Jeremiah Chapter 2
1 The Word of the Lord came to me saying,
2 Go and cry out in the hearing⁺ of Jerusalem saying, Thus says the Lord: I remember you, the kindness of your youth and the love of your proposals⁺ when you went after me in the wilderness in a land that was not sown.
3 Israel was holiness to the Lord and the firstfruits of His increase. All who devour him offend. Evil will come upon them, says the Lord.
4 Hear the Word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel.
5 Thus says the Lord: What injustice have your fathers found in me that they have gone far from me and walked after vanity and become vain?
6 Nor did they say, Where is the Lord who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of dry places, and out of the shadow of death through a land that no one passed through and where no one lived?
7 I brought you into a plentiful country to eat its fruit and its goodness. But when you entered, you defiled my land and made my inheritance an abomination.
8 The priests did not say, Where is the Lord? Those who handle the law did not know me. The shepherds also rebelled against me and the prophets prophesied by Baal and followed⁺ after things not profitable.
9 Therefore I will contend with you, says the Lord. I will enter into judgment with your children's children.
10 Pass over the coasts of Kittim and see. Send to Kedar and carefully consider. See if there is such a thing.
11 Has a nation changed their gods who are yet no gods? But my people have changed their glory for what does not profit.
12 Be amazed at this, O heavens, and be horribly afraid. Be completely desolated, says the Lord.
13 For my people have committed two evils. They have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, to hew out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.
14 Is Israel a servant? Or is he a homeborn servant? Why is he spoiled like prey?
15 The young lions roared against him and yelled. They made his land a waste. His cities are burned without inhabitant.
16 Also the children of Memphis⁺ and Tahapanes have broken the crown of your head.
17 Have you not brought this on yourself because you have forsaken the Lord your God when He led you by the way?
18 Now what do you gain⁺ by going to Egypt to drink the waters of Nile⁺? Or what do you gain⁺ by going to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates⁺?
19 Your own evil will correct you and your backslidings will reprove you. Therefore know and see that it is an evil and bitter thing that you have forsaken the Lord your God and that my fear is not in you, says the Lord God of hosts.
20 Long ago you broke your yoke and tore up your bonds. You said, I will not transgress. Yet on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down like a harlot.
21 Yet I planted you as a noble vine, an entirely pure⁺ seed. How then have you turned into a degenerate plant a vine alien⁺ to me?
22 For though you wash yourself with potash⁺ and multiply soap for yourself, yet your iniquity is marked before me, says the Lord God.
23 How can you say, I am not defiled? I have not gone after the Baals? See your way in the valley. Know what you have done. You are a swift camel crossing its ways.
24 A wild donkey used to the wilderness that snuffs up the wind at her pleasure. In her time, who can turn her away? All those who seek her will not tire themselves. In her month they will find her.
25 Withhold your foot from being bare and your throat from thirst. But you said, There is no hope. No. For I have loved strangers and I will go after them.
26 Like the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed. They, their kings, their rulers, and their priests, and their prophets.
27 They say to a tree, You are my father, and to a stone, You gave me birth. For they have turned their back to me and not their face. But in the time of their trouble, they will say, Arise and save us.
28 But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise if they can save you in the time of your trouble. For according to the number of your cities are your gods, O Judah.
29 Why will you plead with me? You have all sinned against me, says the Lord.
30 In vain I have stricken⁺ your children. They received no correction. Your own sword has devoured your prophets like a destroying lion.
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 roam freely. We will no longer come to you?
32 Can a virgin forget her ornaments or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
33 Why did you trim your way to seek love? Therefore you have also taught the evil women your ways.
34 Also in your skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents. You did not find them breaking in, but on all these.
35 Yet you say, Because I am innocent, surely His anger will turn from me. Behold, I will plead with you because you say, I have not sinned.
36 Why do you go about so much to change your way? You also shall be ashamed of Egypt, as you were ashamed of Assyria.
37 Yes, you shall go out from this place, and your hands on your head. For the Lord has rejected those in whom you trust, and you will not prosper by them.