Wages Of Apostasy

1 They say, If a man puts away his wife, and she goes from him and will be for another man, will he return to her again? Would not that land be greatly defiled? But you play the harlot with many lovers; yet come back to Me, says Jehovah.

1 God (a)says, “(A)If a husband divorces his wifeAnd she goes from himAnd belongs to another man,Will he still return to her?Will not that land be completely (b)polluted?But you (B)are a harlot with many (c)lovers;Yet you (C)turn to Me,” declares the Lord.

1 They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD.

1 If(a) a man divorces his wifeand she leaves him to marry another,can he ever return to her?(A)Wouldn’t such a land(b) become totally defiled?But you!You have played the prostitute with many partners(B)can you return to Me?(C)This is the Lord’s declaration.

1 "When a man divorces his wife, she leaves him and becomes another man's wife, will the first husband return to her again? The land would be deeply polluted, would it not? Since you have committed fornication with many lovers, would you now return to me?" declares the LORD.

2 Lift up your eyes to the high places, and see. Where have you not been lain with? By the highways you have sat for them, like the Arabian in the wilderness; and you have defiled the land with your fornications and with your wickedness.

2 “Lift up your eyes to the (D)bare heights and see;Where have you not been violated?By the roads you have (E)sat for themLike an Arab in the desert,And you have (F)polluted a landWith your harlotry and with your wickedness.

2 Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and see where thou hast not been lien with. In the ways hast thou sat for them, as the Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness.

2 Look to the barren heights(D) and see.Where have you not been immoral?You sat waiting for them beside the highways(E)like a nomad in the desert.You have defiled the landwith your prostitution and wickedness.(F)

2 "Look up to the barren heights and see. Is there any place where you have not been ravished? You have sat beside the road, waiting for them like a nomad in the desert. And you have polluted the land with your fornication and your wickedness.

3 Therefore the showers have been withheld, and there has been no latter rain; and you had a harlot's forehead, you refused to be ashamed.

3 “Therefore the (G)showers have been withheld,And there has been no spring rain.Yet you had a (H)harlot’s forehead;You refused to be ashamed.

3 Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed.

3 This is why the showers haven’t come(G)why there has been no spring rain.You have the brazen look(H) of a prostitute(c)and refuse to be ashamed.(I)

3 This is why the rain has been withheld and there are no spring showers. Yet you have a harlot's look and you refuse to be ashamed.

4 Will you not from this time cry to Me, My father, You are the guide of my youth?

4 “Have you not just now called to Me,(I)My Father, You are the (d)(J)friend of my (K)youth?

4 Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou art the guide of my youth?

4 Have you not lately called to Me, “My Father.(J)You were my friend in my youth.(K)

4 Have you not just called out to me, "My father, you are the friend of my youth

5 Will He keep His anger forever? Will He keep it to the end? Behold, you have spoken and done all the evil things you could do.

5 (L)Will He be angry forever?Will He (e)be indignant to the end?’Behold, you have spokenAnd have done evil things,And you have (f)had your way.”

5 Will he reserve his anger for ever? will he keep it to the end? Behold, thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest.

5 Will He bear a grudge forever?(L)Will He be endlessly infuriated?”This is what you have said,but you have done the evil thingsyou are capable of.

5 will he hold on to his anger forever, will he persist in his wrath to the end?' Look, you have spoken and done evil things, and you have succeeded in it."

Yahweh Gives Israel A Letter Of Divorce

6 Jehovah also said to me in the days of Josiah the king, Have you seen that which backsliding Israel has done? She has gone up on every high mountain and under every green tree, and has fornicated there.

6 Then the Lord said to me in the days of Josiah the king, “Have you seen what faithless Israel did? She (M)went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and she was a harlot there.

6 The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.

6 In the days of King Josiah the Lord asked me, “Have you seen what unfaithful Israel has done? She has ascended every high hill and gone under every green tree to prostitute herself there.(M)

6 In the time of King Josiah the LORD told me, "Have you seen what unfaithful Israel did? She went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and she committed fornication there.

7 And I said after she had done all these things, Turn to Me! But she did not return. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it.

7 (N)I (g)thought, ‘After she has done all these things she will return to Me’; but she did not return, and her (O)treacherous sister Judah saw it.

7 And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it.

7 I thought: After she has done all these things, she will return to Me.(N) But she didn’t return, and her treacherous sister Judah(O) saw it.

7 I thought, "After she has done all these things, she will return to me.' But she didn't return, and her treacherous sister Judah saw this.

8 And I saw, when for all the causes for which backsliding Israel committed adultery, I sent her away and gave a bill of divorce to her, yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but she went and whored, she also.

8 And I saw that for all the adulteries of faithless Israel, I had sent her away and (P)given her a writ of divorce, yet her (Q)treacherous sister Judah did not fear; but she went and was a harlot also.

8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.

