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 revolted against Me, And the 4prophets prophesied by Baal And walked after 5things that were of no benefit.

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

14“Is Israel 15a slave? Or is he a servant born in the home? Why has he become plunder?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 22your head.17Have you not 23done this to yourself By your abandoning the Lord your God When He 24led you in the way?18But now what are you doing 25on the road to Egypt, Except to drink the waters of the 2627Nile? Or what are you doing on the road to Assyria, Except to drink the waters of the Euphrates River?1928Your own wickedness will correct you, And your 29apostasies will punish you; Know therefore and see that it is evil and 30bitter For you to abandon the Lord your God, And 31the fear of Me is not in you,” declares the Lord 32God of armies.

20“For long ago 3334I broke your yoke And tore off your restraints; But you said, ‘I will not serve!’ For on every 35high hill And under every leafy tree You have lain down as a prostitute.21Yet I 36planted you as a choice vine, A completely faithful seed. How then have you turned yourself before Me Into the 37degenerate shoots of a foreign vine?22Although you 38wash yourself with lye And 39use much soap, The 40stain of your guilt is before Me,” declares the Lord 41God.23“42How can you say, ‘I am not defiled, I have not gone after the 43Baals’? Look at your way in the 44valley! Know what you have done! You are a swift young camel 45running about senselessly on her ways,24A 46wild 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, ‘47It is 48hopeless! No! For I have 49loved strangers, And I will walk after them.’

26“Like the shame of a 50thief when he is discovered, So the house of Israel is shamed; They, their kings, their leaders, Their priests, and their prophets,