Jeremiah 2:1-7

1The Lord spoke to me again.

2He said, ‘Go and tell this to the people in Jerusalem: “This is what the Lord says: I remember how you used to love me when you were young. You loved me as a young wife loves her husband. You followed me through the wilderness, where no crops were growing.

3At that time, Israel belonged to me as my special people. They were like the first crops that grew on my land. I promised to punish anyone who tried to hurt them. I sent great trouble to those who attacked you. That is what I, the Lord, have said.” ’

4Listen to what the Lord says, you descendants of Jacob, all you families in Israel.

5This is the Lord's message to you: ‘I had done nothing wrong against your ancestors, but they turned away from me. Instead, they worshipped useless idols. So they themselves became useless.

6They did not think to themselves, “Where is the Lord? We should ask him to help us. He brought us safely out of Egypt. He led us through the wilderness. It was a place with dry sand and deep holes. There was no water there and it was dangerous. Nobody lives in that desert, and nobody even travels through it.”

7But I, the Lord, brought you to a good land. It was a place where fruit grew on trees. You could eat all those good things, as well as the crops that you grew there. You came into the land that I had promised to give to you. But you spoiled it with your sins. You made it a disgusting place.