8 I(d) observed that it was because unfaithful Israel had committed adultery that I had sent her away and had given her a certificate of divorce.(P) Nevertheless, her treacherous sister Judah was not afraid but also went and prostituted herself.(Q)

8 I saw that even though I had sent unfaithful Israel away for all her adulteries and had given her a divorce decree, her treacherous sister Judah didn't fear, and she, too, committed adultery.

9 And it happened, from the folly of her whoredom, she defiled the land and fornicated with stones and stocks.

9 Because of the lightness of her harlotry, she (R)polluted the land and committed adultery with (S)stones and trees.

9 And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.

9 Indifferent to(e) her prostitution, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stones(R) and trees.(S)

9 She took her fornication so lightly that she polluted the land and committed adultery with stones and trees.

10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah has not turned to Me with her whole heart, but with falsehood, says Jehovah.

10 Yet in spite of all this her treacherous sister Judah did not return to Me with all her heart, but rather in (T)deception,” declares the Lord.

10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.

10 Yet in spite of all this, her treacherous sister Judah didn’t return to Me with all her heart(T)—only in pretense.”This is the Lord’s declaration.

10 Yet in all this her treacherous sister Judah didn't return to me with her whole heart, but rather deceptively," declares the LORD.

A Call For Repentance

11 And Jehovah said to me, The backsliding Israel has justified herself more than treacherous Judah.

11 And the Lord said to me, “(U)Faithless Israel has proved herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.

11 And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.

11 The Lord announced to me, “Unfaithful Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.(U)

11 Then the LORD told me, "Unfaithful Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.

12 Go and cry these words toward the north, and say, Return, O backsliding Israel, says Jehovah; and I will not cause My anger to fall on you; for I am merciful, says Jehovah, and I will not keep anger forever.

12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north and say,(V)Return, faithless Israel,’ declares the Lord;(W)I will not (h)look upon you in anger.For I am (X)gracious,’ declares the Lord;‘I will not be angry forever.

12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.

12 Go, proclaim these words to the north, and say:Return, unfaithful Israel.(V)This is the Lord’s declaration.I will not look on you with anger,(f)for I am unfailing in My love.(W)This is the Lord’s declaration.I will not be angry forever.(X)

12 Go, proclaim these words to the north, and say, "Return, unfaithful Israel,' declares the LORD. "I won't look on you in anger, for I am gracious,' declares the LORD. "I won't remain angry forever.

13 Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have sinned against Jehovah your God and have scattered your ways to the strangers under every green tree, and you have not obeyed My voice, says Jehovah.

13 ‘Only (i)(Y)acknowledge your iniquity,That you have transgressed against the Lord your GodAnd have (Z)scattered your (j)favors to the strangers (AA)under every green tree,And you have not obeyed My voice,’ declares the Lord.

13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.

13 Only acknowledge your guilt(Y)you have rebelled against the Lord your God.(Z)You have scattered your favors to strangersunder every green tree(AA)and have not obeyed My voice.This is the Lord’s declaration.

13 "Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have rebelled against the LORD your God, and have scattered your favors to strangers under every green tree. But you haven't obeyed me,' declares the LORD.

14 Turn, O backsliding sons, says Jehovah; for I am married to you; and I will take you one from a city, and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.

14 ‘Return, O faithless sons,’ declares the Lord;‘For I am a (AB)master to you,And I will take you one from a city and two from a family,And (AC)I will bring you to Zion.’

14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:

14 “Return, you faithless children”(AB)—this is the Lord’s declaration—“for I am your master,(AC) and I will take you,(AD) one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.

14 "Return, unfaithful people," declares the LORD, "for I am your husband. I'll take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I'll bring you to Zion.

15 And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

15 “Then I will give you (AD)shepherds after My own heart, who will (AE)feed you on knowledge and understanding.

15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

15 I will give you shepherds who are loyal to Me,(g)(AE) and they will shepherd you with knowledge and skill.

15 I'll give you shepherds after my own heart, and they'll shepherd you with knowledge and good sense."

16 And it will be when you have multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, says Jehovah, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of Jehovah! Nor shall it come to mind; nor shall they remember it; nor shall they visit it; nor shall it be made any more.

16 It shall be in those days when you are multiplied and increased in the land,” declares the Lord, “they will (AF)no longer say, ‘The ark of the covenant of the Lord.’ And it will not come to mind, nor will they remember it, nor will they miss it, nor will it be made again.

16 And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the LORD: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more.

16 When you multiply and increase in the land,(AF) in those days”—the Lord’s declaration—“no one will say any longer, ‘The ark of the Lord’s covenant.’(AG) It will never come to mind, and no one will remember or miss it. It will never again be made.

16 "And in those days when you increase in numbers and multiply in the land," declares the LORD, "people will no longer say, "The Ark of the Covenant of the LORD,' and it won't come to mind, and they won't remember it or miss it, nor will it be made again.

17 At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of Jehovah; and all nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of Jehovah, to Jerusalem. Nor shall they walk any more after the stubbornness of their evil heart.

