Jeremiah 2
2The word of the LORD came to me, saying,H1697H3068H5592"Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the LORD, "I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.H1980H7121H241H3389H559H559H3068H2142H2617H5271H160H3623H3212H310H4057H776H22323Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of his harvest. All who ate of it incurred guilt; disaster came upon them, declares the LORD."H3478H6944H3068H7225H8393H398H816H7451H935H5002H30684Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the clans of the house of Israel.H8085H1697H3068H1004H3290H4940H1004H34785Thus says the LORD: "What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?H559H3068H5766H1H4672H7368H3212H310H1892H18916They did not say, 'Where is the LORD who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us in the wilderness, in a land of deserts and pits, in a land of drought and deep darkness, in a land that none passes through, where no man dwells?'H559H3068H5927H776H4714H3212H4057H776H6160H7745H776H6723H6757H776H376H5674H120H34277And I brought you into a plentiful land to enjoy its fruits and its good things. But when you came in, you defiled my land and made my heritage an abomination.H935H3759H776H398H6529H2898H935H2930H776H7760H5159H84418The priests did not say, 'Where is the LORD?' Those who handle the law did not know me; the shepherds transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal and went after things that do not profit.H3548H559H3068H8610H8451H3045H7462H6586H5030H5012H1168H1980H310H32769"Therefore I still contend with you, declares the LORD, and with your children's children I will contend.H7378H5002H3068H1121H1121H737810For cross to the coasts of Cyprus and see, or send to Kedar and examine with care; see if there has been such a thing.H5674H339H3794H7200H7971H6938H995H3966H720011Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.H1471H3235H430H430H5971H4171H3519H327612Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD,H8074H8064H8175H3966H2717H5002H306813for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.H5971H6213H8147H7451H5800H4726H2416H4325H2672H877H7665H877H3557H432514"Is Israel a slave? Is he a homeborn servant? Why then has he become a prey?H3478H5650H1004H3211H4069H95715The lions have roared against him; they have roared loudly. They have made his land a waste; his cities are in ruins, without inhabitant.H3715H7580H5414H6963H7896H776H8047H5892H3341H342716Moreover, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the crown of your head.H1121H5297H8471H7462H693617Have you not brought this upon yourself by forsaking the LORD your God, when he led you in the way?H6213H5800H3068H430H6256H3212H187018And now what do you gain by going to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile? Or what do you gain by going to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates?H1870H4714H8354H4325H7883H1870H804H8354H4325H510419Your evil will chastise you, and your apostasy will reprove you. Know and see that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake the LORD your God; the fear of me is not in you, declares the Lord GOD of hosts.H7451H3256H4878H3198H3045H7200H7451H4751H5800H3068H430H6345H5002H136H3069H663520"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.H5769H7665H5923H5423H4147H559H5674H5647H1364H1389H7488H6086H6808H218121Yet I planted you a choice vine, wholly of pure seed. How then have you turned degenerate and become a wild vine?H5193H8321H571H2233H2015H5494H5237H161222Though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me, declares the Lord GOD.H3526H5427H7235H1287H5771H3799H6440H5002H136H306923How can you say, 'I am not unclean, I have not gone after the Baals'? Look at your way in the valley; know what you have done— a restless young camel running here and there,H559H2930H1980H310H1168H7200H1870H1516H3045H6213H7031H1072H8308H187024a wild donkey used to the wilderness, in her heat sniffing the wind! Who can restrain her lust? None who seek her need weary themselves; in her month they will find her.H6501H3928H4057H7602H7307H185H5315H8385H7725H1245H3286H2320H467225Keep your feet from going unshod and your throat from thirst. But you said, 'It is hopeless, for I have loved foreigners, and after them I will go.'H4513H7272H3182H1627H6773H559H2976H157H2114H310H321226"As a thief is shamed when caught, so the house of Israel shall be shamed: they, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets,H1590H1322H4672H1004H3478H3001H4428H8269H3548H503027who say to a tree, 'You are my father,' and to a stone, 'You gave me birth.' For they have turned their back to me, and not their face. But in the time of their trouble they say, 'Arise and save us!'H559H6086H1H68H3205H6437H6203H6440H6256H7451H559H6965H346728But where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them arise, if they can save you, in your time of trouble; for as many as your cities are your gods, O Judah.H430H6213H6965H3467H6256H7451H4557H5892H430H306329"Why do you contend with me? You have all transgressed against me, declares the LORD.H7378H6586H5002H306830In vain have I struck your children; they took no correction; your own sword devoured your prophets like a ravening lion.H7723H5221H1121H3947H4148H2719H398H5030H7843H73831And you, O generation, behold the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of thick darkness? Why then do my people say, 'We are free, we will come no more to you'?H1755H7200H1697H3068H4057H3478H776H3991H559H5971H7300H93532Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number.H1330H7911H5716H3618H7196H5971H7911H3117H455733"How well you direct your course to seek love! So that even to wicked women you have taught your ways.H3190H1870H1245H160H3925H7451H187034Also on your skirts is found the lifeblood of the guiltless poor; you did not find them breaking in. Yet in spite of all these thingsH3671H4672H1818H5315H34H5355H4672H429035you say, 'I am innocent; surely his anger has turned from me.' Behold, I will bring you to judgment for saying, 'I have not sinned.'H559H5352H639H7725H8199H559H239836How much you go about, changing your way! You shall be put to shame by Egypt as you were put to shame by Assyria.H235H3966H8138H1870H954H4714H954H80437From it too you will come away with your hands on your head, for the LORD has rejected those in whom you trust, and you will not prosper by them.H3318H3027H7218H3068H3988H4009H6743
Columbus, OH
