10 Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:

11 That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the "abundance of her glory. 12 For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.

13 As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

14 And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies. 15 For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. 16 For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.

17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.

18 For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.

19 And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.

20 And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.

21 And I will also take of them for * priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.

22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. 23 And it shall come to pass, that + from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.

10

R.V.

1 Or, then

shall

Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with 11 her, all ye that mourn over her: that ye may suck and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. 12 For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream, and ye shall suck thereof; ye shall be borne upon the 13 side, and shall be dandled upon the knees. As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in 14 Jerusalem. And ye shall see it, and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like the tender grass: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and he will have indignation against 15 his enemies. For, behold, the LORD will come 2 with fire, and his chariots shall be like the 2 Or, in whirlwind; to render his anger with fury, and 16 his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire

will the LORD plead, and by his sword, with all flesh and the slain of the LORD shall be 17 many. They that sanctify themselves and purify themselves to go unto the gardens, 4 behind 5 one in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse; they shall come to an end together, saith the 18 LORD. For I know their works and their thoughts: the time cometh, that I will ga ther all nations and tongues; and they shall 19 come, and shall see my glory. And I will set a sign among them, and I will send such as escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the 20 nations. And they shall bring all your brethren out of all the nations for an offering unto the LORD, upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon 7swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring their offering in a clean vessel into the 21 house of the LORD. And of them also will I take for priests and for Levites, saith the 22 LORD. For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, SO shall your seed and 23 your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come 24 to worship before me, saith the LORD. And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhor. ring unto all flesh.

ye suck, ye &c.

Or, in 4 Many ancient authorities have, one after another.

5 Or, one tree (or Asherah; see Deut. xvi. 21) 6 Many ancient autho

ritics

have, gather

I come to

&c.

7 Or, dromedaries

A.V.

* Is. 49.

1, 5.

* Gal. 1. 15, 16.

+ Heb. gave. *Ex.4.10.

* Ezek. 3.

9.

*Ex.3.12. Deut. 31. 6, 8. Josh. 1.5. Heb.13.6.

* Is. 6. 7.

*ch.5.14. *ch.18.7.

2 Cor. 10. 1, 5.

1 [1611 was] + Heb. from the face of the

north.

1

THE words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:

2 To whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.

3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.

4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 5 Before I * formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I †ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

*

9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and * touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to *root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

11 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.

12 Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.

13 And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is + toward the north.

14 Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the *north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.

15 For, lo, I will call all the families of the *ch. 4.6. kingdoms of the north, saith the LORD; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah.

+ Heb. shall be opened. *ch.5.15.

& 6. 22. & 10. 22.

11 Or, break to pieces.

* Is. 50.7. ch. 6. 27. & 15. 20.

II Or. for thy

sake.

16 And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.

17 Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.

18 For, behold, I have made thee this day *a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land.

19 And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.

2 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

2 Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember "thee, the

1

THE words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiahı, of the priests that were in Anathoth in 2 the land of Benjamin: to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thir3 teenth year of his reign. It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah; unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.

4

Now the word of the LORD came unto me, 5 saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee, and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee; I have appointed thee a prophet unto the nations. 6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I can7 not speak: for I am a child. But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for 1 to whomsoever I shall send thee thou shalt go, and whatsoever I shall command thee 8 thou shalt speak. Be not afraid because of them: for I am with thee to deliver thee, 9 saith the LORD. Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth; and the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my 10 words in thy mouth: see, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, and to destroy and to overthrow; to build, and to plant.

11

4

R. V.

1 Or. on what80ever errand

2 Heb.

shaked. 3 Heb. shoked.

4 Heb. shall be opened.

Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of 2 an almond tree. 12 Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I watch over my word to 13 perform it. And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething caldron; and the face thereof is 14 from the north. Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north evil shall break forth 15 upon all the inhabitants of the land. For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the LORD; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and 16 against all the cities of Judah. And I will 5 utter my judgements against them touching all their wickedness; in that they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own 17 hands. Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and judgearise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at them, lest I dismay 18 thee before them. For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and 19 against the people of the land. And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with. thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.

2 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

A. V.

* Ezek. 16.8.

* ch. 12.

14.

11, 13. Hos. 13.

kindness of thy *youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.

3 Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: *all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD. 4 Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel: 5 Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?

6 Neither said they, Where is the LORD that *Is. 63.9,*brought us up out of the land of Egypt, 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 ?

