Jeremiah 2 | King James Version

King James Version

1 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown. 3 Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD. 4 Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel: 5 Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain? 6 Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt? 7 And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination. 8 The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit. 9 Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children' children will I plead. 10 For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing. 11 Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. 12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD. 13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. 14 Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave ? why is he spoiled? 15 The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant. 16 Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head. 17 Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way? 18 And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river? 19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts. 20 For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot. 21 Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me? 22 For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD. 23 How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways; 24 A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her. 25 Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go. 26 As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets, 27 Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us. 28 But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah. 29 Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD. 30 In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion. 31 O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee? 32 Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number. 33 Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways. 34 Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these. 35 Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned. 36 Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria. 37 Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head: for the LORD hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them.

New International Reader’s Version

Israel deserts the Lord

1 A message from the LORD came to me. The LORD said, 2 ‘Go. Announce my message to the people in Jerusalem. I want everyone to hear it. Tell them, ‘Here is what the LORD says. ‘ “I remember how faithful you were to me when you were young. You loved me as if you were my bride. You followed me through the desert. Nothing had been planted there. 3 Your people were holy to me. They were the first share of my harvest. All those who destroyed them were held guilty. And trouble came to their enemies,” ’ announces the LORD. 4 People of Jacob, hear the LORD’s message. Listen, all you tribes of Israel. 5 The LORD says, ‘What did your people of long ago find wrong with me? Why did they wander so far away from me? They worshipped worthless statues of gods. Then they themselves became worthless. 6 They did not ask, “Where is the LORD? He brought us up out of Egypt. He led us through a dry and empty land. He guided us through deserts and deep valleys. It was a land of total darkness where there wasn’t any rain. No one lived or travelled there.” 7 But I brought you into a land that has rich soil. I gave you its fruit and its finest food. In spite of that, you made my land impure. You turned it into something I hate. 8 The priests did not ask, “Where is the LORD?” Those who taught my law did not know me. The leaders refused to obey me. The prophets prophesied in the name of Baal. They worshipped worthless statues of gods. 9 ‘So I am bringing charges against you again,’ announces the LORD. ‘And I will bring charges against your children’s children. 10 Go over to the coasts of Cyprus and look. Send people to the land of Kedar and let them look closely. See if there has ever been anything like this. 11 Has a nation ever changed its gods? Actually, they are not even gods at all. But my people have traded away their glorious God. They have traded me for worthless statues of gods. 12 Sky above, be shocked over this. Tremble with horror,’ announces the LORD. 13 ‘My people have sinned twice. They have deserted me, even though I am the spring of water that gives life. And they have dug their own wells. But those wells are broken. They can’t hold any water. 14 Are you people of Israel servants? You were not born as slaves, were you? Then why have you been carried off like stolen goods? 15 Lions have roared. They have growled at you. They have destroyed your land. Your towns are burned and deserted. 16 The men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have cracked your skulls. 17 Haven’t you brought this on yourselves? I am the LORD your God, but you deserted me. You left me even while I was leading you. 18 Why do you go to Egypt to drink water from the River Nile? Why do you go to Assyria to drink from the River Euphrates? 19 You will be punished because you have sinned. You will be corrected for turning away from me. I am the LORD your God. If you desert me, bad things will happen to you. If you do not respect me, you will suffer bitterly. I want you to understand that,’ announces the LORD who rules over all. 20 ‘Long ago you broke off the yoke I put on you. You tore off the ropes I tied you up with. You said, “I won’t serve you!” In fact, on every high hill you lay down like a prostitute. You worshipped other gods under every green tree. 21 You were like a good vine when I planted you. You were a healthy plant. Then how did you turn against me? How did you become a bad, wild vine? 22 You might wash yourself with soap. You might use plenty of strong soap. But I can still see the stains your guilt covers you with,’ announces the LORD and King. 23 ‘You say, “I am ‘clean’. I haven’t followed the gods that are named Baal.” How can you say that? Remember how you acted in the valley. Consider what you have done. You are like a female camel running quickly here and there. 24 You are like a wild donkey that lives in the desert. She smells the wind when she longs for a mate. Who can hold her back? The males that run after her do not need to wear themselves out. At mating time they will easily find her. 25 Do not run after other gods until your sandals are worn out and your throat is dry. But you said, “It’s no use! I love those gods. I must go after them.” 26 ‘A thief is dishonoured when he is caught. And you people of Israel are filled with shame. Your kings and officials are dishonoured. So are your priests and your prophets. 27 You say to a piece of wood, “You are my father.” You say to a stone, “You are my mother.” You have turned your backs to me. You refuse to look at me. But when you are in trouble, you say, “Come and save us!” 28 Then where are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them come when you are in trouble! Let them save you if they can! Judah, you have as many gods as you have towns. 29 ‘Why do you bring charges against me? All of you have refused to obey me,’ announces the LORD. 30 ‘I punished your people. But it did not do them any good. They did not pay attention when they were corrected. You have killed your prophets by swords. You have swallowed them up like a hungry lion. 31 ‘You who are now living, consider my message. I am saying, ‘Have I been like a desert to Israel? Have I been like a land of deep darkness? Why do my people say, “We are free to wander. We won’t come to you anymore”? 32 Does a young woman forget all about her jewellery? Does a bride forget her wedding jewels? But my people have forgotten me more days than anyone can count. 33 You are very skilled at chasing after love! Even the worst of women can learn from how you act. 34 The blood of those you have killed is on your clothes. You have destroyed poor people who were not guilty. You did not catch them in the act of breaking in. In spite of all this, 35 you say, “I’m not guilty of doing anything wrong. The LORD isn’t angry with me.” But I will judge you. That’s because you say, “I haven’t sinned.” 36 Why do you keep on changing your ways so much? Assyria did not help you. And Egypt will not help you either. 37 So you will also leave Egypt with your hands tied together above your heads. I have turned my back on those you trust. They will not help you.