Jeremias (Jeremiah) 2
2
1And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
2Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying: Thus saith the Lord: I have remembered thee, pitying thy youth and the love of thy espousals, when thou followedst me in the desert, in a land that is not sown.
3Israel is holy to the Lord, the first-fruits of his increase: all they that devour him offend: evils shall come upon them, saith the Lord.
4Hear ye the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all ye families of the house of Israel.
5Thus 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?
6And they have not said: Where is the Lord that made us come up out of the land of Egypt? that led us through the desert, through a land uninhabited and unpassable, through a land of drought, and the image of death, through a land wherein no man walked, nor any man dwelt?
7And I brought you into the land of Carmel, to eat the fruit thereof and the best things thereof: and when ye entered in, you defiled my land and made my inheritance an abomination.
8The priests did not say: Where is the Lord? And they that held the law knew me not, and the pastors transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied in Baal and followed idols.
9Therefore will I yet contend in judgement with you, saith the Lord, and I will plead with your children.
10Pass over to the isles of Cethim and see, and send into Cedar and consider diligently: and see if there hath been done any thing like this.
11If a nation hath changed their gods, and indeed they are not gods: but my people have changed their glory into an idol.
12Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this: and, ye gates thereof, be very desolate, saith the Lord.
13For my people have done two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living water, and have digged to themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
14Is Israel a bondman, or a home-born slave? Why then is he become a prey?
15The lions have roared upon him and have made a noise: they have made his land a wilderness. His cities are burnt down: and there is none to dwell in them.
16The children also of Memphis and of Taphnes have deflowered thee, even to the crown of the head.
17Hath not this been done to thee, because thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, at that time when he led thee by the way?
18And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the troubled water? And what hast thou to do with the way of the Assyrians, to drink the water of the river?
19Thy own wickedness shall reprove thee, and thy apostasy shall rebuke thee. Know thou, and see that it is an evil and a bitter thing for thee, to have left the Lord thy God, and that my fear is not with thee, saith the Lord, the God of hosts.
20Of old time thou hast broken my yoke, thou hast burst my bands, and thou saidst: I will not serve. For on every high hill and under every green, tree thou didst prostitute thyself.
21Yet I planted thee a chosen vineyard, all true seed: how then art thou turned unto me into that which is good for nothing, O strange vineyard?
22Though thou wash thyself with nitre and multiply to thyself the herb borith, thou art stained in thy iniquity before me, saith the Lord God.
23How canst thou say: I am not polluted, and I have not walked after Baalim? See thy ways in the valley, know what thou hast done: as a swift runner pursuing his course.
24A wild ass accustomed to the wilderness in the desire of his heart snuffed up the wind of his love: none shall turn her away. All that seek her shall not fail: in her monthly filth they shall find her.
25Keep thy foot from being bare and thy throat from thirst. But thou saidst: I have lost all hope, I will not do it: for I have loved strangers and I will walk after them.
26As the thief is confounded when he is taken, so is the house of Israel confounded, they and their kings, their princes and their priests and their prophets.
27Saying to a stock: Thou art my father. And to a stone: Thou hast begotten me. They have turned their back to me, and not their face: and in the time of their affliction they will say: Arise, and deliver us.
28Where are the gods, whom thou hast made thee? Let them arise and deliver thee in the time of thy affliction: for according to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Juda.
29Why will you contend with me in judgement? You have all forsaken me, saith the Lord.
30In vain have I struck your children: they have not received correction. Your sword hath devoured your prophets: your generation is like a ravaging lion.
31See ye the word of the Lord: Am I become a wilderness to Israel, or a lateward springing land? Why then have my people said: We are revolted, we will come to thee no more?
32Will a virgin forget her ornament, or a bride her stomacher? But my people hath forgotten me days without number.
33Why dost thou endeavor to shew thy way good to seek my love, thou who has also taught thy malices to be thy ways,
34And in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor and innocent? Not in ditches have I found them, but in all places which I mentioned before.
35And thou hast said: I am without sin and am innocent: and therefore let thy anger be turned away from me. Behold, I will contend with thee in judgement, because thou hast said: I have not sinned.
36How exceeding base art thou become, going the same ways over again! And thou shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.
37For from thence thou shalt go, and thy hand shall be upon thy head: for the Lord hath destroyed thy trust, and thou shalt have nothing prosperous therein.
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Jeremias (Jeremiah) 2: DRC1752
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.
