Jeremiah 2

1 And the Word of Jehovah came to me, saying,

2 Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, So says Jehovah, I remember you, the kindness of your youth, the love of your betrothals, when you went after Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.

3 Israel was holiness to Jehovah, and the firstfruits of His increase. All that devour him shall offend; evil shall come on them, says Jehovah.

4 Hear the Word of Jehovah, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel.

5 So says Jehovah, What injustice have your fathers found in Me, that they have gone far from Me and have walked after vanity, and have become vain?

6 Nor did they say, Where is Jehovah who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of dry places, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man lived?

7 And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat its fruit and its goodness; but when you entered, you defiled My land and made My inheritance an abomination.

8 The priests did not say, Where is Jehovah? And they who handle the Law did not know Me; the shepherds also rebelled against Me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things not profitable.

9 Therefore I will contend with you, says Jehovah, and with your son's sons I will enter into judgment.

10 For pass over the coasts of Kittim, and see; and send to Kedar, and carefully consider, and see if there is such a thing.

11 Has a nation changed their gods who are yet no gods? But My people have changed their Glory for that which does not profit.

12 Be amazed, O heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid; be completely desolated, says Jehovah.

13 For My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me, the Fountain of living waters, to hew out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.

14 Is Israel a servant? Or is he a servant of the house? Why has he become a prey?

15 The young lions roared against him; they gave their voice. And they made his land a waste; his cities are burned without inhabitant.

16 Also the sons of Noph and Tahapanes have fed on the crown of your head.

17 Have you not brought this on yourself, in that you have forsaken Jehovah your God, when He led you by the way?

18 And now what is for you toward the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? Or what for you toward Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?

19 Your own evil shall correct you, and your backslidings shall reprove you, therefore know and see that it is an evil and bitter thing that you have forsaken Jehovah your God, and that My fear is not in you, says the Lord Jehovah of Hosts.

20 For long ago you broke your yoke and tore up your bonds; and you said, I will not transgress, when on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down like a harlot.

21 Yet I planted you a noble vine, wholly a true seed. How then have you turned into the degenerate shoots of an alien vine to Me?

22 For though you wash yourself with potash, and multiply soap for yourself, yet your iniquity is marked before Me, says the Lord Jehovah.

23 How can you say, I am not defiled; I have not gone after the Baals? See your way in the valley, know what you have done! You are a swift camel crossing its ways;

24 a wild ass used to the wilderness; in the desire of her passion she snuffs at the wind; in her time who can turn her away? All those who seek her will not tire themselves; in her month they will find her.

25 Withhold your foot from being bare, and your throat from thirst. But you said, There is no hope; no; for I have loved strangers, and after them I will go.

26 As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their rulers, and their priests, and their prophets;

27 saying to a tree, You are my father; 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 will say, Arise and save us!

28 But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble; for according to the number of your cities are your gods, O Judah.

29 Why will you plead with Me? You all have sinned against Me, says Jehovah.

30 In vain I have stricken your sons; they received no correction. Your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

31 O generation, see the Word of Jehovah. Have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of darkness? Why do My people say, We roam freely; we will come no more to You?

32 Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number.

33 Why did you trim your way to seek love? Therefore you have also taught the evil women your ways.

34 Also in your skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents; I did not find them by breaking in, but on all these.

35 Yet you say, Because I am innocent, surely His anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with you, because you say, I have not sinned.

36 Why do you go about so much to change your way? You also shall be ashamed of Egypt, as you were ashamed of Assyria.

37 Yes, you shall go out from this place, and your hands on your head. For Jehovah has rejected those in whom you trust, and you will not prosper by them.