Book of Jeremiah, Chapter 2
Chapter 2 of Jeremiah
¶ I remember the devotion of your youth,
your love as a bride,
how you followed me in the wilderness,
in a land not sown.
the first fruits of his harvest.
All who ate of it became guilty;
evil came upon them,
says the LORD.”
¶ “What wrong did your fathers find in me
that they went far from me,
and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?
who brought us up from the land of Egypt,
who led us in the wilderness,
in a land of deserts and pits,
in a land of drought and deep darkness,
in a land that none passes through,
where no man dwells?’
to enjoy its fruits and its good things.
But when you came in you defiled my land,
and made my heritage an abomination.
Those who handle the law did not know me;
the rulers[a] transgressed against me;
the prophets prophesied by Ba′al,
and went after things that do not profit.
says the LORD,
and with your children’s children I will contend.
or send to Kedar and examine with care;
see if there has been such a thing.
even though they are no gods?
But my people have changed their glory
for that which does not profit.
be shocked, be utterly desolate,
says the LORD,
they have forsaken me,
the fountain of living waters,
and hewed out cisterns for themselves,
broken cisterns,
that can hold no water.
Why then has he become a prey?
they have roared loudly.
They have made his land a waste;
his cities are in ruins, without inhabitant.
have broken the crown of your head.
by forsaking the LORD your God,
when he led you in the way?
to drink the waters of the Nile?
Or what do you gain by going to Assyria,
to drink the waters of the Euphra′tes?
and your apostasy will reprove you.
Know and see that it is evil and bitter
for you to forsake the LORD your God;
the fear of me is not in you,
says the Lord GOD of hosts.
and burst your bonds;
and you said, ‘I will not serve.’
Yea, upon every high hill
and under every green tree
you bowed down as a harlot.
wholly of pure seed.
How then have you turned degenerate
and become a wild vine?
and use much soap,
the stain of your guilt is still before me,
says the Lord GOD.
I have not gone after the Ba′als’?
Look at your way in the valley;
know what you have done—
a restive young camel interlacing her tracks,
in her heat sniffing the wind!
Who can restrain her lust?
None who seek her need weary themselves;
in her month they will find her.
and your throat from thirst.
But you said, ‘It is hopeless,
for I have loved strangers,
and after them I will go.’
so the house of Israel shall be shamed:
they, their kings, their princes,
their priests, and their prophets,
and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’
For they have turned their back to me,
and not their face.
But in the time of their trouble they say,
‘Arise and save us!’
that you made for yourself?
Let them arise, if they can save you,
in your time of trouble;
for as many as your cities
are your gods, O Judah.
You have all rebelled against me,
says the LORD.
they took no correction;
your own sword devoured your prophets
like a ravening lion.
Have I been a wilderness to Israel,
or a land of thick darkness?
Why then do my people say, ‘We are free,
we will come no more to thee’?
or a bride her attire?
Yet my people have forgotten me
days without number.
to seek lovers!
So that even to wicked women
you have taught your ways.
the lifeblood of guiltless poor;
you did not find them breaking in.
Yet in spite of all these things
surely his anger has turned from me.’
Behold, I will bring you to judgment
for saying, ‘I have not sinned.’
changing your way!
You shall be put to shame by Egypt
as you were put to shame by Assyria.
with your hands upon your head,
for the LORD has rejected those in whom you trust,
and you will not prosper by them.FOOTNOTES
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