Berean Standard Bible

Jeremiah 2

1Now the wordדְבַר־de.var-H1697of the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068cameוַיְהִ֥יvay.HiH1961to meאֵלַ֥י'e.LaiH413,sayingלֵאמֹֽר׃le.MorH559,

2“Goהָלֹ֡ךְha.LokhH1980and proclaimוְקָֽרָאתָ֩ve.ka.ra.TaH7121in the hearingבְאָזְנֵ֨יve.'a.ze.NeiH241of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֜םye.ru.sha.LimH3389that this is whatלֵאמֹ֗ר כֹּ֚הle.Mor kohH3541 H559the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068saysאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559: ‘I rememberזָכַ֤רְתִּיza.Khar.tiH2142the devotionחֶ֣סֶדChe.sedH2617of your youthנְעוּרַ֔יִךְne.'u.Ra.yikhH5271,your loveאַהֲבַ֖ת'a.ha.VatH160as a brideכְּלוּלֹתָ֑יִךְke.lu.lo.Ta.yikhH3623,how you followed Meלֶכְתֵּ֤ךְ אַחֲרַי֙lekh.Tekh 'a.cha.RaiH1980 H310in the wildernessבַּמִּדְבָּ֔רba.mid.BarH4057,in a landבְּאֶ֖רֶץbe.'E.retzH776notלֹ֥אlo'H3808sownזְרוּעָֽה׃ze.ru.'AhH2232.

3Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478was holyקֹ֤דֶשׁKo.deshH6944to the LORDלַיהוָ֔הla.Yah.wehH3068,the firstfruitsרֵאשִׁ֖יתre.ShitH7225of His harvestתְּבוּאָת֑וֹte.vu.'a.ToH8393.Allכָּל־kol-H3605who devoured herאֹכְלָ֣יו'o.khe.LavH398were found guiltyיֶאְשָׁ֔מוּye'.Sha.muH816;disasterרָעָ֛הra.'AhH7451cameתָּבֹ֥אta.Vo'H935upon themאֲלֵיהֶ֖ם'a.lei.HemH413,’”declaresנְאֻם־ne.'um-H5002the LORDיְהוָֽה׃ פYah.wehH3068.

4Hearשִׁמְע֥וּshim.'UH8085the wordדְבַר־de.var-H1697of the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068,O houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of Jacobיַעֲקֹ֑בya.'a.KoH3290,and allוְכָֽל־ve.kholH3605you familiesמִשְׁפְּח֖וֹתmish.pe.ChotH4940of the houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478.

5This is whatכֹּ֣ה׀kohH3541the LORDיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068saysאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559: “Whatמַה־mah-H4100faultעָ֔וֶל'A.velH5766did your fathersאֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֥ם'a.vo.tei.KhemH1findמָּצְא֨וּma.tze.'UH4672in Methatכִּ֥יkiH3588they strayed so farרָחֲק֖וּra.cha.KuH7368from Meמֵעָלָ֑יme.'a.LaiH5921?They followedוַיֵּֽלְכ֛וּ אַחֲרֵ֥יvai.ye.le.Khu 'a.cha.ReiH1980 H310worthless idolsהַהֶ֖בֶלha.He.velH1892,and became worthless themselvesוַיֶּהְבָּֽלוּ׃vai.yeh.Ba.luH1891.

6They did notוְלֹ֣אve.Lo'H3808askאָמְר֔וּ'a.me.RuH559, ‘Whereאַיֵּ֣ה'ai.YehH346is the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068who brought us upהַמַּעֲלֶ֥הha.ma.'a.LehH5927אֹתָ֖נוּ'o.Ta.nuH853from the landמֵאֶ֣רֶץme.'E.retzH776of Egyptמִצְרָ֑יִםmitz.Ra.yimH4714,who ledהַמּוֹלִ֨יךְha.mo.LikhH1980usאֹתָ֜נוּ'o.Ta.nuH853through the wildernessבַּמִּדְבָּ֗רba.mid.BarH4057,through a landבְּאֶ֨רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of desertsעֲרָבָ֤ה'a.ra.VahH6160and pitsוְשׁוּחָה֙ve.shu.ChahH7745,a landבְּאֶ֙רֶץ֙be.'E.retzH776of droughtצִיָּ֣הtzi.YahH6723and darknessוְצַלְמָ֔וֶתve.tzal.Ma.vetH6757,a landבְּאֶ֗רֶץbe.'E.retzH776where noלֹֽא־lo'-H3808oneאִ֔ישׁ'IshH376travelsעָ֤בַר'A.varH5674andשָֽׁם׃ShamH8033noוְלֹֽא־ve.lo'-H3808oneאָדָ֖ם'a.DamH120livesיָשַׁ֥בya.ShavH3427?’

