20 “Long ago you broke off your yoke

and tore off your bonds;

you said, ‘I will not serve you!’

Indeed, on every high hill

and under every spreading tree

you lay down as a prostitute.

21 I had planted you like a choice vine

of sound and reliable stock.

How then did you turn against me

into a corrupt, wild vine?

22 Although you wash yourself with soap

and use an abundance of cleansing powder,

the stain of your guilt is still before me,”

declares the Sovereign Lord.

23 “How can you say, ‘I am not defiled;

I have not run after the Baals’?

See how you behaved in the valley;

consider what you have done.

You are a swift she-camel

running here and there,

24 a wild donkey accustomed to the desert,

sniffing the wind in her craving—

in her heat who can restrain her?

Any males that pursue her need not tire themselves;

at mating time they will find her.

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 soap, 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.

20 “Long ago I broke the yoke that oppressed you

and tore away the chains of your slavery,

but still you said,

‘I will not serve you.’

On every hill and under every green tree,

you have prostituted yourselves by bowing down to idols.

21 But I was the one who planted you,

choosing a vine of the purest stock—the very best.

How did you grow into this corrupt wild vine?

22 No amount of soap or lye can make you clean.

I still see the stain of your guilt.

I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!

23 “You say, ‘That’s not true!

I haven’t worshiped the images of Baal!’

But how can you say that?

Go and look in any valley in the land!

Face the awful sins you have done.

You are like a restless female camel

desperately searching for a mate.

24 You are like a wild donkey,

sniffing the wind at mating time.

Who can restrain her lust?

Those who desire her don’t need to search,

for she goes running to them!

20 “For of old I have broken your yoke and burst your bonds;

And you said, ‘I will not transgress,’

When on every high hill and under every green tree

You lay down, playing the harlot.

21 Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a seed of highest quality.

How then have you turned before Me

Into the degenerate plant of an alien vine?

22 For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap,

Yet your iniquity is marked before Me,” says the Lord God.

23 “How can you say, ‘I am not polluted,

I have not gone after the Baals’?

See your way in the valley;

Know what you have done:

You are a swift dromedary breaking loose in her ways,

24 A wild donkey used to the wilderness,

That sniffs at the wind in her desire;

In her time of mating, who can turn her away?

All those who seek her will not weary themselves;

In her month they will find her.

20 “Long ago you refused to obey me as an ox breaks its yoke.

You broke the ropes I used to hold you

and said, ‘I will not serve you!’

In fact, on every high hill

and under every green tree

you lay down as a prostitute.

21 But I planted you as a special vine,

as a very good seed.

How then did you turn

into a wild vine that grows bad fruit?

22 Although you wash yourself with cleanser

and use much soap,

I can still see the stain of your guilt,” says the Lord God.

23 “How can you say to me, ‘I am not guilty.

I have not worshiped the Baal idols’?

Look at the things you did in the valley.

Think about what you have done.

You are like a she-camel in mating season

that runs from place to place.

24 You are like a wild donkey that lives in the desert

and sniffs the wind at mating time.

At that time who can hold her back?

Any male who chases her will easily catch her;

at mating time, it is easy to find her.

20 For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bonds; 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 branches of a foreign vine unto me? 22 For though thou wash thee with lye, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord Jehovah. 23 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 dromedary traversing her ways; 24 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 month they shall find her.

20 For of old thou hast 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 bowest down, playing the harlot. 21 And I, —I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed; how then art thou turned into the degenerate shoots of a strange vine unto me? 22 For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much potash, thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord Jehovah. 23 How sayest thou, I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baals? See thy way in the valley, acknowledge what thou hast done—a swift dromedary traversing her ways! 24 —a wild ass, used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind in her desire! In her ardour, who shall turn her away? All they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.

20 “Long ago you broke off your yoke,tore off your chains, 

and said that you wouldn’t be a slave. 

You lay down and acted like a prostitute 

on every high hill and under every large tree. 

21 I planted you like a choice grapevine from the very best seed. 

Now you have turned against me and have become a wild vine. 

22 Even if you wash with detergent and use a lot of soap, 

I would still see the stains from your wickedness,” 

declares the Almighty Lord. 

23 “How can you say that you haven’t dishonored yourselves 

and haven’t followed other gods—the Baals? 

