Jeremiah 3:8–9

¹WHEN a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.

¹¶ When ^*a man hath taken a wife and married her, and it come to passe that shee find no fauour in his eyes, because hee hath found some ^†vncleannesse in her: then let him write her a bill of ^†diuorcement, and giue it in her hand, and send her out of his house.

⁹¶ And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it.

¹⁰And at the end of three years they took it: even in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.

¹¹And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes:

⁹¶ And ^*it came to passe in the fourth yeere of king Hezekiah, (which was the seuenth yeere of Hoshea, sonne of Elah king of Israel) that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came vp against Samaria, and besieged it.

¹⁰And at the end of three yeeres they tooke it: euen in the sixt yeere of Hezekiah (that is ^*the ninth yeere of Hoshea king of Israel) Samaria was taken.

¹¹And the king of Assyria did carie away Israel vnto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the riuer of Gozan, & in the cities of the Medes:

²Plead with your mother, plead: for she is not my wife, neither am I her husband: let her therefore put away her whoredoms out of her sight, and her adulteries from between her breasts;

³Lest I strip her naked, and set her as in the day that she was born, and make her as a wilderness, and set her like a dry land, and slay her with thirst.

²Plead with your mother, plead: for ^*she is not my wife, neither am I her husband: let her therefore put away her whordomes out of her sight, and her adulteries from betweene ^*her breasts;

³Lest I strip her naked, and set her as in the day that shee was ^*borne, and make her as a wildernesse, and set her like a drie land, and slay her with thirst.

⁴For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:

^4†For the children of Israel shall abide many dayes without a King, and without a Prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an Ephod, and without Teraphim.

¹⁵¶ Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Beth-aven, nor swear, The Lord liveth.

¹⁶For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the Lord will feed them as a lamb in a large place.

¹⁷Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.

¹⁵¶ ^*Though thou Israel play the harlot, yet let not Iudah offend, and come not ye vnto Gilgal, neither goe ye vp to Beth-auen, nor sweare, The LORD liueth:

¹⁶For Israel slideth backe, as a backe sliding heifer: now the LORD will feede them as a lambe in a large place.

¹⁷Ephraim is ioyned to idoles: let him alone.

¹THUS saith the Lord, Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.

¹¶ Thus saith the LORD, Where is the bill of your mothers diuorcement, whom I haue put away? or which of my creditours is it to whom I haue sold you? Behold, for your iniquities haue you solde your selues, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.

⁶¶ In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.

⁷For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods,

⁸And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made.

⁹And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the Lord their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.

¹⁰And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree:

¹¹And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the Lord carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the Lord to anger:

¹²For they served idols, whereof the Lord had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing.

¹³Yet the Lord testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.

¹⁴Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the Lord their God.

¹⁵And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them, that they should not do like them.

¹⁶And they left all the commandments of the Lord their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.

¹⁷And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.

¹⁸Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only.

¹⁹Also Judah kept not the commandments of the Lord their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made.

⁶¶ ^*In the ninth yeere of Hoshea, the king of Assyria tooke Samaria, and caried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah, and in Habor by the riuer of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.

⁷For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, which had brought them vp out of the land of Egypt, from vnder the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods,

⁸And walked in the statutes of the heathen, (whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel) and of the kings of Israel, which they had made.

⁹And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right, against the LORD their God: and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen, to the fenced city.

¹⁰And they set them vp ^†images, and groues in euery high hill, and vnder euery greene tree.

¹¹And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD caried away before them, and wrought wicked things to prouoke the LORD to anger.

¹²For they serued idoles, whereof the LORD had said vnto them, ^*Yee shall not doe this thing.

¹³Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Iudah, ^†by all the Prophets, and by all the Seers, saying, ^*Turne ye from your euill wayes, and keepe my commandements, and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my seruants the Prophets.

¹⁴Notwithstanding, they would not heare, but ^*hardened their neckes, like to the necke of their fathers, that did not beleeue in the LORD their God.

¹⁵And they reiected his Statutes, and his Couenant that hee made with their fathers, and his Testimonies which he testified against them, and they followed vanitie, and became vaine, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not doe like them.

¹⁶And they left all the Commandements of the LORD their God, and ^*made them molten images, euen two calues, and made a groue, and worshipped all the hoste of heauen, and serued Baal.

¹⁷And they caused their sonnes and their daughters to passe through the fire, and vsed diuination, and inchantments, and sold themselues to doe euill in the sight of the LORD, to prouoke him to anger.

¹⁸Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and remoued them out of his sight, there was none left, but the tribe of Iudah onely.

¹⁹Also Iudah kept not the Commandements of the LORD their God, but walked in the Statutes of Israel which they made.

³And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife;

³And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of diuorcement, and giueth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house: Or if the latter husband die, which tooke her to be his wife,

⁴⁷Yet hast thou not walked after their ways, nor done after their abominations: but, as if that were a very little thing, thou wast corrupted more than they in all thy ways.

^47‖Yet hast thou not walked after their wayes, nor done after their abominations: but as if that were a very litle thing, thou wast corrupted more then they in all thy wayes.

