The Defiled Land

God [a]says, “(A)If a husband divorces his wife
And she leaves him
And becomes another man’s wife,
Will he return to her again?
Would that land not be completely defiled?
But you (B)are a prostitute with many [b]lovers;
Yet you (C)turn to Me,” declares the Lord.
“Raise your eyes to the (D)bare heights and see;
Where have you not been violated?
You have (E)sat for them by the roads
Like an Arab in the desert,
And you have (F)defiled a land
With your prostitution and your wickedness.
Therefore the (G)showers have been withheld,
And there has been no spring rain.
Yet you had a (H)prostitute’s [c]forehead;
You refused to be ashamed.
Have you not just now called to Me,
(I)My Father, You are the (J)friend of my (K)youth?
(L)Will He be angry forever,
Or keep His anger to the end?’
Behold, you have spoken
And have done evil things,
And you have [d]had your own way.”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 3:1 Lit saying
  2. Jeremiah 3:1 Lit companions
  3. Jeremiah 3:3 I.e., calloused appearance
  4. Jeremiah 3:5 Lit been able

Unfaithful Israel

If[a] a man divorces his wife
    and she goes from him
and becomes another man’s wife,
    will he return to her?
Would not such a land be greatly polluted?
You have prostituted yourself with many lovers,
    and would you return to me?
            says the Lord.(A)
Look up to the bare heights[b] and see!
    Where have you not been lain with?
By the waysides you sat waiting for lovers,
    like a nomad in the wilderness.
You have polluted the land
    with your prostitutions and wickedness.(B)
Therefore the showers have been withheld,
    and the spring rain has not come,
yet you have the forehead of a prostitute;
    you refuse to be ashamed.(C)
Have you not just now called to me,
    “My Father, you are the friend of my youth—(D)
will he be angry forever,
    will he be indignant to the end?”
This is how you have spoken,
    but you have done all the evil that you could.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. 3.1 Gk Syr: Heb Saying, If
  2. 3.2 Or the trails