7I broughtוָאָבִ֤יאva.'a.Vi'H935youאֶתְכֶם֙'et.KhemH853intoאֶל־'el-H413a fertileהַכַּרְמֶ֔לha.kar.MelH3759landאֶ֣רֶץ'E.retzH776to eatלֶאֱכֹ֥לle.'e.KholH398its fruitפִּרְיָ֖הּpir.YahH6529and bountyוְטוּבָ֑הּve.tu.VahH2898,but you cameוַתָּבֹ֙אוּ֙va.ta.Vo.'uH935and defiledוַתְּטַמְּא֣וּva.te.ta.me.'UH2930אֶת־'et-H853My landאַרְצִ֔י'ar.TziH776and madeשַׂמְתֶּ֖םsam.TemH7760My inheritanceוְנַחֲלָתִ֥יve.na.cha.la.TiH5159detestableלְתוֹעֵבָֽה׃le.to.'e.VahH8441.

8The priestsהַכֹּהֲנִ֗יםha.ko.ha.NimH3548did notלֹ֤אlo'H3808askאָֽמְרוּ֙'a.me.RuH559, ‘Whereאַיֵּ֣ה'ai.YehH346is the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068?’The expertsוְתֹפְשֵׂ֤יve.to.fe.SeiH8610in the lawהַתּוֹרָה֙ha.to.RahH8451noלֹ֣אlo'H3808longer knew Meיְדָע֔וּנִיye.da.'U.niH3045,and the leadersוְהָרֹעִ֖יםve.ha.ro.'ImH7462rebelledפָּ֣שְׁעוּPa.she.'uH6586against Me.The prophetsוְהַנְּבִיאִים֙ve.ha.ne.vi.'ImH5030prophesiedנִבְּא֣וּni.be.'UH5012by Baalבַבַּ֔עַלva.Ba.'alH1168and followedוְאַחֲרֵ֥י הָלָֽכוּ׃ve.'a.cha.Rei ha.La.khuH310 H1980uselessלֹֽא־lo'-H3808idolsיוֹעִ֖לוּyo.'I.luH3276.

9Thereforeלָכֵ֗ןla.KhenH3651,I will contendאָרִ֥יב'a.RivH7378withאִתְּכֶ֖ם'i.te.KhemH854you againעֹ֛ד'odH5750,declaresנְאֻם־ne.'um-H5002the LORDיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068,and I will bring a caseאָרִֽיב׃'a.RivH7378againstוְאֶת־ve.'EtH854your children’sבְּנֵ֥יbe.NeiH1121childrenבְנֵיכֶ֖םve.nei.KhemH1121.

10כִּ֣יkiH3588Cross overעִבְר֞וּ'iv.RuH5674to the coastsאִיֵּ֤י'i.YeiH339of Cyprusכִתִּיִּים֙khi.ti.YimH3794and take a lookוּרְא֔וּu.re.'UH7200;sendשִׁלְח֥וּshil.ChuH7971to Kedarוְקֵדָ֛רve.ke.DarH6938and considerוְהִֽתְבּוֹנְנ֖וּve.hit.bo.NuH995carefullyמְאֹ֑דme.'OdH3966;seeוּרְא֕וּu.re.'UH7200ifהֵ֥ןhenH2005there has ever beenהָיְתָ֖הha.ye.TahH1961anything like thisכָּזֹֽאת׃ka.ZotH2063:

11Has a nationגּוֹי֙goyH1471ever changedהַהֵימִ֥ירha.hei.MirH3235its godsאֱלֹהִ֔ים'E.lo.HimH430? (Yet theyוְהֵ֖מָּהve.He.mahH1992arenotלֹ֣אlo'H3808godsאֱלֹהִ֑ים'E.lo.HimH430at all.)But My peopleוְעַמִּ֛יve.'a.MiH5971have exchangedהֵמִ֥ירhe.MirH4171their Gloryכְּבוֹד֖וֹke.vo.DoH3519for uselessבְּל֥וֹאbe.Lo'H3808idolsיוֹעִֽיל׃yo.'IlH3276.

