Jeremiah 2

1Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

2Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.footnote a

3Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.

4Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:

5Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?

6Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?

7And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.footnote b

8The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

9Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children’s children will I plead.

10For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.footnote c

11Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.

12Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.

13For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

14Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled?footnote d

15The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.footnote e

16Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head.footnote f

17Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?

18And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?

19Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

20For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.footnote g

21Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?

22For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.

23How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;footnote h

24A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.footnote ifootnote jfootnote kfootnote l

25Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.footnote m

26As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets,

27Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.footnote nfootnote o

28But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.footnote p

29Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD.

30In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

31O 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?footnote q

32Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

33Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.

34Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.footnote r

35Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.

36Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.

37Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head: for the LORD hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them.

Israel Has Forsaken God

1Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says:‘I remember the devotion of your youth,your love as a bride,how you followed Me in the wilderness,in a land not sown. 3Israel was holy to the LORD,the firstfruits of His harvest.All who devoured herwere found guilty;disaster came upon them,’”declares the LORD.

4Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all you families of the house of Israel. 5This is what the LORD says:“What fault did your fathers find in Methat they strayed so far from Me?They followed worthless idols,and became worthless themselves. 6They did not ask, ‘Where is the LORDwho brought us up from the land of Egypt,who led us through the wilderness,through a land of deserts and pits,a land of drought and darkness,a land where no one travels and no one lives?’

7I brought you into a fertile landto eat its fruit and bounty,but you came and defiled My landand made My inheritance detestable. 8The priests did not ask,‘Where is the LORD?’The experts in the law no longer knew Me,and the leaders rebelled against Me.The prophets prophesied by Baaland followed useless idols.

9Therefore, I will contend with you again,declares the LORD,and I will bring a caseagainst your children’s children. 10Cross over to the coasts of Cyprusfootnote aand take a look;send to Kedar and consider carefully;see if there has ever been anything like this: 11Has a nation ever changed its gods?(Yet they are not gods at all.)But My people have exchanged their Gloryfootnote bfor useless idols. 12Be stunned by this, O heavens;be shocked and utterly appalled,”declares the LORD. 13“For My people have committed two evils:They have forsaken Me,the fountain of living water,and they have dug their own cisterns—broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

The Consequence of Israel’s Sin

14Is Israel a slave?Was he born into slavery?Why then has he become prey? 15The young lions have roared at him;they have sounded their voices.They have laid waste his land;his cities lie in ruins, without inhabitant. 16The men of Memphisfootnote cand Tahpanheshave shaved the crown of your head. 17Have you not brought this on yourselfby forsaking the LORD your Godwhen He led you in the way?

18Now what will you gain on your way to Egyptto drink the waters of the Nilefootnote d?What will you gain on your way to Assyriato drink the waters of the Euphratesfootnote e? 19Your own evil will discipline you;your own apostasies will reprimand you.Consider and realizehow evil and bitter it isfor you to forsake the LORD your Godand to have no fear of Me,”declares the Lord GOD of Hosts. 20“For long ago you broke your yokeand tore off your chains,saying, ‘I will not serve!’Indeed, on every high hilland under every green treeyou lay down as a prostitute. 21I had planted you like a choice vinefrom the very best seed.How could you turn yourself before Meinto a rotten, wild vine? 22Although you wash with lyeand use an abundance of soap,the stain of your guiltis still before Me,”declares the Lord GOD.

Israel’s Unfaithfulness

23“How can you say, ‘I am not defiled;I have not run after the Baals’?Look at your behavior in the valley;acknowledge what you have done.You are a swift young she-camelgalloping here and there, 24a wild donkey at home in the wilderness,sniffing the wind in the heat of her desire.Who can restrain her passion?All who seek her need not weary themselves;in mating season they will find her. 25You should have kept your feet from going bareand your throat from being thirsty.But you said, ‘It is hopeless!For I love foreign gods,and I must go after them.’

26As the thief is ashamed when he is caught,so the house of Israel is disgraced.They, their kings, their officials,their priests, and their prophets 27say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’They have turned their backs to Meand not their faces.Yet in the time of trouble, they say,‘Rise up and save us!’ 28But where are the gods you made for yourselves?Let them rise up in your time of troubleand save you if they can;for your gods are as numerousas your cities, O Judah.

29Why do you bring a case against Me?You have all rebelled against Me,”declares the LORD. 30“I have struck your sons in vain;they accepted no discipline.Your own sword has devoured your prophetslike a voracious lion.”

31You people of this generation, consider the word of the LORD:“Have I been a wilderness to Israelor a land of dense darkness?Why do My people say,‘We are free to roam;we will come to You no more’? 32Does a maiden forget her jewelryor a bride her wedding sash?Yet My people have forgotten Mefor days without number.

33How skillfully you pursue love!Even the most immoral of womencould learn from your ways. 34Moreover, your skirts are stainedwith the blood of the innocent poor,though you did not find them breaking in.But in spite of all these things 35you say, ‘I am innocent.Surely His anger will turn from me.’Behold, I will judge you,because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’

36How impulsive you are,constantly changing your ways!You will be disappointed by Egyptjust as you were by Assyria. 37Moreover, you will leave that placewith your hands on your head,for the LORD has rejected those you trust;you will not prosper by their help.”