Jeremiah 2
2
Judah Rebuked for Her Sins
1Again the word of Adonai came to me, saying:
2“Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, thus says Adonai: I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, and the way you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.
3Israel was kadosh to Adonai, the firstfruits of the harvest. All who devoured him were held guilty. Catastrophe overtook them.” It is a declaration of Adonai.
4Hear the word of Adonai, O house of Jacob and all the families of the house of Israel.
5Thus says Adonai: “What fault did your fathers find in Me that they strayed so far from Me? They walked after worthless things, becoming worthless themselves?
6They did not ask ‘Where is Adonai, who brought us up from the land of Egypt and led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and rifts, through a land of drought and distress, through a land where no one travels, where no one lives?’
7Yet I brought you into a fertile land, to eat of its fruit and goodness. When you came, you defiled My land. You made My heritage an abomination.
8The kohanim did not ask, ‘Where is Adonai?’ The Torah experts did not know Me. The shepherds rebelled against Me. The prophets prophesied by Baal and went after unprofitable things.
9Therefore I will plead with you again!” It is a declaration of Adonai. “I will contend with your children’s children.
10Cross to the coasts of Kittim and see! Send to Kedar, and observe carefully. See if there has been anything like this.
11Has a nation changed its gods— even though they are not gods? Yet My people have exchanged their glory for worthless things.
12Be appalled at this, O heavens! Be utterly horrified and dumbfounded.” It is a declaration of Adonai.
13“My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me —the spring of living water— and they dug their own cisterns— cracked cisterns that hold no water.
14Is Israel a servant—a slave by birth? Then why has he become plunder?
15Young lions have roared at him they have roared loudly. They made his land a waste— his cities are in ruins and uninhabited.
16Even the sons of Noph and Tahpanhes have grazed on the crown of your head.
17Have you not brought this on yourself, when He led you in the way?
18But now, what is on the road to Egypt? Drinking the waters of the Nile? Or what is on the road to Assyria? Drinking the waters of the Euphrates?
19Your own wickedness will rebuke you and your backslidings will chide you. Know then and see how bad and bitter it is for you to forsake Adonai your God. Nor is fear of Me in you.” It is a declaration of the Lord Adonai-Tzva’ot.
20“Indeed, long ago I broke your yoke and tore off your bonds. You said, ‘I will not serve!’ Instead, on every high hill and under every green tree you sprawled out as a prostitute.
21Yet I had planted you as a choice vine from completely faithful seed. How then did you become to Me a wandering wild vine?
22Even though you wash with lye and use an abundance of soap, the stain of your iniquity is before Me.” It is a declaration of the Lord Adonai.
23“How can you say, ‘I am not defiled— I have not gone after the Baalim? Look at your behavior in the Valley! Recognize what you have done. You are a swift young camel galloping aimlessly,
24a wild donkey used to the wilderness— sniffing the wind in her passion— in her heat, who can restrain her? All males that pursue her will not tire themselves. At mating time they will find her.
25Do not run while your feet are bare and your throat is thirsty. But you said ‘There is no hope! No! For I have loved foreign gods and I will go after them.’
26As a thief is shamed when caught, so the house of Israel is shamed— they, their kings, their princes, their kohanim and their prophets.
27They say to wood, ‘You are my father’ and to a stone, ‘You birthed me.’ They have turned their back to Me and not their face. Yet when they are in trouble they say, ‘Rise up and save us!’
28Where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them come—if they can save you when you are in trouble! For you have as many gods as y0u have cities, O Judah.
29Why do you strive with Me? You have all rebelled against Me.” It is a declaration of Adonai.
30“In vain I struck your children. They took no correction. Your sword devoured your prophets like a ravaging lion.”
31You, generation, heed Adonai’s word! “Have I been a wilderness to Israel or a land of thick darkness? Why do My people say, ‘We are free to roam. We won’t come to You any more’?
32Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me, days without number.
33How clever are your ways of seeking love. Therefore you even taught wicked women your ways.
34Moreover on your skirts is found the blood of the innocent poor —you did not find them breaking in. Yet in spite of all these things,
35you say, ‘I am innocent— surely His anger is turned away from me?’ See, I will pass judgment on you, since you say: ‘I haven’t sinned!’
36Why do you make light of changing your way? You will be put to shame by Egypt as you were put to shame by Assyria.
37You will also go out from there with your hands on your head. For Adonai has rejected those in whom you trust— you will not prosper by them.”
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