13 Heb “inflame yourselves”; “burn with lust.” This verse alludes to the practice of ritual sex that accompanied pagan fertility rites.
14 This apparently alludes to the practice of child sacrifice (cf. , , ).
15 Heb “among the smooth stones of the stream [is] your portion, they, they [are] your lot.” The next line indicates idols are in view.
16 The text reads literally, “Because of these am I relenting?” If the prefixed interrogative particle is retained at the beginning of the sentence, then the question would be rhetorical, with the Niphal of נָחָם (nakham) probably being used in the sense of “relent, change one’s mind.” One could translate: “Because of these things, how can I relent?” However, the initial letter he may be dittographic (note the final he [ה] on the preceding word). In this case one may understand the verb in the sense of “console oneself, seek vengeance,” as in 1:24.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

you who burn with lust among the oaks,

under every green tree,

who slaughter your children in the valleys,

under the clefts of the rocks?

Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion;

they, they, are your lot;

to them you have poured out a drink offering,

you have brought a grain offering.

Shall I relent for these things?

On a high and lofty mountain

you have set your bed,

and there you went up to offer sacrifice.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

You burn with lust among the oaks

and under every spreading tree;

you sacrifice your children in the ravines

and under the overhanging crags.

The idols among the smooth stones of the ravines are your portion;

indeed, they are your lot.

Yes, to them you have poured out drink offerings

and offered grain offerings.

In view of all this, should I relent?

You have made your bed on a high and lofty hill;

there you went up to offer your sacrifices.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

who burn with lust among the oaks,

under every green tree,

who slaughter children in the wadis

below the clefts of the rocks?

Your portion is among the smooth stones of the wadi;

indeed, they are your lot.

You have even poured out a drink offering to them;

you have offered a grain offering;

should I be satisfied with these?

You have placed your bed

on a high and lofty mountain;

you also went up there to offer sacrifice.

NLTNew Living Translation

You worship your idols with great passion

beneath the oaks and under every green tree.

You sacrifice your children down in the valleys,

among the jagged rocks in the cliffs.

Your gods are the smooth stones in the valleys.

You worship them with liquid offerings and grain offerings.

They, not I, are your inheritance.

Do you think all this makes me happy?

You have committed adultery on every high mountain.

There you have worshiped idols

and have been unfaithful to me.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

who burn with lust among the oaks,

under every leafy tree,

who slaughter children in the valleys,

under the clefts of the rocks?

Your portion is among the smooth stones of the valley;

they, they are your lot;

indeed, to them you have poured out a drink offering,

you have brought a food offering.

Shall I relent concerning these things?

You have set your bed upon a high and lofty mountain;

indeed, you went up there to slaughter sacrifice.

KJV 1900King James Version

Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree,

Slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks?

Among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion;

They, they are thy lot:

Even to them hast thou poured a drink offering,

Thou hast offered a meat offering.

Should I receive comfort in these?

Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed:

Even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice.

Public Domain