¹¹And when her sister Aholibah saw this, she was more corrupt in her inordinate love than she, and in her whoredoms more than her sister in her whoredoms.

¹²She doted upon the Assyrians her neighbours, captains and rulers clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding upon horses, all of them desirable young men.

¹³Then I saw that she was defiled, that they took both one way,

¹⁴And that she increased her whoredoms: for when she saw men pourtrayed upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans pourtrayed with vermilion,

¹⁵Girded with girdles upon their loins, exceeding in dyed attire upon their heads, all of them princes to look to, after the manner of the Babylonians of Chaldea, the land of their nativity:

¹⁶And as soon as she saw them with her eyes, she doted upon them, and sent messengers unto them into Chaldea.

¹⁷And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their whoredom, and she was polluted with them, and her mind was alienated from them.

¹⁸So she discovered her whoredoms, and discovered her nakedness: then my mind was alienated from her, like as my mind was alienated from her sister.

¹⁹Yet she multiplied her whoredoms, in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt.

²⁰For she doted upon their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of asses, and whose issue is like the issue of horses.

²¹Thus thou calledst to remembrance the lewdness of thy youth, in bruising thy teats by the Egyptians for the paps of thy youth.

^11††And when her sister Aholibah saw this, she was more corrupt in her inordinate loue then she, and in her whoredoms more then her sister in her whoredomes.

^12*She doted vpon the Assyrians her neighbours, captaines and rulers clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding vpon horses, all of them desireable young men.

¹³Then I saw that she was defiled, that they tooke both one way;

¹⁴And that she increased her whoredomes: for when shee saw men pourtrayed vpon the wall, the images of the Caldeans pourtrayed with vermilion,

¹⁵Girded with girdles vpon their loynes, exceeding in dyed attire vpon their heads, all of them princes to looke to, after the maner of the Babylonians of Caldea, the land of their natiuitie:

^16†And assoone as shee saw them with her eyes, she doted vpon them, and sent messengers vnto them into Caldea.

^17††And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of loue, and they defiled her with their whoredome, and shee was polluted with them, and her mind was alienated from them.

¹⁸So shee discouered her whoredomes, and discouered her nakednesse; then my mind was alienated from her, like as my minde was alienated from her sister.

¹⁹Yet shee multiplied her whoredomes, in calling to remembrance the dayes of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt.

²⁰For she doted vpon their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of asses, and whose issue is like the issue of horses.

²¹Thus thou calledst to remembrance the lewdnesse of thy youth, in bruising thy teates by the Egyptians, for the paps of thy youth.

⁹Wherefore I have delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, upon whom she doted.

^9*Wherefore I haue deliuered her into the hand of her louers, into the hand of the Assyrians, vpon whom she doted.

¹⁵All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters.

¹⁶Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb.

¹⁷My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations.

^15*All their wickednesse is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickednesse of their doings I will driue them out of mine house, I will loue them no more: all their princes are reuolters.

^16†Ephraim is smitten, their roote is dried vp, they shall beare no fruite: yea though they bring foorth, yet wil I slay euen the beloued fruite of their wombe.

¹⁷My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken vnto him: and they shalbe wanderers among the nations.

¹THEY 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.

¹¶ ^†*They say; If a man put away his wife, and she goe from him, and become another mans, shall hee returne vnto her againe? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many louers; yet returne againe to me, saith the LORD.

²⁷Saying 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.

^27‖†*Saying to a stocke; Thou art my father, and to a stone; Thou hast brought me forth: for they haue turned their backe vnto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble, they will say; Arise and saue vs.

⁶Among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion; they, they are thy lot: even to them hast thou poured a drink offering, thou hast offered a meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these?

⁶Among the smooth stones of the streame is thy portion; they, they are thy lot: euen to them hast thou powred a drinke offering, thou hast offered a meate offering. Should I receiue comfort in these?

²Lift 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.

²Lift vp thine eyes vnto the high places, and see where thou hast not bene lien with: in the wayes hast thou sate for them, as the Arabian in the wildernesse, and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredomes, and with thy wickednes.

¹⁹Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.

¹⁹Woe vnto him that saith to the wood, Awake: to the dumbe stone, Arise, it shall teach: behold, it is layed ouer with gold and siluer, and there is no breath at all in the middest of it.

⁸But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.

^8†*But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stocke is a doctrine of vanities.

⁷And 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.

⁷And I brought you into a plentifull countrey, to eate the fruit thereof, and the goodnesse thereof; but when ye entred yee ^*defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.

¹⁷Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them,

^17†Thou hast also taken thy faire iewels of my gold and of my siluer, which I had giuen thee, and madest to thy selfe images of men, and diddest commit whoredome with them,

¹⁰These discovered her nakedness: they took her sons and her daughters, and slew her with the sword: and she became famous among women; for they had executed judgment upon her.

^10†These discouered her nakednes, they tooke her sonnes and her daughters, and slew her with the sword: and she became famous among women, for they had executed iudgement vpon her.

¹²¶ My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.

¹²¶ My people aske counsel at their stocks, and their staffe declareth vnto them: for the spirit of whordomes hath caused them to erre, and they haue gone a whoring from vnder their God.