2AND THE word of the Lord came to me [Jeremiah], saying,H1697H3068H5592Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus says the Lord: I [earnestly] remember the kindness {and} devotion of your youth, your love after your betrothal [in Egypt] {and} marriage [at Sinai] when you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.H1980H7121H241H3389H559H559H3068H2142H2617H5271H160H3623H3212H310H4057H776H22323Israel was holiness [something set apart from ordinary purposes, dedicated] to the Lord, the firstfruits of His harvest [of which no stranger was allowed to partake]; all who ate of it [injuring Israel] offended {and} became guilty; evil came upon them, says the Lord.H3478H6944H3068H7225H8393H398H816H7451H935H5002H30684Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel.H8085H1697H3068H1004H3290H4940H1004H34785Thus says the Lord: What unrighteousness did your fathers find in Me, that they went far from Me and [habitually] went after emptiness, falseness, {and} futility and themselves became fruitless {and} worthless?H559H3068H5766H1H4672H7368H3212H310H1892H18916Nor did they say, Where is the Lord, Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, Who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and pits, through a land of drought and of the shadow of death {and} deep darkness, through a land that no man passes through and where no man dwells?H559H3068H5927H776H4714H3212H4057H776H6160H7745H776H6723H6757H776H376H5674H120H34277And I brought you into a plentiful land to enjoy its fruits and good things. But when you entered, you defiled My land and made My heritage an abomination [detestable and loathsome].H935H3759H776H398H6529H2898H935H2930H776H7760H5159H84418[Even] the priests did not say, Where is the Lord? And those who handle the law [given by God to Moses] knew Me not. The rulers {and} secular shepherds also transgressed against Me, and the prophets prophesied by [the authority and in the name of] Baal and followed after things that do not profit.H3548H559H3068H8610H8451H3045H7462H6586H5030H5012H1168H1980H310H32769Therefore I will still contend with you [by inflicting further judgments on you], says the Lord, and with your children's children will I contend.H7378H5002H3068H1121H1121H737810For cross over to the coasts of Cyprus [to the west] and see, send also to Kedar [to the east] and carefully consider; and see whether there has been such a thing as this:H5674H339H3794H7200H7971H6938H995H3966H720011Has a nation [ever] changed its gods, even though they are not gods? But My people have changed their Glory [God] for that which does not profit.H1471H3235H430H430H5971H4171H3519H327612Be astonished {and} appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked {and} shrivel up with horror, says the Lord [at the behavior of the people].H8074H8064H8175H3966H2717H5002H306813For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the Fountain of living waters, {and} they have hewn for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns which cannot hold water.H5971H6213H8147H7451H5800H4726H2416H4325H2672H877H7665H877H3557H432514Is Israel a servant? Is he a homeborn slave? Why has he become a captive {and} a prey?H3478H5650H1004H3211H4069H95715The young lions have roared over him {and} made their voices heard. And they have made his land a waste; his cities are burned ruins without inhabitant.H3715H7580H5414H6963H7896H776H8047H5892H3341H342716Moreover, the children of Memphis and Tahpanhes (Egypt) [have in times past shown their power as a foe; they] have broken {and} fed on the crown of your head [Israel]--so do not rely on them as an ally now.H1121H5297H8471H7462H693617Have you not brought this upon yourself by forsaking the Lord your God when He led you in the way?H6213H5800H3068H430H6256H3212H187018And now what have you to gain by allying yourself with Egypt {and} going her way, to drink the [black and roiled] waters of the Nile? Or what have you to gain in going the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the Euphrates?H1870H4714H8354H4325H7883H1870H804H8354H4325H510419Your own wickedness shall chasten {and} correct you, and your backslidings {and} desertion of faith shall reprove you. Know therefore {and} recognize that this is an evil and bitter thing: [first,] you have forsaken the Lord your God; [second,] you are indifferent to Me {and} the fear of Me is not in you, says the Lord of hosts.H7451H3256H4878H3198H3045H7200H7451H4751H5800H3068H430H6345H5002H136H3069H663520For long ago [in Egypt] I broke your yoke and burst your bonds [not that you might be free, but that you might serve Me] {and} long