Jeremiah 2:5-34

5This is what the Lord says: “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 person lived?’7I brought you into the 6fruitful land To eat its fruit and its good things. But you came and 7defiled My land, And you made My inheritance an abomination.8The 8priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’ And those who handle the Law 9did not know Me; The 10rulers also revolted against Me, And the 11prophets prophesied by Baal And walked after 12things that were of no benefit.

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

14“Is Israel 22a slave? Or is he a servant born in the home? Why has he become plunder?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 29your head.17Have you not 30done this to yourself By your abandoning the Lord your God When He 31led you in the way?18But now what are you doing 32on the road to Egypt, Except to drink the waters of the 3334Nile? Or what are you doing on the road to Assyria, Except to drink the waters of the Euphrates River?1935Your own wickedness will correct you, And your 36apostasies will punish you; Know therefore and see that it is evil and 37bitter For you to abandon the Lord your God, And 38the fear of Me is not in you,” declares the Lord 39God of armies.

20“For long ago 4041I broke your yoke And tore off your restraints; But you said, ‘I will not serve!’ For on every 42high hill And under every leafy tree You have lain down as a prostitute.21Yet I 43planted you as a choice vine, A completely faithful seed. How then have you turned yourself before Me Into the 44degenerate shoots of a foreign vine?22Although you 45wash yourself with lye And 46use much soap, The 47stain of your guilt is before Me,” declares the Lord 48God.23“49How can you say, ‘I am not defiled, I have not gone after the 50Baals’? Look at your way in the 51valley! Know what you have done! You are a swift young camel 52running about senselessly on her ways,24A 53wild 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, ‘54It is 55hopeless! No! For I have 56loved strangers, And I will walk after them.’

26“Like the shame of a 57thief 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 58backs to Me, And not their faces; But in the 59time of their 60trouble they will say, ‘Arise and save us!’28But where are your 61gods Which you made for yourself? Let them arise, if they can 62save you In the time of your 63trouble! For 64as many as the number of your cities Are your gods, Judah.

29“Why do you contend with Me? You have 65all revolted against Me,” declares the Lord.30“66In vain I have struck your sons; They did not accept discipline. Your 67sword 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 68land of thick darkness? Why do My people say, ‘69We 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 70forgotten 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 71lifeblood of the innocent poor; You did not find them 72breaking in. But in spite of all these things,