Jeremiah 2

Judah’s Apostasy

1Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, 2“Go and 1proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, “I remember concerning you the 23devotion of your youth, The love of your betrothals, 4Your following after Me in the wilderness, Through a land not sown.3Israel was 5holy to the Lord, The 6first of His harvest. 7All who ate of it became guilty; Evil came upon them,” declares the Lord.’”

4Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel. 5Thus says the Lord, “8What injustice did your fathers find in Me, That they went far from Me And walked after 9emptiness and became empty?6They did not say, ‘Where is the Lord Who 10brought us up out of the land of Egypt, Who 11led us through the wilderness, Through a land of deserts and of pits, Through a land of drought and of 12deep darkness, Through a land that no one crossed And where no man dwelt?’7I brought you into the 13fruitful land To eat its fruit and its good things. But you came and 14defiled My land, And My inheritance you made an abomination.8The 15priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’ And those who handle the law 16did not know Me; The 17rulers also transgressed against Me, And the 18prophets prophesied by Baal And walked after 19things that did not profit.

9“Therefore I will yet 20contend with you,” declares the Lord, “And with your sons’ sons I will contend.10For 21cross to the coastlands of 22Kittim and see, And send to 23Kedar and observe closely And see if there has been such a thing as this!11Has a nation changed gods When 24they were not gods? But My people have 25changed their glory For that which does not profit.12Be appalled, 26O heavens, at this, And shudder, be very desolate,” declares the Lord.13“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The 27fountain of living waters, To hew for themselves 28cisterns, Broken cisterns That can hold no water.

14“Is Israel 29a slave? Or is he a homeborn servant? Why has he become a prey?15The young 30lions have roared at him, They have 31roared loudly. And they have 32made his land a waste; His cities have been destroyed, without inhabitant.16Also the 33men of 34Memphis and Tahpanhes Have 35shaved the 36crown of your head.17Have you not 37done this to yourself By your forsaking the Lord your God When He 38led you in the way?18But now what are you doing 39on the road to Egypt, To drink the waters of the 4041Nile? Or what are you doing on the road to Assyria, To drink the waters of the 42Euphrates?1943Your own wickedness will correct you, And your 44apostasies will reprove you; Know therefore and see that it is evil and 45bitter For you to forsake the Lord your God, And 46the dread of Me is not in you,” declares the Lord 47God of hosts.

20“For long ago 4849I broke your yoke And tore off your bonds; But you said, ‘I will not serve!’ For on every 50high hill And under every green tree You have lain down as a harlot.21Yet I 51planted you a choice vine, A completely faithful seed. How then have you turned yourself before Me Into the 52degenerate shoots of a foreign vine?22Although you 53wash yourself with lye And 54use much soap, The 55stain of your iniquity is before Me,” declares the Lord 56God.23“57How can you say, ‘I am not defiled, I have not gone after the 58Baals’? Look at your way in the 59valley! Know what you have done! You are a swift young camel 60entangling her ways,24A 61wild donkey accustomed to the wilderness, That sniffs the wind in her passion. In the time of her 62heat who can turn her away? All who seek her will not become weary; In her month they will find her.25Keep your feet from being unshod And your throat from thirst; But you said, ‘63It is 64hopeless! No! For I have 65loved strangers, And after them I will walk.’

26“As the 66thief is shamed when he is discovered, So the house of Israel is shamed; They, their kings, their princes And their priests and their prophets,27Who say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ And to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ For they have turned their 67back to Me, And not their face; But in the 68time of their 69trouble they will say, ‘Arise and save us.’28But where are your 70gods Which you made for yourself? Let them arise, if they can 71save you In the time of your 72trouble; For 73according to the number of your cities Are your gods, O Judah.

29“Why do you contend with Me? You have 74all transgressed against Me,” declares the Lord.30“75In vain I have struck your sons; They accepted no chastening. Your 76sword has devoured your prophets Like a destroying lion.31O generation, heed the word of the Lord. Have I been a wilderness to Israel, Or a 77land of thick darkness? Why do My people say, ‘78We are free to roam; We will no longer come to You’?32Can a virgin forget her ornaments, Or a bride her attire? Yet My people have 79forgotten Me Days without number.33How well you prepare your way To seek love! Therefore even 80the wicked women You have taught your ways.34Also on your skirts is found The 81lifeblood of the innocent poor; You did not find them 82breaking in. But in spite of all these things,35Yet you said, ‘I am innocent; Surely His anger is turned away from me.’ Behold, I will 83enter into judgment with you Because you 84say, ‘I have not sinned.’36Why do you 85go around so much Changing your way? Also, 86you will be put to shame by Egypt As you were put to shame by 87Assyria.37From this place also you will go out With 88your hands on your head; For the Lord has rejected 89those in whom you trust, And you will not prosper with them.”