1 The Lord told me
2 to go to Jerusalem and tell everyone that he had said:When you were my young bride,you loved me and followed methrough the barren desert.
3 You belonged to me alone,like the first part of the harvest,and I severely punishedthose who mistreated you.
4 Listen, people of Israel,
5 and I, the Lord, will speak.I was never unfairto your ancestors,but they left meand became worthlessby following worthless idols.
6 Your ancestors refusedto ask for my help,though I had rescued themfrom Egyptand led them througha treacherous, barren desert,where no one livesor dares to travel.
7 I brought you here to my land,where food is abundant,but you made my land filthywith your sins.
8 The priests who teach my lawsdon't care to know me.Your leaders rebel against me;your prophetsgive messages from Baaland worship false gods.
9 I will take you to courtand accuse youand your descendants*
10 of a crime that no nationhas ever committed before.Just ask anyone, anywhere,from the eastern desertsto the islands in the west.
11 You will find that no nationhas ever abandoned its godseven though they were false.I am the true and glorious God,but you have rejected meto worship idols.
12 Tell the heavensto tremble with fear!
13 You, my people, have sinnedin two ways—you have rejected me, the sourceof life-giving water,and you've tried to collect waterin cracked and leaking pitsdug in the ground.
14 People of Israel,you weren't born slaves;you were captured in war.
15 Enemies roared like lionsand destroyed your land;towns lie burned and empty.
16 Soldiers from the Egyptian townsof Memphis and Tahpanheshave cracked your skulls.
17 It's all your own fault!You stopped following me,the Lord your God,
18 and you trusted the powerof Egypt and Assyria.
19 Your own sins will punish you,because it was a bitter mistakefor you to reject mewithout fear of punishment.I, the Lord All-Powerful,have spoken.
20 Long ago you left meand broke all ties between us,refusing to be my servant.Now you worship other godsby having sexon hilltops or in the shadeof large trees.
21 You were a choice grapevine,but you have becomea wild, useless vine.
22 The Lord said:People of Israel,you are stained with guilt,and no soap or bleachcan wash it away.
23 You deny your sinsand say, “We aren't unclean.We haven't worshiped Baal.”But think about what you doin Hinnom Valley.You run back and forthlike young camels,as you rush to worship one idolafter another.
24 You are a female donkeysniffing the desert air,wanting to matewith just anyone.You are an easy catch!
25 Your shoes are worn out,and your throat is parchedfrom running here and thereto worship foreign gods.“Stop!” I shouted,but you replied, “No!I love those gods too much.”
26 You and your leadersare more disgracefulthan thieves—you and your kings,your priests and prophets
27 worship stone idolsand sacred polesas if they had created youand had given you life.You have rejected me,but when you're in trouble,you cry to me for help.
28 Go cry to the gods you made!There should be enough of themto save you,because Judah has as many godsas it has towns.
29 The Lord said to Israel:You accuse me of not saving you,but I say you have rebelled.
30 I tried punishing you,but you refusedto come back to me,and like fierce lionsyou killed my prophets.
31 Now listen to what I say!Did I abandon you in the desertor surround you with darkness?You are my people,yet you have told me,“We'll do what we want,and we refuseto worship you!”
32 A bride could not forgetto wear her jewelryto her wedding,but you have forgotten meday after day.
33 You are so cleverat finding loversthat you could give lessonsto a prostitute.
34 You killed innocent peoplefor no reason at all.And even though their bloodcan be seen on your clothes,
35 you claim to be innocent,and you want me to stopbeing angry with you.So I'll take you to court,and we'll see who is right.
36 When Assyria let you down,you quickly ran to Egypt,but you'll find no help there,
37 and you will leavein great sadness.I won't let you find helpfrom those you trust.