Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, {which} refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, {and as} waters {that} fail? {fail: Heb. be not sure?}

Why criest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow {is} incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: {because} thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee.

But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till {there was} no remedy. {remedy: Heb. healing}

Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.

Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. {revolt...: Heb. increase revolt}

Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.

{Is there} no balm in Gilead; {is there} no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered? {recovered: Heb. gone up?}

It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. {health: Heb. medicine} {marrow: Heb. watering, or, moistening}

For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.

Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.

When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah {saw} his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound. {king Jareb: or, the king of Jareb: or, the king that should plead}

And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. {smoking: or, dimly burning} {quench: Heb. quench it}

What thing shall I take to witness for thee? what thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for thy breach {is} great like the sea: who can heal thee?

Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, {which} refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, {and as} waters {that} fail? {fail: Heb. be not sure?}

Why criest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow {is} incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: {because} thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee.

Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is forsaken upon her land; {there is} none to raise her up.

From the sole of the foot even unto the head {there is} no soundness in it; {but} wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. {ointment: or, oil}

Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain shalt thou use many medicines; {for} thou shalt not be cured. {thou shalt...: Heb. no cure shall be unto thee}

Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.

And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find {them}: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then {was it} better with me than now.