1. Again the word of Adonai came to me, saying:
2. “Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, thus says Adonai: I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, and the way you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.
3. Israel was kadosh to Adonai, the firstfruits of the harvest. All who devoured him were held guilty. Catastrophe overtook them.” It is a declaration of Adonai.
4. Hear the word of Adonai, O house of Jacob and all the families of the house of Israel.
5. Thus says Adonai: “What fault did your fathers find in Me that they strayed so far from Me? They walked after worthless things, becoming worthless themselves?
6. They did not ask ‘Where is Adonai, who brought us up from the land of Egypt and led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and rifts, through a land of drought and distress, through a land where no one travels, where no one lives?’
7. Yet I brought you into a fertile land, to eat of its fruit and goodness. When you came, you defiled My land. You made My heritage an abomination.
8. The kohanim did not ask, ‘Where is Adonai?’ The Torah experts did not know Me. The shepherds rebelled against Me. The prophets prophesied by Baal and went after unprofitable things.
9. Therefore I will plead with you again!” It is a declaration of Adonai. “I will contend with your children’s children.
10. Cross to the coasts of Kittim and see! Send to Kedar, and observe carefully. See if there has been anything like this.
11. Has a nation changed its gods— even though they are not gods? Yet My people have exchanged their glory for worthless things.
12. Be appalled at this, O heavens! Be utterly horrified and dumbfounded.” It is a declaration of Adonai.
13. “My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me —the spring of living water— and they dug their own cisterns— cracked cisterns that hold no water.
14. Is Israel a servant—a slave by birth? Then why has he become plunder?
15. Young lions have roared at him they have roared loudly. They made his land a waste— his cities are in ruins and uninhabited.
16. Even the sons of Noph and Tahpanhes have grazed on the crown of your head.
17. Have you not brought this on yourself, when He led you in the way?
18. But now, what is on the road to Egypt? Drinking the waters of the Nile? Or what is on the road to Assyria? Drinking the waters of the Euphrates?
19. Your own wickedness will rebuke you and your backslidings will chide you. Know then and see how bad and bitter it is for you to forsake Adonai your God. Nor is fear of Me in you.” It is a declaration of the Lord Adonai-Tzva’ot.