Jeremiah 2:20,33,36 - Compare All Versions

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“Long ago you broke off your yoke and tore off your bonds; you said, ‘I will not serve you!’ Indeed, on every high hill and under every spreading tree you lay down as a prostitute.

How skilled you are at pursuing love! Even the worst of women can learn from your ways.

Why do you go about so much, changing your ways? You will be disappointed by Egypt as you were by Assyria.

“For long ago I broke your yoke and burst your bonds; but you said, ‘I will not serve.’ Yes, on every high hill and under every green tree you bowed down like a whore.

“How well you direct your course to seek love! So that even to wicked women you have taught your ways.

How much you go about, changing your way! You shall be put to shame by Egypt as you were put to shame by Assyria.

“Long ago I broke the yoke that oppressed you and tore away the chains of your slavery, but still you said, ‘I will not serve you.’ On every hill and under every green tree, you have prostituted yourselves by bowing down to idols.

“How you plot and scheme to win your lovers. Even an experienced prostitute could learn from you!

First here, then there— you flit from one ally to another asking for help. But your new friends in Egypt will let you down, just as Assyria did before.

For long ago I   broke your yoke;  I  tore off your chains. You insisted, “I will not serve! ” On every high hill and under every green tree  you lay down like a prostitute.

How skillfully you pursue love; you also teach evil women your ways.

How unstable you are,  constantly changing your ways! You will be put to shame by Egypt  just as you were put to shame by Assyria.

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.

Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.

Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.

“For of old I have broken your yoke and burst your bonds; And you said, ‘I will not transgress,’ When on every high hill and under every green tree You lay down, playing the harlot.

“Why do you beautify your way to seek love? Therefore you have also taught The wicked women your ways.

Why do you gad about so much to change your way? Also you shall be ashamed of Egypt as you were ashamed of Assyria.

“A long time ago you broke out of the harness. You shook off all restraints. You said, ‘I will not serve!’ and off you went, Visiting every sex-and-religion shrine on the way, like a common whore. You were a select vine when I planted you from completely reliable stock. And look how you’ve turned out— a tangle of rancid growth, a poor excuse for a vine. Scrub, using the strongest soaps. Scour your skin raw. The sin-grease won’t come out. I can’t stand to even look at you!” GOD’s Decree, the Master’s Decree.

“What an impressive start you made to get the most out of life. You founded schools of sin, taught graduate courses in evil! And now you’re sending out graduates, resplendent in cap and gown— except the gowns are stained with the blood of your victims! All that blood convicts you. You cut and hurt a lot of people to get where you are. And yet you have the nerve to say, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong. God doesn’t mind. He hasn’t punished me, has he?’ Don’t look now, but judgment’s on the way, aimed at you who say, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’

“You think it’s just a small thing, don’t you, to try out another sin-project when the first one fails? But Egypt will leave you in the lurch the same way that Assyria did. You’re going to walk away from there wringing your hands. I, GOD, have blacklisted those you trusted. You’ll get not a lick of help from them.”

¶“For long ago I broke your yoke And tore off your restraints; But you said, ‘I will not serve!’ For on every high hill And under every leafy tree You have lain down as a prostitute.

“How well you prepare your way To seek love! Therefore even to the wicked women You have taught your ways.

“Why do you go around so much Changing your way? Also, you will be put to shame by Egypt, Just as you were put to shame by Assyria.

¶“For long ago you broke your yoke [in deliberate disobedience] And tore off your bonds [of the law that I gave you]; You said, ‘I will not serve and obey You!’ For on every high hill And under every green tree You have lain down [in idolatrous worship] like a [compliant] prostitute.

“How well you prepare your path To seek and obtain [adulterous] love! Even the most wicked of women Have learned [indecent] ways from you.

“Why do you go around and wander so much Changing your way? Also, you will be shamed by Egypt As you were shamed by Assyria.

“Indeed, long ago you threw off my authority and refused to be subject to me. You said, ‘I will not serve you.’ Instead, you gave yourself to other gods on every high hill and under every green tree, like a prostitute sprawls out before her lovers.

“My, how good you have become at chasing after your lovers! Why, you could even teach prostitutes a thing or two!

Why do you constantly go about changing your political allegiances? You will get no help from Egypt just as you got no help from Assyria.