4.

*Ps. 78. 58. & 106.38.

* Rom. 2. 20.

|| Or, over to.

* ch. 16. 20.

* Ps. 36.

9.

ch. 17.13. & 18. 14. + Heb. become

a spoil? + Heb. gave out

their

voice.

"Or,

feed on
thy
crown,
Deut. 33.
12.

Is. 8. 8.

* Is. 3. 9.
Hos. 5. 5.
I Or,
serve.

* Is. 57.
5, 7.
ch. 3. 6.
* Ex. 15.
17.

Ps. 44. 2.

& 80. 8.

Is. 5. 1,
&c.

Matt. 21. 38. Mark 12. 1.

Luke 20.
9.
*Job 9.
30.

Il Or, 0
swift

drome-
dary.
II Or,
O wild
ass, &c.
+ Heb.
taught.
+ Heb.
the de-

sire of
her
heart.
|| Or,

reverse
it!

|| Or, Is

the case desperate?

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.

8 The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

9¶Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children's children will I plead. 10 For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.

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.

12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD. 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.

14¶ Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled?

15 The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.

16 Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes "have broken the crown of thy head.

17 Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?

18 And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?

19 Thine own *wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

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.

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?

*

22 For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much sope, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.

23 How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;

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.

25 Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, "There is no

1 Or,

deep

darkNe88

2 Heb. shepherds.

4 Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of 5 Israel: thus saith the LORD, What unrighteousness have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked 6 after vanity, and are become vain? Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt; 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 none passed through, and where no man dwelt? 7 And I brought you into a plentiful land, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and 8 made mine heritage an abomination. The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the 2 rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things 9 that do not profit. Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your 10 children's children will I plead. For pass over to the isles of Kittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently; and see if 11 there hath been such a thing. Hath a nation changed their gods, which yet are no gods? but my people have changed their glory for 12 that which doth not profit. Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be 13 ye very desolate, saith the LORD. For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that 14 can hold no water. Is Israel a servant ? is he a homeborn slave? why is he become a prey? 15 The young lions have roared upon him, and 3 yelled and they have made his land waste; his cities are burned up, without inhabitant. given 16 The children also of Noph and Tahpanhes have 17 4 broken the crown of thy head. Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led 18 thee by the way? And now what hast thou to do in the way to Egypt, to drink the waters of 5 Shihor? or what hast thou to do in the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River? 19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and a bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the 20 Lord, the LORD of hosts. For of old time 7 I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not serve; for upon every high hill and under every green tree thou didst bow thyself, playing the harlot. 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? 22 For though thou wash thee with lye, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked 23 before me, saith the Lord GOD. How canst thou say, I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift 24 dromedary traversing her ways; a wild

ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind in her desire; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her 25 month they shall find her. Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no

3 Heb.

out their

voice.

4 Or, fed on

5 That is, the Nile.

6 That is, the Euphrates.

7 Or, thou

hast

8 Another reading is, transgress.

9 Or,

young camel

A. V.

Il Or, begotten

me.

+ Heb.
the
hinder
part of
the neck.

* Is. 26.
16.

* Is. 45.
20.

+ Heb.
evil.

* ch. 11.
13.

* Is. 9.13.
ch. 5. 3.
* Matt.
23. 29,&c.

* ver. 5.
+ Heb.
We have
domi-
nion.

+ Heb. digging.

+ Heb. Saying.

* Deut. 24. 4.

* Deut. 28. 24. ch. 9. 12.

*ch. 6.15.

hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.

26 As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets,

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.

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 Judah.

29 Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD.

*

30. In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath *devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

31 O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. * Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?

32 Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

33 Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy

ways.

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.

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.

36 Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.

37 Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head: for the LORD hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them.

3 +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.

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.

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.

*

The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backch.2.20. sliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.

11 Or,

fame.

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.

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.

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.

10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah

hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and 26 after them will I go. As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets; 27 which say to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought 2 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 28 us.

29

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 Judah.

Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have 30 transgressed against me, saith the LORD. In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion. 31 O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? or a land of 4 thick darkness? wherefore say my people, We are broken loose; we will come no 32 more unto thee? Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number. 33 How trimmest thou thy way to seek love! therefore even the wicked women hast thou

7

R. V.

1 Or, begotten

me
2 An-
other
reading
is, us.

3 Or, instruction

4 Or.

dark

ne 88

from

Jah

thou didst not find

them

6 See

2.

