Jeremiah 2

Israel Turns from God

1 The Lord spoke his word to me, saying:

2 “Go and speak to the people of Jerusalem, saying: This is what the Lord says:
‘I remember how faithful you were to me when you were a young nation. You loved me like a young bride.
You followed me through the desert, a land that had never been planted.

3 The people of Israel were holy to the Lord, like the first fruits from his harvest.
Those who tried to hurt Israel were judged guilty. Disasters struck them,’ ” says the Lord.

4 Hear the word of the Lord, family of Jacob, all you family groups of Israel.

5 This is what the Lord says:
“I was fair to your ancestors, so why did they turn away from me?
Your ancestors worshiped useless idols and became useless themselves.

6 Your ancestors didn’t say, ‘Where is the Lord who brought us out of Egypt?
He led us through the desert, through a dry and rocky land,
through a dark and dangerous land. He led us where no one travels or lives.’

7 I brought you into a fertile land so you could eat its fruit and produce.
But you came and made my land unclean; you made it a hateful place.

8 The priests didn’t ask, ‘Where is the Lord?’
The people who know the teachings didn’t know me. The leaders turned against me.
The prophets prophesied in the name of Baal and worshiped useless idols.

9 “So now I will again tell what I have against you,” says the Lord. “And I will tell what I have against your grandchildren.

10 Go across the sea to the island of Cyprus and see. Send someone to the land of Kedar to look closely. See if there has ever been anything like this.

11 Has a nation ever exchanged its gods? (Of course, its gods are not really gods at all.)
But my people have exchanged their glorious God for idols worth nothing.

12 Skies, be shocked at the things that have happened and shake with great fear!” says the Lord.

13 “My people have done two evils:
They have turned away from me, the spring of living water.
And they have dug their own wells, which are broken wells that cannot hold water.

14 Have the people of Israel become slaves? Have they become like someone who was born a slave? Why were they taken captive?

15 Enemies have roared like lions at Israel; they have growled at Israel.
They have destroyed the land of Israel. The cities of Israel lie in ruins, and all the people have left.

16 The men from the cities of Memphis and Tahpanhes have disgraced you by shaving the top of your head.

17 Haven’t you brought this on yourselves by turning away from the Lord your God when he was leading you in the right way?

18 It did not help to go to Egypt and drink from the Shihor River.
It did not help to go to Assyria and drink from the Euphrates River.

19 Your evil will bring punishment to you, and the wrong you have done will teach you a lesson.
Think about it and understand
that it is a terrible evil to turn away from the Lord your God. It is wrong not to fear me,” says the Lord God All-Powerful.

20 “Long ago you refused to obey me as an ox breaks its yoke. You broke the ropes I used to hold you and said, ‘I will not serve you!’
In fact, on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute.

21 But I planted you as a special vine, as a very good seed.
How then did you turn into a wild vine that grows bad fruit?

22 Although you wash yourself with cleanser and use much soap, I can still see the stain of your guilt,” says the Lord God.

23 “How can you say to me, ‘I am not guilty. I have not worshiped the Baal idols’?
Look at the things you did in the valley. Think about what you have done.
You are like a she-camel in mating season that runs from place to place.

24 You are like a wild donkey that lives in the desert and sniffs the wind at mating time. At that time who can hold her back?
Any male who chases her will easily catch her; at mating time, it is easy to find her.

25 Don’t run until your feet are bare or until your throat is dry.
But you say, ‘It’s no use! I love those other gods, and I must chase them!’

26 “A thief is ashamed when someone catches him stealing. In the same way, the family of Israel is ashamed—
they, their kings, their officers, their priests, and their prophets.

27 They say to things of wood, ‘You are my father,’ and to idols of stone, ‘You gave birth to me.’
Those people won’t look at me; they have turned their backs to me.
But when they get into trouble, they say, ‘Come and save us!’

28 Where are the idols you made for yourselves? Let them come and save you when you are in trouble!
People of Judah, you have as many idols as you have towns!

29 “Why do you complain to me? All of you have turned against me,” says the Lord.

30 “I punished your people, but it did not help. They didn’t come back when they were punished.
With your swords you killed your prophets like a hungry lion.

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’?

32 A young woman does not forget her jewelry, and a bride does not forget the decorations for her dress.
But my people have forgotten me for more days than can be counted.

33 You really know how to chase after love. Even the worst women can learn evil ways from you.

34 Even on your clothes you have the blood of poor and innocent people, but they weren’t thieves you caught breaking in.
You do all these things,

35 but you say, ‘I am innocent. God is not angry with me.’
But I will judge you guilty of lying, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’

36 It is so easy for you to change your mind. Even Egypt will let you down, as Assyria let you down.

37 You will eventually leave that place with your hands on your head, like captives.
You trusted those countries, but you will not be helped by them,
because the Lord has rejected them.

Jeremiah 2

1 And the word of Jehovah came to me, saying,2 Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, I remember for thee the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals; how thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.3 Israel was holiness unto Jehovah, the first-fruits of his increase: all that devour him shall be held guilty; evil shall come upon them, saith Jehovah.4 Hear ye the word of Jehovah, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:5 thus saith Jehovah, What unrighteousness have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?6 Neither said they, Where is Jehovah 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 none passed through, and where no man dwelt?7 And I brought you into a plentiful land, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination.8 The priests said not, Where is Jehovah? and they that handle the law knew me not: the rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.9 Wherefore I will yet contend with you, saith Jehovah, and with your children’s children will I contend.10 For pass over to the isles of Kittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently; and see if there hath been such a thing.11 Hath a nation changed its gods, which yet are no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith Jehovah.13 For 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.14 Is Israel a servant? is he a home-born slave? why is he become a prey?15 The young lions have roared upon him, and yelled; and they have made his land waste: his cities are burned up, without inhabitant.16 The children also of Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken the crown of thy head.17 Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken Jehovah thy God, when he led thee by the way?18 And now what hast thou to do in the way to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Shihor? or what hast thou to do in the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and a bitter, that thou hast forsaken Jehovah thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts.20 For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bonds; and thou saidst, I will not serve; for upon every high hill and under every green tree thou didst bow thyself, playing the harlot.21 Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate branches of a foreign vine unto me?22 For though thou wash thee with lye, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord Jehovah.23 How canst thou say, I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;24 a wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind in her desire; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.25 Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, It is in vain; no, for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.26 As 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;27 who say 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.28 But 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.29 Wherefore will ye contend with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith Jehovah.30 In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.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?32 Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.33 How trimmest thou thy way to seek love! therefore even the wicked women hast thou taught thy ways.34 Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the innocent poor: thou didst not find them breaking in; but it is because of all these things.35 Yet thou saidst, I am innocent; surely his anger is turned away from me. Behold, I will enter into judgment with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.36 Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou shalt be ashamed of Egypt also, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.37 From thence also shalt thou go forth, with thy hands upon thy head: for Jehovah hath rejected those in whom thou trustest, and thou shalt not prosper with them.