Look how you’ve behaved in the valley. 

Acknowledge what you’ve done. 

You are like a young camel that swiftly runs here and there. 

24 You are like a wild donkey that is used to the desert, 

sniffing the wind while in heat. 

All who look for you won’t get tired. 

They will find you during your monthly period. 

20 For long ago I broke your yoke;

I tore off your chains.

You insisted, “I will not serve!”

On every high hill

and under every green tree

you lie down like a prostitute.

21 I planted you, a choice vine

from the very best seed.

How then could you turn into

a degenerate, foreign vine?

22 Even if you wash with lye

and use a great amount of soap,

the stain of your sin is still in front of Me.

This is the Lord God’s declaration.

23 How can you protest, “I am not defiled;

I have not followed the Baals”?

Look at your behavior in the valley;

acknowledge what you have done.

You are a swift young camel

twisting and turning on her way,

24 a wild donkey at home in the wilderness.

She sniffs the wind in the heat of her desire.

Who can control her passion?

All who look for her will not become tired;

they will find her in her mating season.

20 For long ago you broke your yoke

and burst your bonds,

and you said, “I will not serve!”

On every high hill

and under every green tree

you sprawled and played the whore.

21 Yet I planted you as a choice vine,

from the purest stock.

How then did you turn degenerate

and become a wild vine?

22 Though you wash yourself with lye

and use much soap,

the stain of your guilt is still before me,

says the Lord God.

23 How can you say, “I am not defiled,

I have not gone after the Baals”?

Look at your way in the valley;

know what you have done—

a restive young camel interlacing her tracks,

24 a wild ass at home in the wilderness,

in her heat sniffing the wind!

Who can restrain her lust?

None who seek her need weary themselves;

in her month they will find her.

20 “For from long ago you have broken your yoke,

you tore to pieces your bonds.

And you said, ‘I will not serve!’

But on every high hill and under every leafy tree

you were lying down as a prostitute.

21 Yet I planted you as a choice vine,

all of it a seed of trustworthiness.

How then have you altered before me

into something that is degenerate, the foreign vine?

22 For if you wash with natron,

and you use much soap,

your guilt is sticking as a stain before me,”

declares the Lord Yahweh.

23 “How can you say, ‘I have not defiled myself,

I have not gone after the Baals?’

Look at your way in the valley,

know what you have done.

You are a young she-camel,

interweaving her ways.

24 A wild ass accustomed to the desert,

in the desire of her soul.

She gasps for wind in her rutting time.

Who can quell her lust?

All those who seek her will not grow weary,

in her month they will find her.

20 “Long ago you broke off the yoke I put on you.

You tore off the ropes I tied you up with.

You said, ‘I won’t serve you!’

In fact, on every high hill

you lay down like a prostitute.

You worshiped other gods under every green tree.

21 You were like a good vine when I planted you.

You were a healthy plant.

Then how did you turn against me?

How did you become a bad, wild vine?

22 You might wash yourself with baking soda.

You might use plenty of soap.

But I can still see the stains your guilt covers you with,”

announces the Lord and King.

23 “You say, ‘I am “clean.”

I haven’t followed the gods that are named after Baal.’

How can you say that?

Remember how you acted in the valley.

Consider what you have done.

You are like a female camel running quickly here and there.

24 You are like a wild donkey that lives in the desert.

She smells the wind when she longs for a mate.

Who can hold her back?

The males that run after her do not need to wear themselves out.

At mating time they will easily find her.

20 “For long ago I broke your yoke

And tore off your bonds;

But you said, ‘I will not serve!’

For on every high hill

And under every green tree

You have lain down as a harlot.

21 “Yet I planted you a choice vine,

A completely faithful seed.

How then have you turned yourself before Me

Into the degenerate shoots of a foreign vine?

22 “Although you wash yourself with lye

And use much soap,

The stain of your iniquity is before Me,” declares the Lord God.

23 “How can you say, ‘I am not defiled,

I have not gone after the Baals’?

Look at your way in the valley!

Know what you have done!

You are a swift young camel entangling her ways,

24 A wild donkey accustomed to the wilderness,

That sniffs the wind in her passion.

In the time of her heat who can turn her away?

All who seek her will not become weary;

In her month they will find her.