I remember the devotion you displayed in
your youth,
your love like that of a bride,
when you followed ME through the desert,
through a land that was unsown.
Israel was sacred to THE LORD,
the firstfruits of HIS harvest.
Any people who partook of them were deemed
guilty,
and disaster afflicted them, says THE
LORD.
Listen to the word of THE LORD, O house of Jacob and all the families of the house of Israel. Thus says THE LORD:
What fault did your ancestors find in ME
that causes them to stray so far from MY
side,
pursuing worthless idols
and thereby becoming worthless
themselves?
They never thought to ask, "Where is THE
LORD
who brought us up from the land of Egypt
and led us through the wilderness,
through a land of deserts and ravines,
a land of drought and intense darkness,
and a land in which no one dwells?"
I brought you into a fertile land
bursting forth with fruit and rich produce.
But when you entered, you defiled MY land
and made MY heritage loathsome.
The priests did not ask,
"Where is THE LORD?"
Those who dealt with the law did not know
ME,
and even the shepherds rebelled against
ME.
The prophets prophesied by Baal
and worshiped gods who were powerless.
Therefore, says THE LORD,
I will once again accuse you,
and I will further accuse
even your children's children.
Cross over to the coast of the Kittim and
inquire;
send to Kedar and observe carefully.
See if anything similar to this
has ever previously occured.
Has a nation ever changed its gods,
even though they are not gods at all?
Yet MY people have exchanged their glory
for something that cannot help them in any
way,
Be incredulous at this, O heavens;
shudder in your horror, says THE LORD.
For MY people are guilty of two evils:
they have forsaken ME,
the fountain of living water,
and they have dug cisterns for themselves,
cracked cisterns that hold no water.
Is Israel a slave?
Was he born to be a servant?
Why then has he become plunder?
His enemies roar loudly at him like lions;
they have made his country a wasteland;
his cities are burned to the ground and
deserted.
The people of Memphis and Tahpanhes
have shaved the crown of your head.
Have you not brought all this upon yourself
by forsaking THE LORD, your GOD,
when HE guided you along the way?
What advantage would you now achieve
by traveling to Egypt'
to drink the waters of the Nile?
What would you gain by traveling to Assyria
to drink the waters of the Euphrates?
Your wickedness wil bring about your
punishment,
and your infidelities will condemn you.
therefore, concentrate your thoughts
and see how bitter it is
to forsake THE LORD, your GOD,
says THE LORD, THE GOD OF HOSTS.
A long time ago you broke your yoke
and burst your bonds,
saying, "I will not serve."
On every high hill
and under every green tree
you have sprawled and given yourself to
harlotry.
I had planted you as a choice vine from the
purest stock.
How then did you degenerate
into a wild and corrupt vine?
Even if you would scrub yourself with lye
and use soap in great abundance,
the stain of your guilt
would still be clearly visible to ME,
says THE LORD GOD.
How can you say, "I am not defiled;
I have not gone after the Baals"?
Recall your conduct in the valley;
realize what you have done:
you have been like a restless she-camel
sniffing the wind in her lust;
who can restrain her ardor?
No males should exhaust themselves seeking
her;
in her month they will find her.
You should stop before you wear out your
shoes
and your throat becomes parched.
But you said, "It is hopeless.
I love these strangers,
and I must go after them."
As a thief is ashamed when he is caught,
so the house of Israel will be ashamed:
they, their kings, their officials,
their priests, and their prophets,
those who say to a piece of wood, "You are
my father,"
and to a stone, "You gave birth to me."
They have turned their backs to ME,
not their faces;
yet, in their time of trouble, they cry out,
"Rise up and save us!"
Where are the gods you have made for
yourself?
Let them come to save you
in your time of trouble.
For you have as many towns
as you have gods, O Judah.
Why do you dare to plead with ME?
You have all rebelled against ME, says THE
LORD.
In vain I struck down your children,
but they refused to accept MY correction.
Your own sword has devoured your prophets
like a ravening lion.
You of this generation,
behold the word of THE LORD!
Have I been a desert for Israel
or a land of darkness?
Why then do MY people say,
"We have broken away;
we will come to YOU no more"?
Does a girl forget her jewelry
or a bride her sash?
Yet for days beyond number
MY people have forgotten ME.
How well you direct your course
in the pursuit of love.
Even wanton women have profited
from their observance of your ways.
On your clothing can be found
the life-blood of the innocent poor,
whom you never caught breaking into a
house.
Despite all this,
you continue to proclaim, "I am innocent;
obviously, HE has no cause to be angry
with me."
But behold, I will bring judgment upon you
for claiming that you have not sinned.
How nonchalant you are
as you change your course.
Just as you were shamed by Assyria,
you will be put to shame by Egypt.
From there also you will depart
with your hands upon your head.
For THE LORD has rejected those upon
whom you rely,
and with them you will not prosper.
If a man divorces his wife,
and she leaves him
does he have the right to return to her?
Would not that land be completely defiled?
But, says THE LORD,
you have been unfaithful with many lovers,
and yet you would return to ME?
Lift up your eyes to the barren heights
and recall whether there is any place
that you have not offered your body to
another.
By the waysides you waited for lovers
like an Arab in the desert.
You defiled the land
with your harlotry and wickedness.
Therefore, the rain showers were withheld
and the spring rains have not fallen.
Yet you have the brazen boldness of a
prostitute,
and you refuse to blush with shame.
Not so long ago you addressed ME,
"MY FATHER, THE BELOVED FRIEND
OF MY YOUTH,
will YOU be angry with me forever
and continue YOUR wrath toward me to the
end?"
This is how you speak,
but you continue to be obstinate
and to do every evil you can.
JEREMIAH: CHAPTER 2 & CHAPTER 3, VERSES 1 - 5
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