31 “You of this generation, consider the word of the Lord:

“Have I been a desert to Israel

or a land of great darkness?

Why do my people say, ‘We are free to roam;

we will come to you no more’?

31 O generation, see ye the word of the Lord. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?

31 “O my people, listen to the words of the Lord!

Have I been like a desert to Israel?

Have I been to them a land of darkness?

Why then do my people say, ‘At last we are free from God!

We don’t need him anymore!’

31 “O generation, see the word of the Lord!

Have I been a wilderness to Israel,

Or a land of darkness?

Why do My people say, ‘We are lords;

We will come no more to You’?

31 “People of Judah, pay attention to the word of the Lord:

Have I been like a desert to the people of Israel

or like a dark and dangerous land?

Why do my people say, ‘We are free to wander.

We won’t come to you anymore’?

31 O generation, see ye the word of Jehovah. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? or a land of thick darkness? wherefore say my people, We are broken loose; we will come no more unto thee?

31 O generation, mark ye the word of Jehovah. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel, or a land of thick darkness? Wherefore say my people, We have dominion; we will come no more unto thee?

31 “Consider the Lord’s word, people of this generation. 

Haven’t I been a desert, a land of thick darkness, for Israel? 

Why do my people say that they are free to wander around 

and no longer come to me? 

31 Evil generation,

pay attention to the word of the Lord!

Have I been a wilderness to Israel

or a land of dense darkness?

Why do My people claim,

“We will go where we want;

we will no longer come to You”?

31 And you, O generation, behold the word of the Lord!

Have I been a wilderness to Israel,

or a land of thick darkness?

Why then do my people say, “We are free,

we will come to you no more”?

31 O generation, you see the word of Yahweh.

Have I been a desert to Israel? Or a land of great darkness?

Why do my people say, ‘We roam about freely,

we will not come again to you’?

31 “You who are now living, consider my message. I am saying,

“Have I been like a desert to Israel?

Have I been like a land of deep darkness?

Why do my people say, ‘We are free to wander.

We won’t come to you anymore’?

31 “O generation, heed the word of the Lord.

Have I been a wilderness to Israel,

Or a land of thick darkness?

Why do My people say, ‘We are free to roam;

We will no longer come to You’?