ago you shattered the yoke and snapped the bonds [of My law which I put upon you]; you said, I will not serve {and} obey You! For upon every high hill and under every green tree you [eagerly] prostrated yourself [in idolatrous worship], playing the harlot.H5769H7665H5923H5423H4147H559H5674H5647H1364H1389H7488H6086H6808H218121Yet I had planted you [O house of Israel] a choice vine, wholly of pure seed. How then have you turned into degenerate shoots of wild vine alien to Me?H5193H8321H571H2233H2015H5494H5237H161222For though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, yet your iniquity {and} guilt are still [upon you; you are] spotted, dirty, {and} stained before Me, says the Lord.H3526H5427H7235H1287H5771H3799H6440H5002H136H306923How can you say, I am not defiled; I have not gone after the Baals [other gods]? Look at your way in the valley; know what you have done. You are a restive young female camel [in the uncontrollable violence of her brute passion eagerly] running hither and thither,H559H2930H1980H310H1168H7200H1870H1516H3045H6213H7031H1072H8308H187024Or [you have the untamed and reckless nature of] a wild donkey used to the desert, in her heat sniffing the wind [for the scent of a male]. In her mating season who can restrain her? No males seeking her need weary themselves; in her month they will find her [seeking them].H6501H3928H4057H7602H7307H185H5315H8385H7725H1245H3286H2320H467225[Cease from your mad running after idols, from which you get nothing but bitter injury.] Keep your feet from being unshod and your throat from thirst. But you said, It is hopeless! For I have loved strangers {and} foreigners, and after them I will go.H4513H7272H3182H1627H6773H559H2976H157H2114H310H321226As the thief is brought to shame when he is caught, so shall the house of Israel be brought to shame--they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets--H1590H1322H4672H1004H3478H3001H4428H8269H3548H503027[Inasmuch as] they say to a tree, You are my father, and to a stone, You gave me birth. For they have turned their backs to Me and not their faces; but in the time of their trouble, they say, Arise [O Lord] and save us!H559H6086H1H68H3205H6437H6203H6440H6256H7451H559H6965H346728But where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them arise if they can save you in the time of your trouble! For [as many as] the number of your cities are your gods, O Judah. [Surely so many handmade idols should be able to help you!]H430H6213H6965H3467H6256H7451H4557H5892H430H306329Why do you complain {and} remonstrate against My wrath? You all have rebelled {and} revolted against Me, says the Lord.H7378H6586H5002H306830In vain have I stricken your children (your people); they received no discipline (no correction). Your own sword devoured your prophets like a destroying lion.H7723H5221H1121H3947H4148H2719H398H5030H7843H73831O generation [that you are]! Behold, consider, {and} regard the word of the Lord: Have I been a wilderness to Israel [like a land without food]? A land of deep darkness [like a way without light]? Why do My people say, We have broken loose [we are free and will roam at large]; we will come no more to You?H1755H7200H1697H3068H4057H3478H776H3991H559H5971H7300H93532Can a maid forget {and} neglect [to wear] her ornaments, or a bride her [marriage] girdle [with its significance like that of a wedding ring]? Yet My people have forgotten Me, days without number.H1330H7911H5716H3618H7196H5971H7911H3117H455733How you deck yourself {and} direct your way to procure [adulterous] love! Because of it even wicked women have learned [indecent] ways from you.H3190H1870H1245H160H3925H7451H187034Also on your skirts is found the lifeblood of the persons of the innocent poor; you did not find them housebreaking, {nor} have I found it out by secret search. But it is because of [your lust for idolatry that you have done] all these things--[that is everywhere evident.]H3671H4672H1818H5315H34H5355H4672H429035Yet you keep saying, I am innocent; surely His anger has turned away from Me. Behold, I will bring you to judgment {and} will plead against you because you say, I have not sinned.H559H5352H639H7725H8199H559H239836Why do you gad {or} wander about so much to change your way? You shall be put to shame by Egypt as you were put to shame by Assyria.H235H3966H8138H1870H954H4714H954H80437From [Egypt] also you will come away with your hands upon your head, for the Lord has rejected those in whom you confide, and you will not prosper with [respect to] them.H3318H3027H7218H3068H3988H4009H6743
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