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Chapter 2
1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
2 Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying: Thus said the Lord: I have remembered you, pitying your soul, pitying your youth, and the love of your espousals, when you followed me in the desert, in a land that is not sown.
3 Israel is holy to the Lord, the first fruits of his increase: all they that devour him offend: evils shall come upon them, said the Lord.
4 Hear ye the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all ye families of the house of Israel.
5 Thus said the Lord: What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
6 And they have not said: Where is the Lord, that made us come up out of the land of Egypt? that led us through the desert, through a land uninhabited and unpassable, through a land of drought, and the image of death, through a land wherein no man walked, nor any man dwelt?
7 And I brought you into the land of Carmel, to eat the fruit thereof, and the best things thereof: ad when ye entered in, you defiled my land, and made my inheritance an abomination.
8 The priests did not say: Where is the Lord? and they that held the law knew me not, and the pastors transgressed against me: and the prophets prophesied in Baal, and followed idols.
9 Therefore will I yet contend in judgement with you, said the Lord, and I will plead with your children.
10 Pass over to the isles of Cethim, and see: and send into Cedar, and consider diligently: and see if there has been done any thing like this.
11 If a nation has changed their gods, and indeed they are not gods,: but my people have changed their glory into an idol.
12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and ye gates thereof, be very desolate, said the Lord.
13 For my people have done two evils. They have forsaken me, the fountain of living water, and have digged to themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
14 Is Israel a bondman, or a homeborn slave? why then is he become prey?
15 The lions have roared upon him, and have made a noise, they have made his land a wilderness: his cities are burnt down and there is none to dwell in them.
16 The children also of Memphis, and of Taphnes have deflowered you, even to the crown of the head.
17 has not this been done to you, because you have forsaken the Lord your God at that time, when he led you by the way?
18 And now what have you to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the troubled water? And what have you to do with the way of the Assyrians, to drink the water of the river?
19 your own wickedness shall reprove you, and your apostasy shall rebuke you. Know you, and see that it is an evil and a bitter thing for you, to have left the Lord your God, and that my fear is not with you, said the Lord the God of hosts.
20 Of old time you have broken my yoke, you have burst my bands, and you said: I will not serve. For on every high hill, and under every green tree you did prostitute yourself.
21 Yet I planted you a chosen vineyard, all true seed: how then are you turned unto me into that which is good for nothing, O strange vineyard?
22 Though you wash yourself with nitre, and multiply to yourself the herb borith, you are stained in your iniquity before me, said the Lord God.
23 How can you say: I am not polluted, and I have not walked after Baalim? see your ways in the valley, know what you have done: as a swift runner pursuing his course.
24 A wild ass accustomed to the wilderness in the desire of his heart, snuffed up the wind of his love: none shall turn her away: all that seek her shall not fail: in her monthly filth they shall find her.
25 Keep your foot from being bare, and your throat from thirst. But you said: I have lost all hope, I will not do it: for I have loved strangers, and I will walk after them.
26 As the thief is confounded when he is taken, so is the house of Israel confounded, they and their kings, their princes and their priests, and their prophets.
27 Saying to a stock: you are my father: and to a stone: you have begotten me: they have turned their back to me, and not their face: and in the time of their affliction they will say: Arise, and deliver us.
28 Where are the gods, whom you have made you? let them arise and deliver you in the time of your affliction: for according to the number of your cities were your gods, O Juda.
29 Why will you contend with me in judgement? you have all forsaken me, said the Lord.
30 In vain have I struck your children, they have not received correction: your sword has devoured your prophets, your generation is like a ravaging lion.
31 See ye the word of the Lord: Am I become a wilderness to Israel, or a lateward springing land? why then have my people said: We are revolted, we will come to you no more.
32 Will a virgin forget her ornament, or a bride her stomacher? but my people has forgotten me days without number.
33 Why do you endeavor to shew your way good to seek my love, you who has also taught your malices to be your ways,
34 And in your skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor and innocent? not in ditches have I found them, but in all places, which I mentioned before.
35 And you have said: I am without sin and am innocent: and therefore let your anger be turned away from me. Behold, I will contend with you in judgement, because you have said: I have not sinned.
36 How exceeding base are you become, going the same ways over again! and you shall be ashamed of Egypt, as you were ashamed of Assyria.
37 For from thence you shall go, and your hand shall be upon your head: for the Lord has destroyed your trust, and you shall have nothing prosperous therein.