Jeremiah 2 - The Scriptures 1998

¹ And the word of יהוה  came to me, saying,

² “Go, and you shall cry in the hearing of Yerushalayim, saying, ‘Thus said יהוה, “I remember you, the kindness of your youth, the love of your bridehood, when you went after Me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.

³ “Yisra’ĕ

⁴ Hear the word of יהוה, O house of Yaʽ

⁵ Thus said יהוה, “What unrighteousness have your fathers found in Me, that they have gone far from Me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?

⁶ “And did not they say, ‘Where is יהוה, who brought us up out of the land of Mitsrayim, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and pits, through a land of drought and the shadow of death, a land that no one passed through and where no one dwelt?’

⁷ “Then I brought you into a garden land, 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 יהוה ?’ And those who handle the Torah did not know Me, and the shepherds transgressed against Me, and the prophets prophesied by Baʽ

⁹ “Therefore I still contend with you,” declares יהוה, “and with your children’s children I contend.

¹⁰ “For, pass beyond the isles of Kittim and see, and send to Qĕ

¹¹ “Has a nation changed its mighty ones, which are not mighty ones? But My people have changed My esteem for that which does not profit.

¹² “Be amazed, O heavens, at this, and be frightened, be utterly dried up,” declares יהוה.

¹³ “For My people have done two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew out for themselves cisterns, cracked cisterns, which do not hold water.

¹⁴ “Is Yisra’ĕ

¹⁵ “The young lions roared at him, they growled, and made his land waste; his cities have been burned, without inhabitant.

¹⁶ “Even the sons of Noph and of Taḥ

¹⁷ “Have you not done this to yourself, by forsaking יהוה  your Elohim when He led you in the way?

¹⁸ “And now why take the way to Mitsrayim, to drink the waters of Shiḥ

¹⁹ “Your own evil instructs you, and your backslidings reprove you. Know therefore and see that it is evil and bitter that you have forsaken יהוה  your Elohim, and that My fear is not in you,” declares the Master יהוה  of hosts.

²⁰ “For of old you have broken your yoke and tore of your bonds. And you said, ‘I am not serving You,’ when on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down, a whore.

²¹ “Yet I had planted you a choice vine, all of it a true seed. How then have you turned before Me into the degenerate plant of a strange vine?

²² “Although you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, yet your crookedness is ingrained before Me,” declares the Master יהוה.

²³ “How do you say, ‘I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baʽ

²⁴ a wild donkey used to the wilderness, sniffing the wind in the desire of her being – in her time of mating, who turns her away? All those who seek her need not weary themselves; in her month they find her.

²⁵ “Keep your foot from being bare, and your throat from thirst. But you said, ‘It is useless, because I love strangers, and after them I go.’

²⁶ “As the thief is ashamed when he is found out, so is the house of Yisra’ĕ

²⁷ saying to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ and to a stone, ‘You gave birth to me.’ For they have turned their back to Me, and not their face. But in the time of their calamity they say, ‘Arise and save us.’

²⁸ “But where are your mighty ones that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, see if they save you in the time of your calamity. Because your mighty ones have become as many as your cities, O Yehuḏ

²⁹ “Why do you complain to Me? You all have transgressed against Me,” declares יהוה.

³⁰ “In vain have I smitten your children – they received no instruction. Your sword has devoured your prophets like a destroying lion.

³¹ “O generation, see the word of יהוה! Have I been a wilderness to Yisra’ĕ

³² “Would a maiden forget her ornaments, or a bride her headband? Yet My people have forgotten Me, days without number.

³³ “Why do you embellish your way to seek love? Therefore you have even taught the evil women your ways.

³⁴ “Even on your skirts is found the blood of the lives of the poor innocents. You did not find them breaking in, but in spite of all these,

³⁵ you say, ‘Because I am innocent, certainly His displeasure shall turn from me.’ See, I shall bring judgment on you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’

³⁶ “Why do you go about so much to change your way? Even of Mitsrayim you are to be ashamed, as you were ashamed of Ashshur.

³⁷ “Even from this one you shall go forth, with your hands on your head. For יהוה  has rejected those you trust, and you shall not prosper by them.