12Be stunnedשֹׁ֥מּוּSho.muH8074byעַל־'al-H5921thisזֹ֑אתZotH2063,O heavensשָׁמַ֖יִםsha.Ma.yimH8064;be shockedוְשַׂעֲר֛וּve.sa.'a.RuH8175and utterlyמְאֹ֖דme.'OdH3966appalledחָרְב֥וּcha.re.VuH2717,”declaresנְאֻם־ne.'um-H5002the LORDיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068.

The Consequence of Israel’s Sin

13“Forכִּֽי־ki-H3588My peopleעַמִּ֑י'a.MiH5971אֹתִ֨י'o.TiH853have committedעָשָׂ֣ה'a.SahH6213twoשְׁתַּ֥יִםshe.Ta.yimH8147evilsרָע֖וֹתra.'otH7451:They have forsaken Meעָזְב֜וּ'a.ze.VuH5800,the fountainמְק֣וֹר׀me.KorH4726of livingחַיִּ֗יםchai.YimH2416waterמַ֣יִםMa.yimH4325,and they have dugלַחְצֹ֤בlach.TzoH2672their owncisternsבֹּאר֔וֹתbo.RotH877—brokenנִשְׁבָּרִ֔יםnish.ba.RimH7665cisternsבֹּארֹת֙bo.RotH877thatאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834cannotלֹא־lo'-H3808holdיָכִ֖לוּya.Khi.luH3557waterהַמָּֽיִם׃ha.Ma.yimH4325.

14Is Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אִם־Yis.ra.'El 'im-H3478 H518a slaveהַעֶ֙בֶד֙ha.'E.vedH5650?Was heה֑וּאHu'H1931born into slaveryיְלִ֥יד בַּ֖יִתye.Lid Ba.yitH3211 H1004?Why thenמַדּ֖וּעַma.Du.a'H4069has he becomeהָיָ֥הha.YahH1961preyלָבַֽז׃la.VazH957?

15The young lionsכְפִרִ֔יםkhe.fi.RimH3715have roaredיִשְׁאֲג֣וּyish.'a.GuH7580at himעָלָיו֙'a.LavH5921;they have soundedנָתְנ֖וּna.te.NuH5414their voicesקוֹלָ֑םko.LamH6963.They have laidוַיָּשִׁ֤יתוּvai.ya.Shi.tuH7896wasteלְשַׁמָּ֔הle.sha.MahH8047his landאַרְצוֹ֙'ar.TzoH776;his citiesעָרָ֥יו'a.RavH5892lie in ruinsH5327,withoutמִבְּלִ֥יmi.be.LiH1097inhabitantיֹשֵֽׁב׃yo.ShevH3427.

16The menבְּנֵי־be.nei-H1121of Memphisנֹ֖ףnofH5297and Tahpanhesוְתַחְפַּנְחֵ֑סve.tach.pe.nesH8471גַּם־gam-H1571have shavedיִרְע֖וּךְyir.'UkhH7462the crown of your headקָדְקֹֽד׃ka.de.KodH6936.

17Have you notהֲלוֹא־ha.lo'-H3808broughtתַּעֲשֶׂה־ta.'a.seh-H6213thisזֹ֖אתzotH2063on yourselfby forsakingעָזְבֵךְ֙'a.ze.veKhH5800אֶת־'et-H853the LORDיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹהַ֔יִךְ'e.lo.Ha.yikhH430whenבְּעֵ֖תbe.'EtH6256He led youמוֹלִיכֵ֥ךְmo.li.KhekhH1980in the wayבַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃ba.Da.rekhH1870?

