Jeremiah 2

VIN^{(i) 1} The word of the LORD came to me: ² "Go and announce to Jerusalem: 'This is what the LORD says: "I remember the loyal devotion of your youth, your love as a bride. You followed me in the desert, in a land that was not planted. ³ Israel was holy to the LORD, the first fruit of his produce. All those who ate it were held guilty; disaster came to them," declares the LORD.'" ⁴ Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the clans of the house of Israel. ⁵ the LORD says: "What bad thing (injustice) did your fathers find in me that they went so far away from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless (lead astray) themselves. ⁶ "They didn't say, 'Where is the LORD who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through the land of desert and pits, through the land of dryness and deep darkness, a land that people don't pass through, and where no one lives?' ⁷ "I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and its produce. You came and made my land unclean. You made my heritage disgusting. ⁸ "'The priests did not ask: 'Where is the LORD? Those who deal with my Law did not know me. The rulers rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied in the name of Baal and followed things that could not help (profit) them.'" ⁹ "That is why I will bring charges against you, proclaims the LORD, and I will bring charges against your grandchildren. ¹⁰ For go over to the coasts of Cyprus and look, and send to Kedar and consider very closely, and see if there has been a thing like this: 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 appalled, O heavens, at this, and shudder; be utterly desolate," declares the LORD. ¹³ "For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the spring of living waters, and cut them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. ¹⁴ Is Israel a slave? Or a slave born in a house? Why has he become plunder? ¹⁵ The young lions roared upon him, and growled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant. ¹⁶ The children of Memphis and Tahpanhes have also shaved the crown of your head. ¹⁷ Have you not done this to yourself by your forsaking 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 the Shihor? Or why do you to go on the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River? ¹⁹ Your wickedness will chastise you, and your apostasies will reprove you. Therefore know and see that it is evil and bitter, your forsaking of the LORD, your God, and fear of me is not in you," declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty. ²⁰ For long ago you broke your yoke and tore up your bonds. And you said, I will not transgress, when on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down like a harlot. ²¹ I planted you myself as a choice vine, from the very best seed. How did you turn against me into a degenerate and foreign vine? ²² Though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me," declares 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 accustomed to the desert, sniffing the wind in her passion. When she's in heat, who can turn her away? None of the males who pursue her need to tire themselves out, for in her month they'll find her." ²⁵ "Don't run until your feet are bare and your throat is dry. But you say, 'It's hopeless! Because I love foreign gods, I'll go after them!'" ²⁶ "As a thief is disgraced when he's caught, so the house of Israel is disgraced, they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets, ²⁷ saying 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 "Where are the gods that you made for yourselves? Let them come and rescue you when you have trouble. You have as many gods as you have cities, Judah! ²⁹ Why do you contend with me? You have rebelled against me," declares the LORD. ³⁰ In vain I have stricken your sons; they received no correction. Your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion. ³¹ Generation, consider the word of the LORD. 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 to you no more?' ³² Can a virgin forget her finery, 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 On your skirts is found the lifeblood of the innocent poor, even though you didn't catch them breaking in. Yet despite all these things, ³⁵ "Yet you said, 'I am innocent. Surely his anger has turned away from me.' "Look, I will judge you, because you say, 'I have not sinned.' ³⁶ Why do you go about so much, ever changing your way? You will be shamed by Egypt, just as you were shamed by Assyria. ³⁷ "You will also leave this place with your hands over your head, because the LORD has rejected those you trust. They will not help you."