Jeremiah 2
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's 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.
