Part 7 (1/2)

[Thus sayeth the Lord] 5 What wrong found your fathers in Me, That so far they broke from Me, And following after the Bubble(141) Bubbles became.

Nor said they: 6 Where is the Lord who carried us up From the land of Mi?raim?(142) Who led us through the desert, Land of waste and chasms, Land of drought and barren,(143) A land which n.o.body crosses, Nor mankind settles upon it.

And I brought you into a garden, 7 To feed on its fruit and its wealth.

But coming ye fouled My land, My heritage turned to loathing.

The priests never said, 8 Where is the Lord?

They who handle the Law knew Me not, The rulers(144) rebelled against Me; By Baal the prophets did prophesy, And followed the worthless.

So still with you must I strive,(145) 9 And strive with your sons.(146) For cross to the isles of Kittim and look 10 Send to Kedar, and think for yourselves,(147) And see, was ever like this?

Have any nations(148) changed their G.o.ds, 11 And these no G.o.ds at all?

Yet My people exchanged their(149) Glory For that which is worthless.

Be heavy,(150) O heavens, for this, 12 Shudder and shudder again!

Twain the wrongs My people have wrought- 13 Me have they left, The Fount of live water, To hew themselves cisterns, Cisterns broken, That cannot hold water!

Israel a slave! 14 Or house-born serf!

Why he for a prey?

Against him the young lions roar, 15 Give forth their voice, And his land they lay waste, Burned are his towns and tenantless.

The sons, too, of Noph and Ta?pan?es have forced, 16 Have abused thee.(151) Is not all this being done thee 17 For thy leaving of Me?(152) And now what to thee is the road to Mi?raim,(153) Nile's waters to drink?

Or what is to thee the road to a.s.shur, 18 To drink of the River?

Be thy scourge thine own sin, 19 Thy doublings convict thee!

Know and see how sore for thyself, How bitter to leave Me!

But never was awe of Me thine- Rede of the Lord thy G.o.d.(154)

From of old thou hast broken thy yoke, 20 Hast burst thy bonds, Saying, ”I will not serve!”

While upon every high hill, And under each rustling tree, Harlot thou sprawlest!

Yet a n.o.ble vine did I plant thee, 21 Wholly true seed; How could'st thou change to a corrupt,(155) A wildling grape?

Yea, though thou scour thee with nitre, 22 And heap to thee lye, Ingrained is thy guilt before Me, Rede of the Lord, thy G.o.d.(156) How sayest thou, ”I'm not defiled, 23 Nor gone after the Baals.”

Look at thy ways in the Valley, And own thy deeds!

A young camel, light o' heel,(157) Zig-zagging her tracks, A heifer, schooled to the desert- 24 In the heat of her l.u.s.t, Snapping the wind in her pa.s.sion, Who is to turn her?

None that would seek her need strain them, In her month they shall find her.

Save thou thy feet from the peeling, 25 Thy throat from thirst!

But thou sayest, ”No use!(158) For with strangers I'm fallen in love, Them must I after!”

Like the shame of the thief when he's caught, 26 Shall Israel's sons(159) be shamed.

[They and their kings and their princes, Their priests and their prophets](160) Who say to a stock ”Thou my Father!” 27 To a stone ”Thou hast borne me!”

Their(161) backs they have turned to Me Never their(162) faces.

Yet in time of their trouble they say ”Rise up and save us!”

Where be thy G.o.ds thou hast made thee? 28 Let them rise, if so they may save thee In time of thy trouble; For as thy towns.h.i.+ps in number,(163) So be, O Judah, thy G.o.ds!

What quarrel have you against Me? 29 All you are the sinners;(164) Against Me you all have rebelled- Rede of the Lord.

In vain have I smitten your sons 30 Ye(165) took not correction Your(166) sword has devoured your prophets, Like a ravaging lion.

O generation-you!-look at the Word of the Lord!(167) 31 Have I been a desert to Israel, Or land of thick darkness?

Why say My folk ”We are off, No more to meet Thee!”

Can a maiden forget her adorning, 32 Or her girdle a bride?

Yet Me have My people forgotten, Days without number!

Why trimmest thou still thy ways 33 To seek after love?