And the wordוַ דְבַרof YHWHיְהוָהcameיְהִיto me,אֵלַיsaying,לֵאמֹר
“Goהָלֹךְand proclaimוְקָרָאתָin the earsבְאָזְנֵיof Jerusalem,יְרוּשָׁלִַםsaying,לֵאמֹר‘ThusכֹּהsaysאָמַרYHWH:יְהוָהI remember for youזָכַרְתִּי לָךְthe loyal loveחֶסֶדof your youth,נְעוּרַיִךְthe loveאַהֲבַתof your betrothal,כְּלוּלֹתָיִךְwhen you walkedלֶכְתֵּךְafter meאַחֲרַיin the wilderness,בַּמִּדְבָּרin a landבְּאֶרֶץnotלֹאsown.זְרוּעָה
Israel wasיִשְׂרָאֵלholinessקֹדֶשׁto YHWH,לַיהוָהthe firstfruitsרֵאשִׁיתof his harvest;תְּבוּאָתֹהallכָּלwho devoured itאֹכְלָיוincurred guilt;יֶאְשָׁמוּevilרָעָהcameתָּבֹאupon them,אֲלֵיהֶםdeclaresנְאֻםYHWH.’”יְהוָה
Hearשִׁמְעוּthe wordדְבַרof YHWH,יְהוָהhouseבֵּיתof Jacob,יַעֲקֹבand allוְכָלthe clansמִשְׁפְּחוֹתof the houseבֵּיתof Israel.יִשְׂרָאֵל
ThusכֹּהsaysאָמַרYHWH:יְהוָה“Whatמַהinjusticeעָוֶלdid your fathersאֲבוֹתֵיכֶםfindמָּצְאוּin me,בִּיthatכִּיthey went farרָחֲקוּfrom meמֵעָלָיand walkedוַיֵּלְכוּafterאַחֲרֵיvaporהַהֶבֶלand became vapor?וַיֶּהְבָּלוּ
And they did notוְלֹאsay,אָמְרוּ‘Where isאַיֵּהYHWH,יְהוָהwho brought us upהַמַּעֲלֶה אֹתָנוּfrom the landמֵאֶרֶץof Egypt,מִצְרָיִםwho led usהַמּוֹלִיךְ אֹתָנוּthrough the wilderness,בַּמִּדְבָּרthrough a landבְּאֶרֶץof steppeעֲרָבָהand pits,וְשׁוּחָהthrough a landבְּאֶרֶץof droughtצִיָּהand the shadow of death,וְצַלְמָוֶתthrough a landבְּאֶרֶץthrough which noלֹא בָּהּmanאִישׁpassedעָבַרand where noוְלֹא שָׁםhuman beingאָדָםlived?’יָשַׁב
And I brought youוָאָבִיא אֶתְכֶםinto a landאֶל אֶרֶץof orchardsהַכַּרְמֶלto eatלֶאֱכֹלits fruitפִּרְיָהּand its good things;וְטוּבָהּbut you came inוַתָּבֹאוּand defiledוַתְּטַמְּאוּmy land,אֶת אַרְצִיand my inheritanceוְנַחֲלָתִיyou madeשַׂמְתֶּםan abomination.לְתוֹעֵבָה
The priestsהַכֹּהֲנִיםdid notלֹאsay,אָמְרוּ‘Where isאַיֵּהYHWH?’יְהוָהAnd those who handleוְתֹפְשֵׂיthe instructionהַתּוֹרָהdid notלֹאknow me,יְדָעוּנִיand the shepherdsוְהָרֹעִיםtransgressedפָּשְׁעוּagainst me,בִיand the prophetsוְהַנְּבִיאִיםprophesiedנִבְּאוּby Baalבַבַּעַלand walkedהָלָכוּafterוְאַחֲרֵיwhat does notלֹאprofit.יוֹעִלוּ
ThereforeלָכֵןI will stillעֹדcontendאָרִיבwith you,אִתְּכֶםdeclaresנְאֻםYHWH,יְהוָהand with the childrenוְאֶת בְּנֵיof your childrenבְנֵיכֶםI will contend.אָרִיב
