2:1 Ve hayah Dvar YHWH (יהוה) came to Me, saying:
2:2 Halak (Go) ve kara (proclaim) in the hearing of YeruShalayim, saying:
"Thus saith YHWH (יהוה); I remember (zakar) thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine kelulah (betrothals; כלולתיך), when thou wentest after Me in the wilderness, in a land [that was] not sown.
2:3 Yisrael [was] set apartness unto YHWH (יהוה), [and] the firstfruits of His harvest: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them,"
declares YHWH (יהוה).
2:4 Shimu (hear,שׁמעו) Dvar YHWH (יהוה):
"Beit Ya'akov, ve kol (all) mishpekhot (families) beit Yisrael:
2:5 Kol amar YHWH (יהוה):
"What iniquity have avoteichem found in Me, that they are gone far from Me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?"
2:6 They did not say: "Where [is] YHWH (יהוה) that brought us up out of the eretz Mitzrayim, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?"
2:7 And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled My land, and made mine heritage an abomination.
2:8 The Kohanim said not, Where [is] YHWH (יהוה)? and they that handle the Torah knew Me not: the rulers (ro'im) also transgressed against Me, and the Nevi'im prophesied by ba'al, and walked after [things that] do not profit.
2:9 Wherefore I will yet plead with you, neum (declares) YHWH (יהוה), and with your children's children will I plead.
2:10 For pass over the coastlands of Kittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.
2:11 Hath a nation changed [their] gods, which [are] yet no gods? but My people have changed their glory for [that which] doth not profit.
2:12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, declares YHWH (יהוה).
2:13 For My people have committed two evils:
"they have forsaken Me the fountain of living waters, [and]
hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. "
2:14 [Is] Yisrael an eved? [is] he a homeborn [slave]? why is he spoiled?
2:15 The young lions roared upon him, [and] yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.
2:16 Also benai Memphis and Tahapanhes have broken the crown of thy head.
2:17 "Have thou not done this to thyself? By thee forsaking YHWH (יהוה) Eloheicha When He led you in the derek?
2:18 And now what hast thou to do in the derek of Mitzrayim, to drink the waters of Shihor? or what hast thou to do in the derek of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?
2:19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy meshuvot (backslidings) shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that [it is] an evil [thing] and bitter, that thou hast forsaken YHWH (יהוה) Eloheicha, and that My fear [is] not in thee, neum (declares) Adonay YHWH (יהוה) Tzva'ot.
2:20 For of old time I have broken thy yoke, [and] burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.
2:21 Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?
2:22 For though thou wash thee with carbonate of soda , and take thee much borit (soap), [yet] thine iniquity is marked before Me, declares Adonay YHWH (יהוה).
2:23 How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after ba'alim? see thy derek in the valley, know what thou hast done: [thou art] a swift dromedary traversing her darkhei (ways);
2:24 A wild ass used to the wilderness, [that] snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.
2:25 Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, It is yaash (hopeless): no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.
2:26 As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is beit Yisrael ashamed; they, their melachim, their sarim (princes), and their Kohanim, and their Nevi'im,
2:27 Saying to a stock, Thou [art] my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought Me forth: for they have turned [their] back unto Me, and not [their] face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.
2:28 But where [are] thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for [according to] the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Yehudah.
2:29 Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against Me, saith YHWH (יהוה).
2:30 In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your Nevi'im, like a destroying lion.
2:31 O generation, heed ye Dvar YHWH (יהוה). Have I been a midbar unto Yisrael? a land of darkness? wherefore say My people, We are free; we will come no more unto Thee?
2:32 Can a Betulah forget her ornaments, [or] a Kallah (bride) her adornment? yet My people have forgotten Me days without number.
2:33 Why trimmest thou thy derek to seek love! Therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy darkhei (ways).
2:34 Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.
2:35 Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from Me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.
2:36 Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy derek? thou also shalt be ashamed of Mitzrayim, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.
2:37 Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head: for YHWH (יהוה) hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them.