18Nowוְעַתָּ֗הve.'a.TahH6258what will you gainמַה־mah-H4100on your wayלְדֶ֣רֶךְle.De.rekhH1870to Egyptמִצְרַ֔יִםmitz.Ra.yimH4714to drinkלִשְׁתּ֖וֹתlish.TotH8354the watersמֵ֣יmeiH4325of the Nileשִׁח֑וֹרshi.ChorH7883?What will you gainוּמַה־u.mah-H4100on your wayלְדֶ֣רֶךְle.De.rekhH1870to Assyriaאַשּׁ֔וּר'a.ShurH804to drinkלִשְׁתּ֖וֹתlish.TotH8354the watersמֵ֥יmeiH4325of the Euphratesנָהָֽר׃na.HarH5104?

19Your own evilרָעָתֵ֗ךְra.'a.TekhH7451will discipline youתְּיַסְּרֵ֣ךְte.ya.se.RekhH3256;your own apostasiesוּמְשֻֽׁבוֹתַ֙יִךְ֙u.me.shu.vo.Ta.yikhH4878will reprimand youתּוֹכִחֻ֔ךְto.khi.ChukhH3198.Considerוּדְעִ֤יu.de.'IH3045and realizeוּרְאִי֙u.re.'IH7200howכִּי־ki-H3588evilרַ֣עra'H7451and bitter it isוָמָ֔רva.MarH4751for you to forsakeעָזְבֵ֖ךְ'a.ze.VekhH5800אֶת־'et-H853the LORDיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹהָ֑יִךְ'e.lo.Ha.yikhH430and to haveאֵלַ֔יִךְ'e.La.yikhH413noוְלֹ֤אve.Lo'H3808fear of Meפַחְדָּתִי֙fach.da.TiH6345,”declaresנְאֻם־ne.'um-H5002the Lordאֲדֹנָ֥י'a.do.NaiH136GODיְהוִ֖הYah.wehH3069of Hostsצְבָאֽוֹת׃tze.va.'otH6635.

20“Forכִּ֣יkiH3588long agoמֵעוֹלָ֞םme.'o.LamH5769you brokeשָׁבַ֣רְתִּיsha.Var.tiH7665your yokeעֻלֵּ֗ךְ'u.LekhH5923and tore offנִתַּ֙קְתִּי֙ni.Tak.tiH5423your chainsמוֹסְרֹתַ֔יִךְmos.ro.Ta.yikhH4147,sayingוַתֹּאמְרִ֖יva.tom.RiH559, ‘I will notלֹ֣אlo'H3808serveH5647!’Indeedכִּ֣יkiH3588,onעַֽל־'al-H5921everyכָּל־kol-H3605highגְּבֹהָ֗הge.vo.HahH1364hillגִּבְעָ֞הgiv.'AhH1389and underוְתַ֙חַת֙ve.Ta.chatH8478everyכָּל־kol-H3605greenרַעֲנָ֔ןra.'a.NanH7488treeעֵ֣ץ'etzH6086youאַ֖תְּ'atH859lay downצֹעָ֥הtzo.'AhH6808as a prostituteזֹנָֽה׃zo.NahH2181.

21Iוְאָֽנֹכִי֙ve.'a.no.KhiH595had planted youנְטַעְתִּ֣יךְne.ta'.TikhH5193like a choiceכֻּלֹּ֖הku.LohH3605vineשֹׂרֵ֔קso.RekH8321from the very bestאֱמֶ֑ת'e.MetH571seedזֶ֣רַעZe.ra'H2233.Howוְאֵיךְ֙ve.'eiKhH349could you turn yourselfנֶהְפַּ֣כְתְּneh.PakhtH2015before Meinto a rottenסוּרֵ֖יsu.ReiH5494,wildנָכְרִיָּֽה׃na.khe.ri.YahH5237vineהַגֶּ֥פֶןha.Ge.fenH1612?

Israel’s Unfaithfulness

(Judges 2:10–15; Isaiah 43:22–28)

22Althoughכִּ֤י אִם־ki 'im-H3588 H518you washתְּכַבְּסִי֙te.kha.be.SiH3526with lyeבַּנֶּ֔תֶרba.Ne.terH5427and use an abundanceוְתַרְבִּי־ve.tar.bi-H7235of soapבֹּרִ֑יתbo.RitH1287,the stainנִכְתָּ֤םnikh.TamH3799of your guiltעֲוֹנֵךְ֙'a.vo.neKhH5771is still before Meלְפָנַ֔יle.fa.NaiH6440,”declaresנְאֻ֖םne.'UmH5002the Lordאֲדֹנָ֥י'a.do.NaiH136GODיְהוִֽה׃Yah.wehH3069.

