Jeremiah 2

Revised Geneva Translation

2 Moreover, the Word of the LORD came to me, saying,

² “Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD: “I remember you—the kindness of your youth, the love of your marriage, when you went after Me in the wilderness in a land that was not sown—

³ “Israel, a thing hallowed to the LORD, His firstfruits. All those who eat it shall be guilty. Evil shall come upon them,” says the LORD.’”

⁴ Hear the Word of the LORD, O House of Jacob, and all the families of the House of Israel.

⁵ Thus says the LORD: “What iniquity have your fathers found in Me, that they have gone far from Me, and have walked after vanity, and have become vain?

⁶ “For they did not say, ‘Where is the LORD Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, Who led us through the wilderness, through a desert and waste land, through a dry land, and by the shadow of death, by a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?’

⁷ “And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat its fruit, and the commodities of the same. But when you entered, you defiled My land, and made My heritage an abomination.

⁸ “The priests did not say, ‘Where is the LORD?’ And those who should minister the Law did not know Me. The pastors also sinned against Me, and the prophets prophesied in Baal, and went after things that did not profit.

⁹ “Therefore, I will still plead with you,” says the LORD, “and I will plead with your children’s children.

¹⁰ “For go to the isles of Chittim and behold, and send to Kedar and take diligent heed, and see whether there are such things.

¹¹ “Has any nation changed their gods, which yet are not gods? But My people have exchanged their glory for that which does not profit.

¹² “O, you heavens, be astonished at this! Be afraid and utterly confounded,” says the LORD.

¹³ “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the Fountain of Living Waters, to dig themselves pits, broken pits that can hold no water.

¹⁴ “Is Israel a servant, or is he born in the house? Why is he spoiled?

¹⁵ “The lions roared upon him, yelled, and they have made his land waste. His cities are burnt, without an inhabitant.

¹⁶ “Also, the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken your head.

¹⁷ “Have you not brought this on yourself, because you have forsaken the LORD your God, when He led you by the way?

¹⁸ “And what are you now doing on the way of Egypt, to drink the water of Nilus? Or why do you take the way of Assyria, to drink the water of the River?

¹⁹ “Your own wickedness shall correct you, and your backslidings shall reprove you. Know, therefore, and behold that it is an evil thing, and bitter, that you have forsaken the LORD your God, and that My fear is not in you,” says the LORD God of Hosts.

²⁰ “For since ancient times I have broken your yoke, burst your bonds, and you said, ‘I will transgress no more.’ But, like a harlot, you run around upon all high hills, and under all green trees.

²¹ “Yet, I had planted you as a noble vine, whose plants were whole. How, then, have you turned before Me into the plants of a strange vine?

²² “Though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, your iniquity is marked before Me,” says the LORD God.

²³ “How can you say, ‘I am not polluted, nor have I followed Baal?’ Behold your ways in the valley and know what you have done. You are like a swift dromedary traversing her ways,

²⁴ “a wild donkey used to the wilderness that sniffs at the wind in her passion. Who can turn her back when in heat? All those who seek her will not weary themselves but will find her in her month.

²⁵ “Keep your feet from bareness, and your throat from thirst. But you said desperately, ‘No, for I have loved strangers, and them will I follow.’

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 tree, ‘You are my father,’ and to a stone, ‘You have begotten me.’ For they have turned their back to Me, and not their face. But in the time of their trouble, they will say, ‘Arise, and help us!’

²⁸ “But where are your gods that you have made yourself? Let them arise, if they can help 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 rebelled against Me,” says the LORD.

³⁰ “I have struck your children in vain. They received no correction. Your own sword has devoured your Prophets like a destroying lion.

³¹ “O generation, take heed to the Word of the LORD! Have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of darkness? Why, then, do My people say, ‘We are lords. We will come no more to You?’

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

³³ “Why do you beautify your ways, to seek love? Therefore, you will also teach the wicked your ways.

³⁴ “Also in your wings is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents. I have not found it in holes, but upon all these.

³⁵ “Yet you say, ‘Because I am guiltless, surely His wrath shall turn from me.’ Behold, I will enter into judgment with you because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’

³⁶ “Why do you run around so much to change your ways? For you shall be confounded by Egypt as you are confounded by Assyria.

³⁷ “For you shall go forth from there, and your hands upon your head, because the LORD has rejected your confidence, and you shall not prosper thereby.”