Jeremiah 2:12-27

12The Lord says, ‘The whole universe should see how terrible this is. Yes, everything should shake with fear!

13My people have done two evil things: I give them life, like a spring of fresh water, but they have turned away from me. Instead, they have tried to get water for themselves. They have dug holes in the ground to store it. But those holes cannot hold the water. It quickly runs away.

14Israel's people are surely not slaves. They were not born as slaves. But their enemies have taken them away as prisoners.

15Their enemies have attacked them like lions. They have destroyed my people's land. They have destroyed your cities with fire. Nobody lives in them any more.

16Soldiers from Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken your skulls!

17You Israelites have caused this to happen. The Lord your God was leading you on the right way. But you decided not to follow him any longer.

18So what help will you get from Egypt? If you drink water from the Nile river, will that make you strong? No! And what help will you get from Assyria? If you drink water from the Euphrates river, will that make you strong? No!

19The wicked things that you have done will punish you. You are guilty because you have turned away from me. You have brought terrible trouble on yourselves, because you have turned against me, the Lord your God. Because you no longer respect me, you will realize that you are in great trouble.’ That is what the Lord God Almighty says.

20‘A long time ago, you stopped obeying me. You refused to accept my authority. You said, “I will not serve you!” Instead, you go up on the hills to worship other gods. You lie down under the green trees, and you live like prostitutes.

21I planted you in my land, like the very good seed of a vine. But see how you have changed! You have become like a wild vine. Your grapes are bad and useless.

22You may use strong soap to make yourselves clean. But I still see the dirt of your sins.’ That is what the Almighty Lord says.

23‘You say, “We have not made ourselves unclean. We do not worship the idols of Baal.” But remember what you have done in the valleys. You hurry to find another idol that you can worship. Like a female camel, you cannot control yourselves.

24You are like a wild female donkey that lives in the wilderness. She lifts her nose to smell the air. She wants to find a male donkey. Nobody can control her. Male donkeys do not have to chase her. She will come to them to have sex with them. You are like that as you chase after false gods.

25Stop running after them! Your feet will hurt and you will become very thirsty. You say, “Do not try to stop us! We cannot turn back. We love foreign gods and we must serve them!”

26A robber is ashamed when people catch him. The people of Israel will become ashamed like that. They will all be ashamed of their sins. Their kings, their officers, their priests and their prophets are all guilty.

27They worship a piece of wood, and they say, “You are my father.” They say to a stone, “You gave birth to me.” They have not turned to come to me. Instead, they have turned away from me. But when trouble comes to them, they call out to me to rescue them.