance detestable.
8 GLT The priests did not say,‘Where{ is} Yahweh?’ and the handlers of the law did not know me, and the shepherds transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal and went after things not profitable. BSB BSB: The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD?’ The experts in the law no longer knew Me, and the leaders rebelled against Me. The prophets prophesied by Baal and followed useless idols.
9 GLT Therefore still I shall make a case with you— the declaration of Yahweh— and with the sons of your sons I shall make a case. BSB BSB: Therefore, I will contend with you again, declares the LORD, and I will bring a case against your children’s children.
10 GLT For cross over{ to} the coasts of Kittim and look, and{ to} Kedar send out and pay very close attention and see if there has been{ a thing} as this! BSB BSB: Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and take a look; send to Kedar and consider carefully; see if there has ever been anything like this:
11 GLT Has a nation exchanged gods, though they{ were} not gods? But my people has exchanged its glory for{ what} does not profit. BSB BSB: Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But My people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols.
12 GLT Be appalled, heavens, because of this, and shudder, be very desolate!— the declaration of Yahweh. BSB BSB: Be stunned by this, O heavens; be shocked and utterly appalled,” declares the LORD.
14 GLT { Is} Israel a slave? Or was he born{ in} a household? So why has he become for plunder? BSB BSB: Is Israel a slave? Was he born into slavery? Why then has he become prey?
15 GLT Young lions roared against him; they gave their voice. And they made his land into a desolation; his cities became ruins without an inhabitant. BSB BSB: The young lions have roared at him; they have sounded their voices. They have laid waste his land; his cities lie in ruins, without inhabitant.
16 GLT Also, the people of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved your skull. BSB BSB: The men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the crown of your head.
17 GLT Did you not do this to yourself{ when} you abandoned Yahweh your God, in the time he led you on the way? BSB BSB: Have you not brought this on yourself by forsaking the LORD your God when He led you in the way?
18 GLT And now, why— to you, to the road of Egypt to drink the waters of Shihor? And why— to you, to the road of Assyria to drink the waters of a river? BSB BSB: Now what will you gain on your way to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile? What will you gain on your way to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates?
19 GLT Your evil will rebuke you, and your apostasy will punish you. So think and understand that{ it is} wicked and bitter{ when} you forsake Yahweh your God, and you have no fear of me.— the declaration of Lord Yahweh of hosts. BSB BSB: Your own evil will discipline you; your own apostasies will reprimand you. Consider and realize how evil and bitter it is for you to forsake the LORD your God and to have no fear of Me,” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.
20 GLT For from long ago I broke your yoke; I tore to pieces your fetters. But you said,‘I will not serve!’ For on every high hill and beneath every leafy tree, you yourself lie down, prostitute. BSB BSB: “For long ago you broke your yoke and tore off your chains, saying, ‘I will not serve!’ Indeed, on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute.
21 GLT And I myself planted you{ as} a choice vine, all of it of genuine seed. And how have you changed towards me{ into} degenerates of the strange vine? BSB BSB: I had planted you like a choice vine from the very best seed. How could you turn yourself before Me into a rotten, wild vine?
22 GLT For even if you clean yourself with natron or multiply for yourself lye, your iniquity is a stain before my face— the declaration of Lord Yahweh. BSB BSB: Although you wash with lye and use an abundance of soap, the stain of your guilt is still before Me,” declares the Lord GOD.
23 GLT How can you say,‘I am not defiled; I have not walked after the Baals’? See your path in the valleys! Know what you have done— a swift female camel entangling her ways, BSB BSB: “How can you say, ‘I am not defiled; I have not run after the Baals’? Look at your behavior in the valley; acknowledge what you have done. You are a swift young she-camel galloping here and there,
24 GLT a wild donkey, a pupil of the wilderness, in the desire of its spirit gasping{ for} air!{ In} her heat, who can turn her away? All of the ones seeking her will not tire; in her month they will find her. BSB BSB: a wild donkey at home in the wilderness, sniffing the wind in the heat of her desire. Who can restrain her passion? All who seek her need not weary themselves; in mating season they will find her.
25 GLT Restrain your foot from{ becoming} bare and your throat from thirst! But you have said,‘{ It is} hopeless! No, for I love strangers and after them I shall go!’ BSB BSB: You should have kept your feet from going bare and your throat from being thirsty. But you said, ‘It is hopeless! For I love foreign gods, and I must go after them.’
26 GLT Like the shame of a thief when he is found, so the house of Israel will be ashamed— they, their kings, their princes, and their priests and prophets, BSB BSB: As the thief is ashamed when he is caught, so the house of Israel is disgraced. They, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets
27 GLT the ones who say to the tree,‘You{ are} my father,’ and to the stone,‘You gave birth to me.’ For they face the nape to me and not faces. But in the time of their misfortune they say,‘Arise and save us!’ BSB BSB: say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ They have turned their backs to Me and not their faces. Yet in the time of trouble, they say, ‘Rise up and save us!’
28 GLT But where{ are} the gods that you made for yourself? Let them arise if they would save you in the time of your misfortune, for the number of your cities, equal your gods, Judah! BSB BSB: But where are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them rise up in your time of trouble and save you if they can; for your gods are as numerous as your cities, O Judah.
29 GLT Why do you complain to me? All of you have rebelled against me— the declaration of Yahweh. BSB BSB: Why do you bring a case against Me? You have all rebelled against Me,” declares the LORD.
30 GLT For futility I have struck your sons. They would not accept discipline. Your sword has devoured your prophets like a destructive lion! BSB BSB: “I have struck your sons in vain; they accepted no discipline. Your own sword has devoured your prophets like a voracious lion.”
31 GLT You{ are} the generation! Know the word of Yahweh! Have I been a wilderness to Israel? Or a land of thick darkness? Why would my people say,‘We shall roam free, we shall not go to you anymore’? BSB BSB: You people of this generation, consider the word of the LORD: “Have I been a wilderness to Israel or a land of dense darkness? Why do My people say, ‘We are free to roam; we will come to You no more’?
32 GLT Will a virgin forget her jewelry, a bride her sashes? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number! BSB BSB: Does a maiden forget her jewelry or a bride her wedding sash? Yet My people have forgotten Me for days without number.
33 GLT How well you make your way to seek love, so even{ to} the wicked women you taught your ways. BSB BSB: How skillfully you pursue love! Even the most immoral of women could learn from your ways.
34 GLT Also on your skirts has been found the blood of the innocent, needy lives. They were not discovered in burglary. But despite all these, BSB BSB: Moreover, your skirts are stained with the blood of the innocent poor, though you did not find them breaking in. But in spite of all these things
35 GLT you also say,‘But I am innocent; surely his nose has turned away from me.’ Behold, I shall judge you because you say,‘I have not sinned.’ BSB BSB: you say, ‘I am innocent. Surely His anger will turn from me.’ Behold, I will judge you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’
36 GLT Why do you treat very lightly to change your ways? You will also be shamed from Egypt, just as you were shamed from Assyria. BSB BSB: How impulsive you are, constantly changing your ways! You will be disappointed by Egypt just as you were by Assyria.
37 GLT You will also go out from this{ place}, and your hands{ will be} on your head, for Yahweh has rejected the ones you trusted, and you will not be successful by them.” BSB BSB: Moreover, you will leave that place with your hands on your head, for the LORD has rejected those you trust; you will not prosper by their help.”
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.