34 taught thy ways. Also in thy skirts is found Or, the blood of the souls of the innocent poor: 5 I have not found it at the place of breaking 35 in, but upon all these. Yet thou saidst, I am innocent; surely his anger is turned away from me. Behold, I will enter into judgement Ex. xxii. with thee, because thou sayest, I have not 36 sinned. Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou shalt be ashamed of Egypt also, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria. 37 From him also shalt thou go forth, with thine hands upon thine head: for the LORD hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them.

7 Some ancient

autho

rities

have,

every oak. 8 Heb.

9 See

Deut.

xxiv. 1-4.

10 Or, and

thinkest
thou to
return
&c.?

3 They say, 9 If a man put away his wife, Saying. 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; 2 10 yet return again to me, saith the LORD. Lift up thine eyes unto the bare heights, and see; where hast thou not been lien with? By the ways hast thou sat for them, as an Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wicked3 ness. Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; yet thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou re4 fusedst to be ashamed. Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou 5 art the 11 guide of my youth? Will he retain his anger for ever? will he keep it to the end? Behold, thou 12 hast spoken and hast done evil things, and hast 13 had thy way.

6

11 Or,

com

panion 12 Or, hast

spoken thus, but

hast done &c. 13 Heb. been able.

And I

Moreover the LORD said unto me in the days 14 Or, 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. 7 14 And I said after she had done all these things, 15 She will return unto me; but she things, returned not: and her treacherous sister Ju

8 dah saw it. And 16 I saw, when, for this very cause that backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a bill of divorcement, yet treacherous Judah her sister feared not; but she also went 9 and played the harlot. And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that the land was polluted, and she committed 10 adultery with stones and with stocks. And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah

said, After she hath done all these

she &c. 15 Or, Let her return unto me

16 Some ancient autho

rities

have,

she saw that, for

&c.

A.V. + Heb. in falsehood.

* Ps. 86. 15. &103.8,9.

*ch. 23.4.

+ Heb.

come

hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.

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

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.

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.

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:

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

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 upon the they visit it; neither shall that be done any more. 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.

heart.

Il Or, it be magnified.

II Or,

stubbornness.

Il Or, to.

Il Or,
caused
your
fathers

to pos-
sess.

+ Heb.
land of
desire.
+ Heb.
an heri-
tage of

glory, or,
beauty.

+ Heb. from after

me.

+ Heb. friend.

* Hos.14. 1.

* Joel 2.

12.

* 2 Cor.

10. 17.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

4 If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the LORD, *return unto me and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not

R.V.

1 Heb. cause my countenance

upon you. 2 Or,

miss

4 Or, shall it

be made any more

hath not returned unto me with her whole 11 heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD. And the LORD said unto me, Backsliding Israel hath shewn herself more righteous than 12 treacherous Judah. Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; İ will not look in anger upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, I will not keep 13 anger for ever. Only 2 acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against to fall the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, 14 saith the LORD. Return, O backsliding chil. know dren, saith the LORD; for I am a husband unto you and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring 15 you to Zion: and I will give you shepherds according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understand16 ing. 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 8 visit it; neither shall that be done any 3 Or, 17 more. 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 stubborn18 ness of their evil heart. In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the 5 Or, to house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I for an inheritance unto your gave 19 fathers. But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of the nations? and I said, Ye shall call me My father; and shall not turn away from following 20 me. Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the 21 LORD. A Voice is heard upon the bare heights, the weeping and the supplications of the children of Israel; for that they have perverted their way, they have forgotten the LORD 22 their God. Return, ye backsliding children, I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we are come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our 23 God. Truly in vain is the help that is looked for from the hills, the 9 tumult on the mountains: truly in the LORD our God is the salva24 tion of Israel. But the 10 shameful thing hath devoured the labour of our fathers from our youth; their flocks and their herds, their sons 25 and their daughters. Let us lie down in our shame, and let our confusion cover us: for we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day and we have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.

4 If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the LORD, unto me shalt thou return: and 11 if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, 2 then shalt thou not be removed; and thou shalt swear, As the LORD liveth, in truth, in judgement, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.

3 For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, Break up your fallow 4 ground, and sow not among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury go forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.

6 Or, would...

nations! 7 Or, the heritage goodliest of the

nations

8 Another reading is, Thou shall and shalt not &c.

9 Or, noisy throng

10 Heb.
shame.

See ch.
xi. 13.