The Lord says,“ When I first found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert. When I saw your people of long ago, it was like seeing the early fruit on a fig tree. But then they went to Baal Peor. There they gave themselves to that shameful god named Baal. They became as evil as the god they loved.

主说：“我遇见以色列如葡萄在旷野；我看见你们的列祖如无花果树上春季初熟的果子。他们却来到巴力毗珥专拜那可羞耻的，就成为可憎恶的，与他们所爱的一样。

我发现以色列，如在旷野的葡萄；我看见你们的祖先，如春季无花果树上初熟的果子。他们却来到巴力‧毗珥，献上自己做羞耻的事，成为可憎恶的，与他们所爱的一样。

我发现以色列，如在旷野的葡萄；我看见你们的祖先，如春季无花果树上初熟的果子。他们却来到巴力‧毗珥，献上自己做羞耻的事，成为可憎恶的，与他们所爱的一样。

耶和华说：“昔日我看见以色列时，像在荒野看见葡萄；看见你们的祖先时，像在无花果树上看见初熟的果子。但他们却祭拜巴力·毗珥，把自己献给可耻的偶像，变得像他们所爱的偶像一样可憎。

“我遇见以色列，好像在旷野里遇见葡萄。我看见你们的列祖，像看见无花果树初熟的果子。他们却来到巴力．毗珥，专作羞耻的事，成为可憎恶的，像他们所爱的偶像一样。

主說：我遇見以色列如葡萄在曠野；我看見你們的列祖如無花果樹上春季初熟的果子。他們卻來到巴力‧毗珥專拜那可羞恥的，就成為可憎惡的，與他們所愛的一樣。

我發現以色列，如在曠野的葡萄；我看見你們的祖先，如春季無花果樹上初熟的果子。他們卻來到巴力‧毗珥，獻上自己做羞恥的事，成為可憎惡的，與他們所愛的一樣。

我發現以色列，如在曠野的葡萄；我看見你們的祖先，如春季無花果樹上初熟的果子。他們卻來到巴力‧毗珥，獻上自己做羞恥的事，成為可憎惡的，與他們所愛的一樣。

耶和華說：「昔日我看見以色列時，像在荒野看見葡萄；看見你們的祖先時，像在無花果樹上看見初熟的果子。但他們卻祭拜巴力·毗珥，把自己獻給可恥的偶像，變得像他們所愛的偶像一樣可憎。

“我遇見以色列，好像在曠野裡遇見葡萄。我看見你們的列祖，像看見無花果樹初熟的果子。他們卻來到巴力．毘珥，專作羞恥的事，成為可憎惡的，像他們所愛的偶像一樣。

我發現了以色列像葡萄在曠野裏；我看見你們的祖先像無花果樹上先熟的果子、頭一季出的。他們卻到巴力毘珥、自己「分別為聖」歸於巴力，成為可憎惡，像他們所愛的偶像一樣；

我遇以色列、若遇葡萄於曠野、見爾列祖、如見無花果樹初熟之果、然彼就巴力毘珥、自奉於可恥之物、成為可憎、如其所愛者然、

上帝曰、昔我得以色列族、如曠野遇葡萄、視爾列祖、如初熟之無花果、然彼往巴力比耳、崇拜可惡之物、我於是痛絕之、與所崇之物無異、

主曰、昔我得以色列族、如葡萄在曠野、視爾列祖、如在無花果樹初熟之果、然彼就巴力毘珥、專心崇拜可恥之物、遂為可憎、與所崇之物無異、

“ When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert; when I saw your ancestors, it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree. But when they came to Baal Peor, they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol and became as vile as the thing they loved.

Like grapes in the wilderness, I found Israel. Like the first fruit on the fig tree in its first season, I saw your fathers. But they came to Baal-peor and consecrated themselves to the thing of shame, and became detestable like the thing they loved.

The Lord says,“ O Israel, when I first found you, it was like finding fresh grapes in the desert. When I saw your ancestors, it was like seeing the first ripe figs of the season. But then they deserted me for Baal peor, giving themselves to that shameful idol. Soon they became vile, as vile as the god they worshiped.

I discovered Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your ancestors like the first fruit of the fig tree in its first season. But they went to Baal-peor, consecrated themselves to Shame, and became abhorrent, like the thing they loved.

I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your forefathers as the earliest fruit on the fig tree in its first season. But they came to Baal peor and devoted themselves to shame, And they became as detestable as that which they loved.

“ I found Israel Like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers As the firstfruits on the fig tree in its first season. But they went to Baal Peor, And separated themselves to that shame; They became an abomination like the thing they loved.

I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the first- ripe in the fig- tree at its first season: but they came to Baal- peor, and consecrated themselves unto the shameful thing, and became abominable like that which they loved.

I discovered Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your fathers like the first fruit of the fig tree in its first season. But they went to Baal-peor, consecrated themselves to Shame, and became detestable, like the thing they loved.

I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time:[ but] they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto[ that] shame; and[ their] abominations were according as they loved.

When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the wilderness. I viewed your ancestors like an early fig on a fig tree in its first season. Then they came to Baal-Peor and they dedicated themselves to shame– they became as detestable as what they loved.

I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your fathers as the first ripe in the fig tree at its first season; but they came to Baal Peor, and consecrated themselves to the shameful thing, and became abominable like that which they loved.

“ I will not punish your daughters when they become prostitutes. I will not judge your daughters- in- law when they commit adultery. After all, the men themselves have sex with sinful women. They offer sacrifices where temple prostitutes earn their living. People who can’t understand will be destroyed!