Forכִּיcross overעִבְרוּto the coastsאִיֵּיof Kittimכִתִּיִּיםand see,וּרְאוּand sendוְ שִׁלְחוּto Kedarקֵדָרand considerוְהִתְבּוֹנְנוּcarefully,מְאֹדand seeוּרְאוּwhetherהֵןthere has beenהָיְתָהanything like this.כָּזֹאת
Has a nationהַ גּוֹיchangedהֵימִירgods,אֱלֹהִיםeven though theyוְהֵמָּהare notלֹאgods?אֱלֹהִיםBut my peopleוְעַמִּיhas changedהֵמִירits gloryכְּבוֹדוֹfor what does notבְּלוֹאprofit.יוֹעִיל
Be appalled,שֹׁמּוּheavens,שָׁמַיִםat this,עַל זֹאתand shudder,וְשַׂעֲרוּbe utterly desolate,חָרְבוּ מְאֹדdeclaresנְאֻםYHWH.יְהוָה
Forכִּיtwoשְׁתַּיִםevilsרָעוֹתmy peopleעַמִּיhas done:עָשָׂהthey have forsakenעָזְבוּme,אֹתִיthe fountainמְקוֹרof livingחַיִּיםwaters,מַיִםto hew outלַחְצֹבfor themselvesלָהֶםcisterns,בֹּארוֹתbrokenנִשְׁבָּרִיםcisternsבֹּארֹתthatאֲשֶׁרcannotלֹא יָכִלוּhold the water.הַמָּיִם
IsהַIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלa slave?עֶבֶדOrאִםis heהוּאborn in the house?יְלִיד בַּיִתWhyמַדּוּעַhas he becomeהָיָהplunder?לָבַז
Against himעָלָיוyoung lionsכְפִרִיםroar,יִשְׁאֲגוּthey have raisedנָתְנוּtheir voice,קוֹלָםand they have madeוַיָּשִׁיתוּhis landאַרְצוֹa horror;לְשַׁמָּהhis citiesעָרָיוare burned,נִצְּתוּwithoutמִבְּלִיinhabitant.יֹשֵׁב
Alsoגַּםthe sonsבְּנֵיof Memphisנֹףand Tahpanhesוְתַחְפַּנְחֵסwill shaveיִרְעוּthe crown of your head.ךְ קָדְקֹד
Has notהֲלוֹאthisזֹאתbeen done to youתַּעֲשֶׂה לָּךְby your forsakingעָזְבֵךְYHWHאֶת יְהוָהyour Elohimאֱלֹהַיִךְat the timeבְּעֵתwhen he led youמוֹלִיכֵךְon the way?בַּדָּרֶךְ
And now,וְעַתָּהwhat is it to youמַה לָּךְon the wayלְדֶרֶךְto Egypt,מִצְרַיִםto drinkלִשְׁתּוֹתthe watersמֵיof Shihor?שִׁחוֹרAnd what is it to youוּמַה לָּךְon the wayלְדֶרֶךְto Assyria,אַשּׁוּרto drinkלִשְׁתּוֹתthe watersמֵיof the River?נָהָר
Your evilרָעָתֵךְwill discipline you,תְּיַסְּרֵךְand your apostasiesוּמְשֻׁבוֹתַיִךְwill rebuke you;תּוֹכִחֻךְknowוּדְעִיand seeוּרְאִיthatכִּיit is evilרַעand bitterוָמָרfor you to forsakeעָזְבֵךְYHWHאֶת יְהוָהyour Elohim,אֱלֹהָיִךְand that the dread of meוְ פַחְדָּתִיis notלֹאin you,אֵלַיִךְdeclaresנְאֻםAdonaiאֲדֹנָיYHWHיְהוִהTsevaot.צְבָאוֹת
