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20 Long ago you broke your yoke,(A)
    you tore off your bonds.
    You said, “I will not serve.”
On every high hill, under every green tree,
    you sprawled and served as a prostitute.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 2:20 Served as a prostitute: idolatry (because Israel is the “bride” of God); cf. vv. 2–3.

20 “Long ago you broke off your yoke(A)
    and tore off your bonds;(B)
    you said, ‘I will not serve you!’(C)
Indeed, on every high hill(D)
    and under every spreading tree(E)
    you lay down as a prostitute.(F)

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23 How can you say, “I am not defiled,
    I have not pursued the Baals”?
Consider your conduct in the Valley,[a]
    recall what you have done:
A skittish young camel,
    running back and forth,

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Footnotes

  1. 2:23 The Valley: probably Ben-hinnom, south of Jerusalem, site of the sanctuary of Topheth, where children were sacrificed to Molech; cf. 7:31.

23 “How can you say, ‘I am not defiled;(A)
    I have not run after the Baals’?(B)
See how you behaved in the valley;(C)
    consider what you have done.
You are a swift she-camel
    running(D) here and there,

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Even as young girls, they were prostitutes, serving as prostitutes in Egypt. There the Egyptians fondled their breasts and caressed their virgin nipples.(A)

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They became prostitutes in Egypt,(A) engaging in prostitution(B) from their youth.(C) In that land their breasts were fondled and their virgin bosoms caressed.(D)

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