King James Version (KJV)
I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought. {great...: Heb. droughts}
Modern English
I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.
Hebrew
אֲנִ֥י יְדַעְתִּ֖יךָ בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר בְּאֶ֖רֶץ תַּלְאֻבֽוֹת׃
ʾaniy ydaʿtiyka bamidbar bʾereṣ talʾubvot