Forכִּיlong agoמֵעוֹלָםyou brokeשָׁבַרְתִּיyour yoke,עֻלֵּךְyou tore offנִתַּקְתִּיyour bonds,מוֹסְרֹתַיִךְand you said,וַתֹּאמְרִי‘I will notלֹאserve!’אֶעֱבוֹרForכִּיon everyעַל כָּלhighגְּבֹהָהhillגִּבְעָהand underוְתַחַתeveryכָּלleafyרַעֲנָןtreeעֵץyouאַתְּlay down,צֹעָהa prostitute.זֹנָה
And Iוְאָנֹכִיplanted youנְטַעְתִּיךְa choice vine,שֹׂרֵקall of itכֻּלֹּהtrueאֱמֶתseed;זֶרַעand howוְאֵיךְhave you turnedנֶהְפַּכְתְּfor meלִיinto degenerate shootsסוּרֵיof a foreignנָכְרִיָּהvine?הַגֶּפֶן
Even ifכִּי אִםyou wash yourselfתְּכַבְּסִיwith sodaבַּנֶּתֶרand use muchוְתַרְבִּי לָךְlye,בֹּרִיתyour iniquityעֲוֺנֵךְis stainedנִכְתָּםbefore me,לְפָנַיdeclaresנְאֻםAdonaiאֲדֹנָיYHWH.יְהוִה
Howאֵיךְcan you say,תֹּאמְרִי‘I have notלֹאdefiled myself;נִטְמֵאתִיafterאַחֲרֵיthe BaalsהַבְּעָלִיםI have notלֹאgone’?הָלַכְתִּיLook atרְאִיyour wayדַרְכֵּךְin the valley;בַּגַּיְאknowדְּעִיwhatמֶהyou have done,עָשִׂיתa young camel,בִּכְרָהswift,קַלָּהentanglingמְשָׂרֶכֶתher ways,דְּרָכֶיהָ
a wild donkeyפֶּרֶהusedלִמֻּדto the wilderness,מִדְבָּרin the cravingבְּאַוַּתof her soulנַפְשָׁהּsniffingשָׁאֲפָהthe wind;רוּחַher heat,תַּאֲנָתָהּwhoמִיcan turn it back?יְשִׁיבֶנָּהAllכָּלwho seek herמְבַקְשֶׁיהָwill notלֹאtire themselves;יִיעָפוּin her monthבְּחָדְשָׁהּthey will find her.יִמְצָאוּנְהָ
Keepמִנְעִיyour footרַגְלֵךְfromמִgoing barefootיָּחֵףand your throatוּגְרוֹנֵךְfrom thirst.מִצִּמְאָהBut you said,וַתֹּאמְרִי‘It is hopeless!נוֹאָשׁNo,לוֹאforכִּיI loveאָהַבְתִּיstrangers,זָרִיםand after themוְאַחֲרֵיהֶםI will go.’אֵלֵךְ
As the shameכְּבֹשֶׁתof a thiefגַּנָּבwhenכִּיhe is found,יִמָּצֵאsoכֵּןthe houseבֵּיתof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלis put to shame,הֹבִישׁוּthey,הֵמָּהtheir kings,מַלְכֵיהֶםtheir princes,שָׂרֵיהֶםand their priestsוְכֹהֲנֵיהֶםand their prophets,וּנְבִיאֵיהֶם
who sayאֹמְרִיםto wood,לָעֵץ‘You areאַתָּהmy father,’אָבִיand to stone,וְלָאֶבֶן‘Youאַתְּgave birth to me.’יְלִדְתָּנוּForכִּיthey have turnedפָנוּto meאֵלַיthe backעֹרֶףand notוְלֹאthe face;פָנִיםbut in the timeוּבְעֵתof their troubleרָעָתָםthey say,יֹאמְרוּ‘Ariseקוּמָהand save us!’וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ
