195 lines
5.5 KiB
Markdown
195 lines
5.5 KiB
Markdown
Israel Forsakes the LORD
|
|
|
|
# Chapter 2
|
|
1. The word of the LORD came to me, saying,
|
|
2. "Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the LORD,
|
|
"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. Israel was holy to the LORD,
|
|
the firstfruits of his harvest.
|
|
All who ate of it incurred guilt;
|
|
disaster came upon them,
|
|
declares the LORD."
|
|
|
|
4. Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the clans of the house of Israel.
|
|
5. Thus says the LORD:
|
|
"What wrong did your fathers find in me
|
|
that they went far from me,
|
|
and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?
|
|
|
|
6. They did not say, 'Where is the LORD
|
|
who brought us up from the land of Egypt,
|
|
who led us in the wilderness,
|
|
in a land of deserts and pits,
|
|
in a land of drought and deep darkness,
|
|
in a land that none passes through,
|
|
where no man dwells?'
|
|
|
|
7. And I brought you into a plentiful land
|
|
to enjoy its fruits and its good things.
|
|
But when you came in, you defiled my land
|
|
and made my heritage an abomination.
|
|
|
|
8. The priests did not say, 'Where is the LORD?'
|
|
Those who handle the law did not know me;
|
|
the shepherds transgressed against me;
|
|
the prophets prophesied by Baal
|
|
and went after things that do not profit.
|
|
|
|
9. "Therefore I still contend with you,
|
|
declares the LORD,
|
|
and with your children's children I will contend.
|
|
|
|
10. For cross to the coasts of Cyprus and see,
|
|
or send to Kedar and examine with care;
|
|
see if there has been such a thing.
|
|
|
|
11. Has a nation changed its gods,
|
|
even though they are no gods?
|
|
But my people have changed their glory
|
|
for that which does not profit.
|
|
|
|
12. Be appalled, O heavens, at this;
|
|
be shocked, be utterly desolate,
|
|
declares the LORD,
|
|
|
|
13. for my people have committed two evils:
|
|
they have forsaken me,
|
|
the fountain of living waters,
|
|
and hewed out cisterns for themselves,
|
|
broken cisterns that can hold no water.
|
|
|
|
14. "Is Israel a slave? Is he a homeborn servant?
|
|
Why then has he become a prey?
|
|
|
|
15. The lions have roared against him;
|
|
they have roared loudly.
|
|
They have made his land a waste;
|
|
his cities are in ruins, without inhabitant.
|
|
|
|
16. Moreover, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes
|
|
have shaved the crown of your head.
|
|
|
|
17. Have you not brought this upon yourself
|
|
by forsaking the LORD your God,
|
|
when he led you in the way?
|
|
|
|
18. And now what do you gain by going to Egypt
|
|
to drink the waters of the Nile?
|
|
Or what do you gain by going to Assyria
|
|
to drink the waters of the Euphrates?
|
|
|
|
19. Your evil will chastise you,
|
|
and your apostasy will reprove you.
|
|
Know and see that it is evil and bitter
|
|
for you to forsake the LORD your God;
|
|
the fear of me is not in you,
|
|
declares the Lord God of hosts.
|
|
|
|
20. "For long ago I broke your yoke
|
|
and burst your bonds;
|
|
but you said, 'I will not serve.'
|
|
Yes, on every high hill
|
|
|
|
and under every green tree
|
|
you bowed down like a whore.
|
|
|
|
21. Yet I planted you a choice vine,
|
|
wholly of pure seed.
|
|
How then have you turned degenerate
|
|
and become a wild vine?
|
|
|
|
22. Though you wash yourself with lye
|
|
and use much soap,
|
|
the stain of your guilt is still before me,
|
|
declares the Lord God.
|
|
|
|
23. How can you say, 'I am not unclean,
|
|
I have not gone after the Baals'?
|
|
Look at your way in the valley;
|
|
know what you have done--
|
|
a restless young camel running here and there,
|
|
|
|
24. a wild donkey used to the wilderness,
|
|
in her heat sniffing the wind!
|
|
Who can restrain her lust?
|
|
None who seek her need weary themselves;
|
|
in her month they will find her.
|
|
|
|
25. Keep your feet from going unshod
|
|
and your throat from thirst.
|
|
But you said, 'It is hopeless,
|
|
for I have loved foreigners,
|
|
and after them I will go.'
|
|
|
|
26. "As a thief is shamed when caught,
|
|
so the house of Israel shall be shamed:
|
|
they, their kings, their officials,
|
|
their priests, and their prophets,
|
|
|
|
27. who say to a tree, 'You are my father,'
|
|
and to a stone, 'You gave me birth.'
|
|
For they have turned their back to me,
|
|
and not their face.
|
|
But in the time of their trouble they say,
|
|
'Arise and save us!'
|
|
|
|
28. But where are your gods
|
|
that you made for yourself?
|
|
Let them arise, if they can save you,
|
|
in your time of trouble;
|
|
for as many as your cities
|
|
are your gods, O Judah.
|
|
|
|
29. "Why do you contend with me?
|
|
You have all transgressed against me,
|
|
declares the LORD.
|
|
|
|
30. In vain have I struck your children;
|
|
they took no correction;
|
|
your own sword devoured your prophets
|
|
like a ravening lion.
|
|
|
|
31. And you, O generation, behold the word of the LORD.
|
|
Have I been a wilderness to Israel,
|
|
or a land of thick darkness?
|
|
Why then do my people say, 'We are free,
|
|
we will come no more to you'?
|
|
|
|
32. Can a virgin forget her ornaments,
|
|
or a bride her attire?
|
|
Yet my people have forgotten me
|
|
days without number.
|
|
|
|
33. "How well you direct your course
|
|
to seek love!
|
|
So that even to wicked women
|
|
you have taught your ways.
|
|
|
|
34. Also on your skirts is found
|
|
the lifeblood of the guiltless poor;
|
|
you did not find them breaking in.
|
|
Yet in spite of all these things
|
|
|
|
|
|
35. you say, 'I am innocent;
|
|
surely his anger has turned from me.'
|
|
Behold, I will bring you to judgment
|
|
for saying, 'I have not sinned.'
|
|
|
|
36. How much you go about,
|
|
changing your way!
|
|
You shall be put to shame by Egypt
|
|
as you were put to shame by Assyria.
|
|
|
|
37. From it too you will come away
|
|
with your hands on your head,
|
|
for the LORD has rejected those in whom you trust,
|
|
and you will not prosper by them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|