17 At that time they will call Jerusalem ‘The (AG)Throne of the Lord,’ and (AH)all the nations will be gathered to it, to Jerusalem, for the (AI)name of the Lord; nor will they (AJ)walk anymore after the stubbornness of their evil heart.

17 At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.

17 At that time Jerusalem will be called, Yahweh’s Throne,(AH) and all the nations will be gathered to it,(AI) to the name of Yahweh in Jerusalem.(AJ) They will cease to follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts.

17 At that time people will call Jerusalem, "The Throne of the LORD," and all the nations will be gathered to it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem. They'll no longer stubbornly follow their own evil desires.

18 In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance to your fathers.

18 (AK)In those days the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel, and they will come together (AL)from the land of the north to the (AM)land that I gave your fathers as an inheritance.

18 In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers.

18 In those days the house of Judah will join with the house of Israel,(AK) and they will come together from the land of the north to the land I have given your ancestors to inherit.”(AL)

18 In those days the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel, and together they'll come to the land that I gave your ancestors as an inheritance."

True Repentance

19 But I said, How shall I put you among the sons, and give you a pleasant land, a beautiful inheritance among the hosts of nations? And I said, You shall call Me, My Father, and shall not turn away from Me.

19 “Then I said,‘How I would set you among (k)My sonsAnd give you a pleasant land,The most (AN)beautiful inheritance of the nations!’And I said, ‘You shall call Me, (AO)My Father,And not turn away from following Me.’

19 But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.

19 I thought: How I long to make you My sonsand give you a desirable land,the most beautiful inheritance(AM) of all the nations.I thought: You will call Me, my Father,and never turn away from Me.

19 "I said, "How I wanted to treat you like children, and give you a pleasant land, the most beautiful inheritance of the nations.' I said, "You will call me, my father, and won't turn back from following me.'

20 Surely as a wife treacherously departs from her husband, so you have dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, says Jehovah.

20 “Surely, as a woman treacherously departs from her (l)lover,So you have (AP)dealt treacherously with Me,O house of Israel,” declares the Lord.

20 Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the LORD.

20 However, as a woman may betray her lover,(h)so you have betrayed(AN) Me, house of Israel.This is the Lord’s declaration.

20 Instead, like an unfaithful wife leaves her husband, so you have been unfaithful to me, house of Israel," declares the LORD.

21 A voice was heard on the high places weeping, cryings of the sons of Israel; for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten Jehovah their God.

21 A voice is heard on the (AQ)bare heights,The weeping and the supplications of the sons of Israel;Because they have perverted their way,They have (AR)forgotten the Lord their God.

21 A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten the LORD their God.

21 A sound is heard on the barren heights,the children of Israel weeping and begging for mercy,for they have perverted their way;they have forgotten the Lord their God.(AO)

21 "A voice is heard on the barren heights, the weeping and pleading of the children of Israel because they have perverted their way. They have forgotten the LORD their God."

22 Return, O backsliding sons, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come to You; for You are Jehovah our God.

22 “Return, O faithless sons,(AS)I will heal your faithlessness.”“Behold, we come to You;For You are the Lord our God.

22 Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our God.

22 Return, you faithless children.I will heal your unfaithfulness.(AP)“Here we are, coming to You,for You are the Lord our God.

22 "Turn back, unfaithful people, and I'll heal your unfaithfulness." "Look, we're coming to you because you are the LORD our God.

23 Truly, for delusion comes from the high hills, tumult on the mountains. Truly, in Jehovah our God is the salvation of Israel.

23 “Surely, (AT)the hills are a deception,A tumult on the mountains.Surely in the (AU)Lord our GodIs the salvation of Israel.

23 Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.

23 Surely, falsehood comes from the hills,commotion from the mountains,(AQ)but the salvation of Israelis only in the Lord our God.(AR)

23 Truly the hills are a deception, and the mountains are confusion. Truly, in the LORD our God is Israel's salvation."

24 For shame has eaten up the labor of our fathers from our youth, their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.

24 “But (AV)the shameful thing has consumed the labor of our fathers since our youth, their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.

24 For shame hath devoured the labour of our fathers from our youth; their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.

24 From the time of our youththe shameful one(i) has consumedwhat our fathers have worked for—their flocks and their herds,their sons and their daughters.

24 Since our youth the false gods have consumed the products of our ancestors' hard work, their sheep and their cattle, their sons and their daughters.

25 We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covers us; for we have sinned against Jehovah our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even to this day, and have not obeyed the voice of Jehovah our God.

25 Let us lie down in our (AW)shame, and let our humiliation cover us; for we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers, (AX)from our youth even to this day. And we have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.”

25 We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.

25 Let us lie down in our shame;let our disgrace cover us.(AS)We have sinned against the Lord our God,(AT)both we and our fathers,from the time of our youth even to this day.(AU)We have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.”

25 "Let us lie down in our shame, and let our humiliation cover us, because both we and our ancestors have sinned against the LORD our God from our youth until this present time. We haven't obeyed the LORD our God."

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