But where areוְאַיֵּהyour godsאֱלֹהֶיךָthatאֲשֶׁרyou madeעָשִׂיתָfor yourself?לָּךְLet them arise,יָקוּמוּifאִםthey can save youיוֹשִׁיעוּךָin the timeבְּעֵתof your trouble;רָעָתֶךָforכִּיas many asמִסְפַּרyour citiesעָרֶיךָareהָיוּyour gods,אֱלֹהֶיךָJudah.יְהוּדָה
Whyלָמָּהdo you contendתָרִיבוּwith me?אֵלָיAll of youכֻּלְּכֶםhave transgressedפְּשַׁעְתֶּםagainst me,בִּיdeclaresנְאֻםYHWH.יְהוָה
In vainלַשָּׁוְאI struckהִכֵּיתִיyour children;אֶת בְּנֵיכֶםcorrectionמוּסָרthey did notלֹאaccept;לָקָחוּyour swordחַרְבְּכֶםdevouredאָכְלָהyour prophetsנְבִיאֵיכֶםlike a destroyingמַשְׁחִיתlion.כְּאַרְיֵה
You, generation,הַדּוֹר אַתֶּםseeרְאוּthe wordדְבַרof YHWH!יְהוָהHave I beenהֲ הָיִיתִיa wildernessמִדְבָּרto Israel,לְיִשְׂרָאֵלorאִםa landאֶרֶץof deep darkness?מַאְפֵּלְיָהWhyמַדּוּעַdo my peopleעַמִּיsay,אָמְרוּ‘We roam free;רַדְנוּwe will notלוֹאcomeנָבוֹאto youאֵלֶיךָanymore’?עוֹד
Does a virginבְּתוּלָהforgetהֲתִשְׁכַּחher ornaments,עֶדְיָהּa brideכַּלָּהher sashes?קִשֻּׁרֶיהָYet my peopleוְעַמִּיhave forgotten meשְׁכֵחוּנִיdaysיָמִיםwithoutאֵיןnumber.מִסְפָּר
Howמַהwell you directתֵּיטִבִיyour wayדַּרְכֵּךְto seekלְבַקֵּשׁlove!אַהֲבָהThereforeלָכֵןevenגַּםthe evil womenאֶת הָרָעוֹתyou have taughtלִמַּדְתְּyour ways.אֶת דְּרָכָיִךְ
Alsoגַּםon your skirtsבִּכְנָפַיִךְis foundנִמְצְאוּthe bloodדַּםof the soulsנַפְשׁוֹתof the innocentנְקִיִּיםneedy;אֶבְיוֹנִיםnotלֹאbreaking inבַמַּחְתֶּרֶתdid I find them,מְצָאתִיםbutכִּיon allעַל כָּלthese.אֵלֶּה
And you say,וַתֹּאמְרִי‘I am innocent;כִּי נִקֵּיתִיsurelyאַךְhis angerאַפּוֹhas turnedשָׁבfrom me.’מִמֶּנִּיLook, Iהִנְנִיwill enter into judgmentנִשְׁפָּטwith youאוֹתָךְbecauseעַלyou say,אָמְרֵךְ‘I have notלֹאsinned.’חָטָאתִי
Whyמַהdo you go about so lightlyתֵּזְלִי מְאֹדchangingלְשַׁנּוֹתyour way?אֶת דַּרְכֵּךְAlsoגַּםby Egyptמִמִּצְרַיִםyou will be put to shame,תֵּבוֹשִׁיasכַּאֲשֶׁרyou were put to shameבֹּשְׁתְּby Assyria.מֵאַשּׁוּר
From thereמֵאֵת זֶהalsoגַּםyou will go outתֵּצְאִיwith your handsוְיָדַיִךְon your head;עַל רֹאשֵׁךְforכִּיYHWHיְהֹוָהhas rejectedמָאַסthose you trust,בְּמִבְטַחַיִךְand you will notוְלֹאprosperתַצְלִיחִיwith them.לָהֶם