Wages Of Apostasy

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.

1 That is to say, “If a man divorces his wifeAnd she goes [away] from himAnd becomes another man’s [wife],Will he return to her again? [Of course not!]Will not that land [where such a thing happened] be completely desecrated?But you [rebelled against Me and you] are a prostitute with many lovers;Yet you turn to Me.” says the Lord.

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.

2 “Lift up your eyes to the barren heights and see;Where have you not been violated?You sat by the road waiting [eagerly] for them [those man-made gods]Like an Arab [tribesman who waits to attack] in the desert,And you have desecrated the landWith your [vile] prostitution and your wickedness (disobedience to God).

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.

3 “Therefore the showers have been withheld,And there has been no spring rain.Yet you have the forehead (appearance) of a prostitute;You refuse to be ashamed.

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

4 “Will you not just now call out to Me,‘My Father, you were the guide and companion of my youth?

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."

5 ‘Will He be angry forever?Will He be indignant to the end?’Behold, you have spoken,And you have done all the evil things [you could],And you have had your way and have carried out your wickedness.”

Yahweh Gives Israel A Letter Of Divorce

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.

6 Moreover, the Lord said to me in the days of Josiah the king [of Judah], “Have you seen what that faithless Israel has done—how she went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and there she was a prostitute?

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.

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

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.

8 And I saw [that even though Judah knew] that for all the acts of adultery (idolatry) of faithless Israel, I [the Lord] had (a)sent her away and given her a certificate of divorce, yet her treacherous sister (b)Judah was not afraid; but she went and was a prostitute also [following after idols].

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.

9 Because of the thoughtlessness of Israel’s prostitution [her immorality mattered little to her], she desecrated the land and committed adultery with [idols of] stones and trees.

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.

10 Yet in spite of all this her treacherous sister Judah did not return to Me with her whole heart, but rather in [blatant] deception [she merely pretended obedience to King Josiah’s reforms],” declares the Lord.(A)

A Call For Repentance

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.

11 And the Lord said to me, “Faithless Israel has proved herself less guilty than treacherous Judah [a land of renegades].

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.

12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north [where the ten tribes have been taken as captives] and say,‘Return, faithless Israel,’ says the Lord;‘I will not (c)look on you in anger.For I am gracious and merciful,’ says the Lord;‘I will not be angry forever.

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.

13 ‘Only understand fully and acknowledge your wickedness and guilt,That you have rebelled (transgressed) against the Lord your GodAnd have scattered your favors among strangers under every green tree,And you have not obeyed My voice,’ says the Lord.

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.

14 ‘Return, O faithless children [of the twelve tribes],’ says the Lord,‘For I am a master and husband to you,And I will take you [not as a nation, but individually]—one from a city and two from a [tribal] family—And I will bring you to Zion.’(B)

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."

15 “Then [in the final time] I will give you [spiritual] shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and [true] understanding.

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.

16 It will be in those days when you have [repented and] multiplied and increased in the land,” says the Lord, “they will no longer say, ‘The ark of the covenant of the Lord.’ It will not come to mind, nor will they [seriously] remember it, nor will they miss it, nor will it be made again [for instead of the ark, which symbolized My presence, I will be present].(C)

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.

17 At that time they will call Jerusalem ‘The Throne of the Lord,’ and all the nations will be gathered to it, to Jerusalem, for the name (renown) of the Lord; and they will not walk anymore after the stubbornness of their [own] evil heart.

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."

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

True Repentance

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.'

19 “Then I said,‘How [gloriously and honorably] I would set you among My childrenAnd give you a pleasant land—a wonderful heritage,The most beautiful inheritance of the nations!’And I said, ‘You shall call Me, My FatherAnd not turn away from following Me.’

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.

20 “Surely, as a wife treacherously (unfaithfully) leaves her husband,So you have dealt treacherously with Me,O house of Israel,” says the Lord.

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."

21 A voice is heard on the barren heights,The weeping and pleading of the children of Israel,Because they have lost their way,They have [deliberately] forgotten the Lord their 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.

22 “Return, O faithless sons,” [says the Lord],“I will heal your unfaithfulness.”[They answer] “Behold, we come to You,For You are the Lord our God.

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."

23 “Truly, [the hope of salvation from] the hill [where idols are worshiped] is a deception,A tumult and noisy multitude on the mountains;Truly in the Lord our GodIs the salvation of Israel.

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.

24 “But the shameful act [of idolatry] has consumed the labor of our fathers since our youth—their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.

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."

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

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