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, ‘This is what the Lord says: “I remember regarding you the 23devotion of your youth, Your love when you were a bride, 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, house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel. 5This is what the Lord says: “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 person lived?’7I brought you into the 13fruitful land To eat its fruit and its good things. But you came and 14defiled My land, And you made My inheritance an abomination.8The 15priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’ And those who handle the Law 16did not know Me; The 17rulers also revolted against Me, And the 18prophets prophesied by Baal And walked after 19things that were of no benefit.

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

14“Is Israel 29a slave? Or is he a servant born in the home? Why has he become plunder?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 36your head.17Have you not 37done this to yourself By your abandoning the Lord your God When He 38led you in the way?18But now what are you doing 39on the road to Egypt, Except to drink the waters of the 4041Nile? Or what are you doing on the road to Assyria, Except to drink the waters of the Euphrates River?1942Your own wickedness will correct you, And your 43apostasies will punish you; Know therefore and see that it is evil and 44bitter For you to abandon the Lord your God, And 45the fear of Me is not in you,” declares the Lord 46God of armies.

20“For long ago 4748I broke your yoke And tore off your restraints; But you said, ‘I will not serve!’ For on every 49high hill And under every leafy tree You have lain down as a prostitute.21Yet I 50planted you as a choice vine, A completely faithful seed. How then have you turned yourself before Me Into the 51degenerate shoots of a foreign vine?22Although you 52wash yourself with lye And 53use much soap, The 54stain of your guilt is before Me,” declares the Lord 55God.23“56How can you say, ‘I am not defiled, I have not gone after the 57Baals’? Look at your way in the 58valley! Know what you have done! You are a swift young camel 59running about senselessly on her ways,24A 60wild donkey accustomed to the wilderness, That sniffs the wind in her passion. Who can turn her away in her mating season? None who seek her will grow weary; In her month they will find her.25Keep your feet from being bare, And your throat from thirst; But you said, ‘61It is 62hopeless! No! For I have 63loved strangers, And I will walk after them.’

26“Like the shame of a 64thief when he is discovered, So the house of Israel is shamed; They, their kings, their leaders, 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 65backs to Me, And not their faces; But in the 66time of their 67trouble they will say, ‘Arise and save us!’28But where are your 68gods Which you made for yourself? Let them arise, if they can 69save you In the time of your 70trouble! For 71as many as the number of your cities Are your gods, Judah.

29“Why do you contend with Me? You have 72all revolted against Me,” declares the Lord.30“73In vain I have struck your sons; They did not accept discipline. Your 74sword has devoured your prophets Like a destroying lion.31You generation, look to the word of the Lord. Have I been a wilderness to Israel, Or a 75land of thick darkness? Why do My people say, ‘76We are free to roam; We will no longer come to You’?32Can a virgin forget her jewelry, Or a bride her attire? Yet My people have 77forgotten Me For days without number.33How well you prepare your way To seek love! Therefore even to the wicked women You have taught your ways.34Also on your skirts is found The 78lifeblood of the innocent poor; You did not find them 79breaking in. But in spite of all these things,35You said, ‘I am innocent; Surely His anger is turned away from me.’ Behold, I will 80enter into judgment with you Because you 81say, ‘I have not sinned.’36Why do you 82go around so much Changing your way? Also, 83you will be put to shame by Egypt, Just as you were put to shame by 84Assyria.37From this place as well you will go out With 85your hands on your head; For the Lord has rejected 86those in whom you trust, And you will not prosper with them.”