Jeremiah 2:5-34

5Thus says the Lord, “1What injustice did your fathers find in Me, That they went far from Me And walked after 2emptiness and became empty?6They did not say, ‘Where is the Lord Who 3brought us up out of the land of Egypt, Who 4led us through the wilderness, Through a land of deserts and of pits, Through a land of drought and of 5deep darkness, Through a land that no one crossed And where no man dwelt?’7I brought you into the 6fruitful land To eat its fruit and its good things. But you came and 7defiled My land, And My inheritance you made an abomination.8The 8priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’ And those who handle the law 9did not know Me; The 10rulers also transgressed against Me, And the 11prophets prophesied by Baal And walked after 12things that did not profit.

9“Therefore I will yet 13contend with you,” declares the Lord, “And with your sons’ sons I will contend.10For 14cross to the coastlands of 15Kittim and see, And send to 16Kedar and observe closely And see if there has been such a thing as this!11Has a nation changed gods When 17they were not gods? But My people have 18changed their glory For that which does not profit.12Be appalled, 19O heavens, at this, And shudder, be very desolate,” declares the Lord.13“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The 20fountain of living waters, To hew for themselves 21cisterns, Broken cisterns That can hold no water.

14“Is Israel 22a slave? Or is he a homeborn servant? Why has he become a prey?15The young 23lions have roared at him, They have 24roared loudly. And they have 25made his land a waste; His cities have been destroyed, without inhabitant.16Also the 26men of 27Memphis and Tahpanhes Have 28shaved the 29crown of your head.17Have you not 30done this to yourself By your forsaking the Lord your God When He 31led you in the way?18But now what are you doing 32on the road to Egypt, To drink the waters of the 3334Nile? Or what are you doing on the road to Assyria, To drink the waters of the 35Euphrates?1936Your own wickedness will correct you, And your 37apostasies will reprove you; Know therefore and see that it is evil and 38bitter For you to forsake the Lord your God, And 39the dread of Me is not in you,” declares the Lord 40God of hosts.

20“For long ago 4142I broke your yoke And tore off your bonds; But you said, ‘I will not serve!’ For on every 43high hill And under every green tree You have lain down as a harlot.21Yet I 44planted you a choice vine, A completely faithful seed. How then have you turned yourself before Me Into the 45degenerate shoots of a foreign vine?22Although you 46wash yourself with lye And 47use much soap, The 48stain of your iniquity is before Me,” declares the Lord 49God.23“50How can you say, ‘I am not defiled, I have not gone after the 51Baals’? Look at your way in the 52valley! Know what you have done! You are a swift young camel 53entangling her ways,24A 54wild donkey accustomed to the wilderness, That sniffs the wind in her passion. In the time of her 55heat 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, ‘56It is 57hopeless! No! For I have 58loved strangers, And after them I will walk.’

26“As the 59thief 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 60back to Me, And not their face; But in the 61time of their 62trouble they will say, ‘Arise and save us.’28But where are your 63gods Which you made for yourself? Let them arise, if they can 64save you In the time of your 65trouble; For 66according to the number of your cities Are your gods, O Judah.

29“Why do you contend with Me? You have 67all transgressed against Me,” declares the Lord.30“68In vain I have struck your sons; They accepted no chastening. Your 69sword 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 70land of thick darkness? Why do My people say, ‘71We 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 72forgotten Me Days without number.33How well you prepare your way To seek love! Therefore even 73the wicked women You have taught your ways.34Also on your skirts is found The 74lifeblood of the innocent poor; You did not find them 75breaking in. But in spite of all these things,