23“Howאֵ֣יךְ'eikhH349can you sayתֹּאמְרִ֞יtom.RiH559, ‘I am notלֹ֣אlo'H3808defiledנִטְמֵ֗אתִיnit.Me.tiH2930;I have notלֹ֣אlo'H3808runהָלַ֔כְתִּיha.Lakh.tiH1980afterאַחֲרֵ֤י'a.cha.ReiH310the Baalsהַבְּעָלִים֙ha.be.'a.LimH1168’?Lookרְאִ֤יre.'IH7200at your behaviorדַרְכֵּךְ֙dar.keKhH1870in the valleyבַּגַּ֔יְאba.Gay'H1516;acknowledgeדְּעִ֖יde.'IH3045whatמֶ֣הmehH4100you have doneעָשִׂ֑ית'a.SitH6213.You are a swiftקַלָּ֖הka.LahH7031young she-camelבִּכְרָ֥הbikh.RahH1072galloping here and thereמְשָׂרֶ֥כֶת דְּרָכֶֽיהָ׃me.sa.Re.khet de.ra.Khei.haH8308 H1870,

24a wild donkeyפֶּ֣רֶה׀Pe.rehH6501at home inלִמֻּ֣דli.MudH3928the wildernessמִדְבָּ֗רmid.BarH4057,sniffingשָׁאֲפָ֣הsha.'a.FahH7602the windר֔וּחַRu.achH7307in the heatתַּאֲנָתָ֖הּta.'a.na.TahH8385of herנַפְשָׁהּ֙na.fo.shahH5315desireבְּאַוַּ֤תbe.'a.VatH185.Whoמִ֣יmiH4310can restrain her passionיְשִׁיבֶ֑נָּהye.shi.Ve.nahH7725?Allכָּל־kol-H3605who seek herמְבַקְשֶׁ֙יהָ֙me.vak.Shei.haH1245need notלֹ֣אlo'H3808weary themselvesיִיעָ֔פוּyi.'A.fuH3286;in mating seasonבְּחָדְשָׁ֖הּbe.cha.de.ShahH2320they will find herיִמְצָאֽוּנְהָ׃yim.tza.'U.ne.haH4672.

25You should have keptמִנְעִ֤יmin.'IH4513your feetרַגְלֵךְ֙rag.leKhH7272from going bareמִיָּחֵ֔ףmi.ya.ChefH3182and your throatH1637from being thirstyמִצִּמְאָ֑הmi.tzim.'AhH6773.But you saidוַתֹּאמְרִ֣יva.tom.RiH559, ‘It is hopelessנוֹאָ֔שׁ ל֕וֹאno.'Ash Lo'H2976 H3808!Forכִּֽי־ki-H3588I loveאָהַ֥בְתִּי'a.Hav.tiH157foreignזָרִ֖יםza.RimH2114gods,and I must go afterוְאַחֲרֵיהֶ֥םve.'a.cha.rei.HemH310themאֵלֵֽךְ׃'e.LekhH1980.’

26As the thiefגַּנָּב֙ga.NavH1590is ashamedכְּבֹ֤שֶׁתke.Vo.shetH1322whenכִּ֣יkiH3588he is caughtיִמָּצֵ֔אyi.ma.Tze'H4672,soכֵּ֥ןkenH3651the houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478is disgracedהֹבִ֖ישׁוּho.Vi.shuH954.Theyהֵ֤מָּהHe.mahH1992,their kingsמַלְכֵיהֶם֙mal.khei.HemH4428,their officialsשָֽׂרֵיהֶ֔םsa.rei.HemH8269,their priestsוְכֹהֲנֵיהֶ֖םve.kho.ha.nei.HemH3548,and their prophetsוּנְבִיאֵיהֶֽם׃u.ne.vi.'ei.HemH5030

