Jeremiah 2

MLV(i) 1 And the word of Jehovah came to me, saying, 2 Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Jehovah says thus, I remember for you the kindness of your youth, the love of your espousals, how you went after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown. 3 Israel was holiness to Jehovah, the first-fruits of his increase. All who devour him will be held guilty. Evil will come upon them, says Jehovah.
4 Hear the word of Jehovah, O house of Jacob and all the families of the house of Israel. 5 Jehovah says thus: What unrighteousness have your* fathers found in me, that they have gone far from me and have walked after vanity and have become vain?
6 Nor did they say, Where is Jehovah 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 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 of it and the goodness of it.
But when you* entered, you* defiled my land and made my heritage an abomination. 8 The priests did not say, Where is Jehovah? And those who handle the law did not know me. The rulers also transgressed against me. And the prophets prophesied by Baal and walked after things that do not profit.
9 Therefore I will yet contend with you*, says Jehovah and I will contend with your* son's sons. 10 For pass over to the isles of Kittim and see and send to Kedar and consider diligently and see if there has been such a thing. 11 Has a nation changed its gods, which yet are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for what does not profit.
12 Be astonished, O you* heavens, at this and be horribly afraid. Be you* very desolate, says 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 born in a house? Why has 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 sons also of Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken the crown of your head.
17 Have you not procured this to yourself, in that you have forsaken Jehovah your God when he led you by the way?
18 And now what have you to do in the way to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Shihor? Or what have you to do in the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?
19 Your own wickedness will discipline you and your backslidings will reprove you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and a bitter, that you have forsaken Jehovah your God and that my fear is not in you, says the Lord, Jehovah of hosts.
20 For from old time I have broken your yoke and burst your bonds. And you said, I will not serve, for upon every high hill and under every green tree you bowed yourself, playing the prostitute. 21 Yet I had planted you a noble vine, entirely a right seed. How then have you turned into the degenerate branches of a foreign vine to me?
22 For though you wash with lye and take much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before me, says the lord Jehovah. 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, a swift dromedary traversing her ways, 24 a wild donkey used to the wilderness, that sniffs up the wind in her desire. In her time of estrus who can turn her away? All those who seek her will not weary themselves. In her month they will find her.
25 Withhold your foot from being unshod and your throat from thirst. But you said, It is in vain. No, for I have loved strangers and after them I will go.
26 As the thief is shamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel shamed, they, their kings, their rulers and their priests and their prophets, 27 who say to a block of wood, You are my father and to a stone, You have brought me forth. 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 you? 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* contend with me? You* have all transgressed against me, says Jehovah. 30 In vain I have struck your* sons. They received no correction. Your* own sword has devoured your* prophets like a destroying lion.
31 O generation, see you* the word of Jehovah. Have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of thick darkness? Why do my people say, We have broken loose. We will come no more to you? 32 Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
33 How you trim your way to seek love! Therefore even the wicked women you have taught your ways. 34 Also in your skirts is found the blood of the souls of the innocent poor. You did not find them breaking in. But it is because of all these things.
35 Yet you said, I am innocent. Surely his anger is turned away from me. Behold, I will enter into judgment with you because you say, I have not sinned.
36 Why do you go around so much to change your way? You will be ashamed of Egypt also, as you were ashamed of Assyria. 37 You will also go forth from there with your hands upon your head. For Jehovah has rejected those in whom you trust. And you will not prosper with them.