Jeremiah 2:1-13

The Lord spoke this word to me: “Go and speak to the people of Jerusalem. Say to them: This is what the Lord says: ‘When you were a young nation, you were faithful to me. You loved me like a young bride. You followed me through the desert. It was a land that had never been planted. The people of Israel were holy to the Lord. They were like the first fruits from his harvest. Those who tried to hurt Israel were judged guilty. Disasters happened to them,’” says the Lord. Hear the word of the Lord, family of Jacob. Hear the message, all you family groups of Israel. This is what the Lord says: “I was fair to your ancestors. Why did they turn away from me? Your ancestors worshiped useless idols. And they became useless themselves. Your ancestors didn’t say, ‘The Lord brought us out of Egypt. He led us through the desert. He led us through a dry and rocky land. He led us through a dark and dangerous land. He led us where no one travels or lives. But where is he now?’ I brought you into a fertile land. I did this so you could eat its fruit and produce. But you came and made my land unclean. You made it a hated place. The priests didn’t ask, ‘Where is the Lord?’ The people who know the teachings didn’t know me. The leaders turned against me. The prophets prophesied in the name of Baal. They worshiped useless idols. “So now I will again tell what I have against you,” says the Lord. “And I will tell what I have against your grandchildren. Go across the sea to the island of Cyprus and see. Send someone to the land of Kedar to look closely. See if there has ever been anything like this! Has a nation ever exchanged their old gods for new ones? (Of course, their gods are not really gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their glorious God for idols worth nothing! Skies, be shocked at the things that have happened. Shake with great fear!” says the Lord. “My people have done two sins. They have turned away from me. And I am the spring of living water. And they have dug their own wells. But they are broken wells that cannot hold water.