Jeremiah 2:8-26

8The 1priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’ And those who handle the law 2did not know Me; The 3rulers also transgressed against Me, And the 4prophets prophesied by Baal And walked after 5things that did not profit.

9“Therefore I will yet 6contend with you,” declares the Lord, “And with your sons’ sons I will contend.10For 7cross to the coastlands of 8Kittim and see, And send to 9Kedar and observe closely And see if there has been such a thing as this!11Has a nation changed gods When 10they were not gods? But My people have 11changed their glory For that which does not profit.12Be appalled, 12O heavens, at this, And shudder, be very desolate,” declares the Lord.13“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The 13fountain of living waters, To hew for themselves 14cisterns, Broken cisterns That can hold no water.

14“Is Israel 15a slave? Or is he a homeborn servant? Why has he become a prey?15The young 16lions have roared at him, They have 17roared loudly. And they have 18made his land a waste; His cities have been destroyed, without inhabitant.16Also the 19men of 20Memphis and Tahpanhes Have 21shaved the 22crown of your head.17Have you not 23done this to yourself By your forsaking the Lord your God When He 24led you in the way?18But now what are you doing 25on the road to Egypt, To drink the waters of the 2627Nile? Or what are you doing on the road to Assyria, To drink the waters of the 28Euphrates?1929Your own wickedness will correct you, And your 30apostasies will reprove you; Know therefore and see that it is evil and 31bitter For you to forsake the Lord your God, And 32the dread of Me is not in you,” declares the Lord 33God of hosts.

20“For long ago 3435I broke your yoke And tore off your bonds; But you said, ‘I will not serve!’ For on every 36high hill And under every green tree You have lain down as a harlot.21Yet I 37planted you a choice vine, A completely faithful seed. How then have you turned yourself before Me Into the 38degenerate shoots of a foreign vine?22Although you 39wash yourself with lye And 40use much soap, The 41stain of your iniquity is before Me,” declares the Lord 42God.23“43How can you say, ‘I am not defiled, I have not gone after the 44Baals’? Look at your way in the 45valley! Know what you have done! You are a swift young camel 46entangling her ways,24A 47wild donkey accustomed to the wilderness, That sniffs the wind in her passion. In the time of her 48heat 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, ‘49It is 50hopeless! No! For I have 51loved strangers, And after them I will walk.’

26“As the 52thief is shamed when he is discovered, So the house of Israel is shamed; They, their kings, their princes And their priests and their prophets,