Jeremiah 2
1Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
2“Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Yahweh says,
the love of your weddings;
how you went after me in the wilderness,
in a land that was not sown.
the first fruits of his increase.
All who devour him will be held guilty.
Evil will come on them,”’ says Yahweh.”
4Hear Yahweh’s word, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel!
5Yahweh says,
that they have gone far from me,
and have walked after worthless vanity,
and have become worthless?
who 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 one passed through,
and where no man lived?’
to eat its fruit and its goodness;
but when you entered, you defiled my land,
and made my heritage an abomination.
and those who handle the law didn’t know me.
The rulers also transgressed against me,
and the prophets prophesied by Baal
and followed things that do not profit.
“and I will contend with your children’s children.
Send to Kedar, and consider diligently,
and see if there has been such a thing.
which really are no gods?
But my people have changed their glory for that which doesn’t profit.
and be horribly afraid.
Be very desolate,” says Yahweh.
they have forsaken me, the spring of living waters,
and cut out cisterns for themselves: broken cisterns that can’t hold water.
Is he born into slavery?
Why has he become a captive?
They have made his land waste.
His cities are burned up, without inhabitant.
in that you have forsaken Yahweh your God,
Or why do you to go on the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?
and your backsliding will rebuke you.
Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing,
that you have forsaken Yahweh your God,
and that my fear is not in you,” says the Lord, Yahweh of Armies.
and burst your bonds.
You said, ‘I will not serve;’
for on every high hill and under every green tree you bowed yourself,
playing the prostitute.
a pure and faithful seed.
How then have you turned into the degenerate branches of a foreign vine to me?
and use much soap,
yet your iniquity is marked before me,” says the Lord Yahweh.
I have not gone after the Baals’?
See your way in the valley.
Know what you have done.
You are a swift dromedary traversing her ways,
When she is in heat, who can turn her away?
All those who seek her will not weary themselves. In her month, they will find her.
and your throat from thirst.
But you said, ‘It is in vain.
No, for I have loved strangers,
and I will go after them.’
so the house of Israel is ashamed:
they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets,
and a stone, ‘You have given birth to 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 save us!’
Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble;
for you have as many gods as you have towns, O Judah.
You all have transgressed against me,” says Yahweh.
They received no correction.
Your own sword has devoured your prophets,
like a destroying lion.
Have I been a wilderness to Israel?
Or a land of thick darkness?
Why do my people say, ‘We have broken loose.
We will come to you no more’?
or a bride her attire?
Yet my people have forgotten me for days without number.
Therefore you have even taught the wicked women your ways.
You didn’t find them breaking in,
but it is because of all these things.
Surely his anger has turned away from me.’
“Behold, I will judge you,
because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’
You will be ashamed of Egypt also,
as you were ashamed of Assyria.
for Yahweh has rejected those in whom you trust,
and you won’t prosper with them.