Judah, you have as many gods as you have towns. And in Jerusalem you have set up as many altars as there are streets. You are burning incense to that shameful god named Baal.’

I’m suffering very much! I’m like someone who gathers summer fruit in a vineyard after the good fruit has already been picked. No grapes are left to eat. None of the early figs I long for remain.

“ Go. Announce my message to the people in Jerusalem. I want everyone to hear it. Tell them,“ Here is what the Lord says.“‘ I remember how faithful you were to me when you were young. You loved me as if you were my bride. You followed me through the desert. Nothing had been planted there.Your people were holy to me. They were the first share of my harvest. All those who destroyed them were held guilty. And trouble came to their enemies,’ ” announces the Lord.

“‘ “But they refused to obey me. They would not listen to me. They did not get rid of the evil gods they worshiped. And they did not turn away from Egypt’s gods. So I said I would pour out all my great anger on them in Egypt.

They joined in worshiping the Baal that was worshiped at Peor. They ate food that had been offered to gods that aren’t even alive.Their evil ways made the Lord angry. So a plague broke out among them.

I will give her back her vineyards. I will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope for her. Then she will love me, as she did when she was young. She will love me just as she did when she came up out of Egypt.

Israel was staying in Shittim. The men of Israel began to commit sexual sins with the women of Moab.The women invited the men to feasts and sacrifices to honor their gods. The people ate the sacrifices and bowed down in front of the statues of those gods.So Israel joined in worshiping the god named Baal that was worshiped at Peor. The Lord became very angry with Israel.The Lord said to Moses,“ Take all the leaders of these people. Kill them. Put their dead bodies out in the open. I want to see you do it in the middle of the day. Then I will not be angry with Israel.”So Moses spoke to Israel’s judges. He said,“ Some of your people have joined in worshiping the god named Baal that is worshiped at Peor. Each of you must kill the people in your tribe who have done that.”Then an Israelite man brought into the camp a Midianite woman. He did it right in front of the eyes of Moses and the whole community of Israel. They were weeping at the entrance to the tent of meeting.Phinehas was a priest. He was the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron. When Phinehas saw what had happened, he left the people. He took a spear in his hand.He followed the man into the tent. Phinehas stuck the spear through the man and into the woman’s stomach. Then the Lord stopped the plague against the Israelites.But the plague had already killed 24,000 of them.The Lord said to Moses,“ Phinehas is a priest. He is the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron. Phinehas has turned my anger away from the Israelites. I am committed to making sure I am honored among them. And he is as committed as I am. So even though I was angry with them, I did not put an end to them.So tell Phinehas I am making my covenant with him. It is my promise to give him peace.He and his sons after him will have a covenant to be priests forever. That is because he was committed to making sure that I, his God, was honored. In that way he paid for the sin of the Israelites.”The name of the Israelite man who was killed was Zimri. He was the son of Salu. Zimri was killed along with the Midianite woman. Salu was a family leader in the tribe of Simeon.The name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Kozbi. She was the daughter of Zur. He was the chief of a Midianite family.The Lord spoke to Moses. He said,“ Treat the Midianites just as you would treat enemies. Kill them.After all, they treated you like enemies. They tricked you into worshiping the god named Baal that is worshiped at Peor. They also tricked you because of what Kozbi did. She was the woman killed when the plague came that was connected with Peor. Kozbi was the daughter of a Midianite leader.”

Your own eyes saw what the Lord your God did at Baal Peor. He destroyed every one of your people who worshiped the Baal that was worshiped at Peor.

The men came to the Valley of Eshkol. There they cut off a branch that had a single bunch of grapes on it. Two of them carried it on a pole between them. They carried some pomegranates and figs along with it.That place was called the Valley of Eshkol. That’s because the men of Israel cut off a bunch of grapes there.

Bake some bread with yeast. Burn it as a thank offering. Brag about the offerings you freely give. This is what you Israelites love to do,” announces the Lord and King.

The Lord found Israel in a desert. He found them in an empty and windy land. He took care of them and kept them safe. He guarded them as he would guard his own eyes.

It sits on a hill above a rich valley. The city is like a wreath of flowers whose glorious beauty is fading away. But it will become like figs that are ripe before harvest. As soon as people see them, they pick them and swallow them.

He thought it was only a small thing to commit the sins Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, had committed. Ahab also married Jezebel. She was Ethbaal’s daughter. Ethbaal was king of the people of Sidon. Ahab began to serve the god named Baal and worship him.

The Lord says,“ Some of my people will live through everything their enemies do to them. They will find help in the desert. I will come to give peace and rest to Israel.”

You will have the tassels to look at. They will remind you to obey all the Lord’ s commands. Then you will be faithful to him. You will not chase after what your own hearts and eyes wish for.

The people sacrificed to those false gods, not to God. They hadn’t known anything about those false gods. Those gods were new to them. Their people of long ago didn’t worship them.

That’s why they gave Gideon the name Jerub- Baal on that day. Gideon had torn down Baal’s altar. So they said,“ Let Baal take his stand against him.”

The Lord continues,“ When Israel was a young nation, I loved them. I chose to bring my son out of Egypt.

What benefit did you gain from doing the things you are now ashamed of? Those things lead to death!

The prophets prophesy lies. The priests rule by their own authority. And my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?”

‘ You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt. You saw how I carried you on the wings of eagles and brought you to myself.Now obey me completely. Keep my covenant. If you do, then out of all the nations you will be my special treasure. The whole earth is mine.But you will be a kingdom of priests to serve me. You will be my holy nation.’ That is what you must tell the Israelites.”

So I let them go their own stubborn way. I let them follow their own sinful plans.