27sayאֹמְרִ֨ים'o.me.RimH559to a treeלָעֵ֜ץla.'EtzH6086, ‘Youאַ֗תָּה'A.tahH859are my fatherאָ֣בִי'A.viH1,’and to a stoneוְלָאֶ֙בֶן֙ve.la.'E.venH68, ‘Youאַ֣תְּ'atH859gave me birthיְלִדְתָּ֔נוּye.lid.ti.nuH3205כִּֽי־ki-H3588.’They have turnedפָנ֥וּfa.NuH6437their backsעֹ֖רֶף'O.refH6203to Meאֵלַ֛י'e.LaiH413and notוְלֹ֣אve.Lo'H3808their facesפָנִ֑יםfa.NimH6440.Yet in the timeוּבְעֵ֤תu.ve.'EtH6256of troubleרָֽעָתָם֙ra.'a.TamH7451,they sayיֹֽאמְר֔וּyo.me.RuH559, ‘Rise upק֖וּמָהKu.mahH6965and save usוְהוֹשִׁיעֵֽנוּ׃ve.ho.shi.'E.nuH3467!’

28But whereוְאַיֵּ֤הve.'ai.YehH346are the godsאֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙'e.lo.Hei.khaH430אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834you madeעָשִׂ֣יתָ'a.Si.taH6213for yourselves?Let them rise upיָק֕וּמוּya.Ku.muH6965in your timeבְּעֵ֣תbe.'EtH6256of troubleרָעָתֶ֑ךָra.'a.Te.khaH7451and save youיוֹשִׁיע֖וּךָyo.shi.'U.khaH3467if they canאִם־'im-H518;forכִּ֚יkiH3588your godsאֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430areהָי֥וּha.YuH1961as numerousמִסְפַּ֣רmis.ParH4557as your citiesעָרֶ֔יךָ'a.Rei.khaH5892,O Judahיְהוּדָֽה׃ סye.hu.DahH3063.

29Whyלָ֥מָּהLa.mahH4100do you bring a caseתָרִ֖יבוּta.Ri.vuH7378against Meאֵלָ֑י'e.LaiH413?You have allכֻּלְּכֶ֛םku.le.KhemH3605rebelledפְּשַׁעְתֶּ֥םpe.sha'.TemH6586against Me,”declaresנְאֻם־ne.'um-H5002the LORDיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068.

30“I have struckהִכֵּ֣יתִיhi.Kei.tiH5221אֶת־'et-H853your sonsבְּנֵיכֶ֔םbe.nei.KhemH1121in vainלַשָּׁוְא֙la.shaV'H7723;they acceptedלָקָ֑חוּla.Ka.chuH3947noלֹ֣אlo'H3808disciplineמוּסָ֖רmu.SarH4148.Your own swordחַרְבְּכֶ֛םchar.be.KhemH2719has devouredאָכְלָ֧ה'a.khe.LahH398your prophetsנְבִֽיאֵיכֶ֖םne.vi.'ei.KhemH5030like a voraciousמַשְׁחִֽית׃mash.ChitH7843lionכְּאַרְיֵ֥הke.'ar.YehH738.”

31Youאַתֶּם֙'a.TemH859peopleof this generationהַדּ֗וֹרha.DorH1755,considerרְא֣וּre.'UH7200the wordדְבַר־de.var-H1697of the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068: “Have I beenהָיִ֙יתִי֙ha.Yi.tiH1961a wildernessהֲמִדְבָּ֤רha.mid.BarH4057to Israelלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לle.Yis.ra.'ElH3478orאִ֛ם'imH518a landאֶ֥רֶץ'E.retzH776of dense darknessמַאְפֵּ֖לְיָ֑הma'.Pe.le.YahH3991?Whyמַדּ֜וּעַma.Du.a'H4069do My peopleעַמִּי֙'a.MiH5971sayאָמְר֤וּ'a.me.RuH559, ‘We are free to roamרַ֔דְנוּRad.nuH7300;we willלֽוֹא־lo'-H3808comeנָב֥וֹאna.Vo'H935to Youאֵלֶֽיךָ׃'e.Lei.khaH413no moreע֖וֹדodH5750’?

32Does a maidenבְּתוּלָה֙be.tu.LahH1330forgetהֲתִשְׁכַּ֤חha.tish.KachH7911her jewelryעֶדְיָ֔הּ'ed.YahH5716or a brideכַּלָּ֖הka.LahH3618her wedding sashקִשֻּׁרֶ֑יהָki.shu.Rei.haH7196?Yet My peopleוְעַמִּ֣יve.'a.MiH5971have forgotten Meשְׁכֵח֔וּנִיshe.khe.Chu.niH7911for daysיָמִ֖יםya.MimH3117withoutאֵ֥ין'einH369numberמִסְפָּֽר׃mis.ParH4557.

