1. And the word of יהוה came to me, saying,
2. “Go, and you shall cry in the hearing of Yerushalayim, saying, ‘Thus said יהוה, “I remember you, the kindness of your youth, the love of your bridehood, when you went after Me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
3. “Yisra’ĕl was set-apart to יהוה, the first-fruits of His increase. All who ate of it became guilty – evil came upon them,” declares יהוה.’ ”
4. Hear the word of יהוה, O house of Ya‛aqoḇ and all the clans of the house of Yisra’ĕl.
5. Thus said יהוה, “What unrighteousness have your fathers found in Me, that they have gone far from Me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?
6. “And did not they say, ‘Where is יהוה, who brought us up out of the land of Mitsrayim, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and pits, through a land of drought and the shadow of death, a land that no one passed through and where no one dwelt?’
7. “Then I brought you into a garden land, to eat its fruit and its goodness. But when you entered, you defiled My land and made My inheritance an abomination.
8. “The priests did not say, ‘Where is יהוה?’ And those who handle the Torah did not know Me, and the shepherds transgressed against Me, and the prophets prophesied by Ba‛al, and walked after matters that did not profit.
9. “Therefore I still contend with you,” declares יהוה, “and with your children’s children I contend.
10. “For, pass beyond the isles of Kittim and see, and send to Qĕḏar and observe well, and see if there has been any like this.
11. “Has a nation changed its mighty ones, which are not mighty ones? But My people have changed My esteem for that which does not profit.
12. “Be amazed, O heavens, at this, and be frightened, be utterly dried up,” declares יהוה.