33Howמַה־mah-H4100skillfullyתֵּיטִ֥בִי דַּרְכֵּ֖ךְtei.Ti.vi dar.KekhH3190 H1870you pursueלְבַקֵּ֣שׁle.va.KeshH1245loveאַהֲבָ֑ה לָכֵן֙'a.ha.Vah la.KhenH160 H3651!Evenגַּ֣םgamH1571אֶת־'et-H853the most immoral of womenהָרָע֔וֹתha.ra.'otH7451could learnלִמַּ֖דְתְּli.mad.tiH3925אֶת־'et-H853from your waysדְּרָכָֽיִךְ׃de.ra.Kha.yikhH1870.

34Moreoverגַּ֤םgamH1571,your skirtsבִּכְנָפַ֙יִךְ֙bikh.na.Fa.yikhH3671are stainedנִמְצְא֔וּnim.tze.'UH4672with the bloodדַּ֛ם נַפְשׁ֥וֹתdam naf.ShotH1818 H5315of the innocentנְקִיִּ֑יםne.ki.YimH5355poorאֶבְיוֹנִ֖ים'ev.yo.NimH34,though you did notלֹֽא־lo'-H3808find themמְצָאתִ֖יםme.tza.TimH4672breaking inבַמַּחְתֶּ֥רֶתva.mach.Te.retH4290.Butכִּ֥יkiH3588in spite ofעַל־'al-H5921allכָּל־kol-H3605these thingsאֵֽלֶּה׃'E.lehH428

35you sayוַתֹּֽאמְרִי֙ כִּ֣יva.to.me.Ri kiH559 H3588, ‘I am innocentנִקֵּ֔יתִיni.Kei.tiH5352.Surelyאַ֛ךְ'akhH389His angerאַפּ֖וֹ'a.PoH639will turnשָׁ֥בshavH7725from meמִמֶּ֑נִּיmi.Me.niH4480.’Beholdהִנְנִי֙hi.NiH2005,I will judgeנִשְׁפָּ֣טnish.PatH8199youאוֹתָ֔ךְ'o.TakhH854,becauseעַל־'al-H5921you sayאָמְרֵ֖ךְ'a.me.RekhH559, ‘I have notלֹ֥אlo'H3808sinnedחָטָֽאתִי׃cha.Ta.tiH2398.’

36Howמַה־mah-H4100impulsive you areH2151,constantlyמְאֹ֖דme.'OdH3966changingלְשַׁנּ֣וֹתle.sha.NotH8138אֶת־'et-H853your waysדַּרְכֵּ֑ךְ גַּ֤םdar.Kekh gamH1870 H1571!You will be disappointedתֵּב֔וֹשִׁיte.Vo.o.shiH954by Egyptמִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙mi.mitz.Ra.yimH4714just asכַּאֲשֶׁר־ka.'a.Sher-H834youבֹּ֖שְׁתְּBo.shetH954wereby Assyriaמֵאַשּֽׁוּר׃me.'a.ShurH804.

37Moreoverגַּ֣ם מֵאֵ֥תgam me.'EtH1571 H854,you will leaveתֵּֽצְאִ֔יte.tze.'IH3318that placeזֶה֙zehH2088with your handsוְיָדַ֖יִךְve.ya.Da.yikhH3027onעַל־'al-H5921your headרֹאשֵׁ֑ךְro.ShekhH7218,forכִּֽי־ki-H3588the LORDיְהֹוָה֙Yah.wehH3068has rejectedמָאַ֤סma.'AsH3988those you trustבְּמִבְטַחַ֔יִךְbe.miv.ta.Cha.yikhH4009;you will notוְלֹ֥אve.Lo'H3808prosperתַצְלִ֖יחִיtatz.Li.chiH6743by their help.”

The Consequence of Israel’s Sin

Israel’s Unfaithfulness

(Judges 2:10–15; Isaiah 43:22–28)

Commentaries on Jeremiah 2