Jeremiah 3
NIV Parallel CSB [BSB CSB ESV HCS KJV ISV NAS NET NIV NLT HEB]
New International VersionChristian Standard Bible
1"If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him and marries another man, should he return to her again? Would not the land be completely defiled? But you have lived as a prostitute with many lovers-- would you now return to me?" declares the LORD.1If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him to marry another, can he ever return to her? Wouldn't such a land become totally defiled? But you! You have prostituted yourself with many partners--can you return to me? This is the LORD's declaration.
2"Look up to the barren heights and see. Is there any place where you have not been ravished? By the roadside you sat waiting for lovers, sat like a nomad in the desert. You have defiled the land with your prostitution and wickedness.2Look to the barren heights and see. Where have you not been immoral? You sat waiting for them beside the highways like a nomad in the desert. You have defiled the land with your prostitution and wickedness.
3Therefore the showers have been withheld, and no spring rains have fallen. Yet you have the brazen look of a prostitute; you refuse to blush with shame.3This is why the showers haven't come--why there has been no spring rain. You have the brazen look of a prostitute and refuse to be ashamed.
4Have you not just called to me: 'My Father, my friend from my youth,4Haven't you recently called to me, "My Father. You were my friend in my youth.
5will you always be angry? Will your wrath continue forever?' This is how you talk, but you do all the evil you can."5Will he bear a grudge forever? Will he be endlessly infuriated?" This is what you have said, but you have done the evil things you are capable of.
6During the reign of King Josiah, the LORD said to me, "Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every spreading tree and has committed adultery there.6In the days of King Josiah the LORD asked me, "Have you seen what unfaithful Israel has done? She has ascended every high hill and gone under every green tree to prostitute herself there.
7I thought that after she had done all this she would return to me but she did not, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it.7I thought, 'After she has done all these things, she will return to me.' But she didn't return, and her treacherous sister Judah saw it.
8I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adultery.8I observed that it was because unfaithful Israel had committed adultery that I had sent her away and had given her a certificate of divorce. Nevertheless, her treacherous sister Judah was not afraid but also went and prostituted herself.
9Because Israel's immorality mattered so little to her, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stone and wood.9Indifferent to her prostitution, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and trees.
10In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to me with all her heart, but only in pretense," declares the LORD.10Yet in spite of all this, her treacherous sister Judah didn't return to me with all her heart--only in pretense." This is the LORD's declaration.
11The LORD said to me, "Faithless Israel is more righteous than unfaithful Judah.11The LORD announced to me, "Unfaithful Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.
12Go, proclaim this message toward the north: "'Return, faithless Israel,' declares the LORD, 'I will frown on you no longer, for I am faithful,' declares the LORD, 'I will not be angry forever.12Go, proclaim these words to the north, and say, 'Return, unfaithful Israel. This is the LORD's declaration. I will not look on you with anger, for I am unfailing in my love. This is the LORD's declaration. I will not be angry forever.
13Only acknowledge your guilt-- you have rebelled against the LORD your God, you have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every spreading tree, and have not obeyed me,'" declares the LORD.13Only acknowledge your guilt--you have rebelled against the LORD your God. You have scattered your favors to strangers under every green tree and have not obeyed me. This is the LORD's declaration.
14"Return, faithless people," declares the LORD, "for I am your husband. I will choose you--one from a town and two from a clan--and bring you to Zion.14"'Return, you faithless children--this is the LORD's declaration--for I am your master, and I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.
15Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.15I will give you shepherds who are loyal to me, and they will shepherd you with knowledge and skill.
16In those days, when your numbers have increased greatly in the land," declares the LORD, "people will no longer say, 'The ark of the covenant of the LORD.' It will never enter their minds or be remembered; it will not be missed, nor will another one be made.16When you multiply and increase in the land, in those days--this is the LORD's declaration--no one will say again, "The ark of the LORD's covenant." It will never come to mind, and no one will remember or miss it. Another one will not be made.
17At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the LORD, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the LORD. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts.17At that time Jerusalem will be called The LORD's Throne, and all the nations will be gathered to it, to the name of the LORD in Jerusalem. They will cease to follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts.
18In those days the people of Judah will join the people of Israel, and together they will come from a northern land to the land I gave your ancestors as an inheritance.18In those days the house of Judah will join with the house of Israel, and they will come together from the land of the north to the land I have given your ancestors to inherit.'"
19"I myself said, "'How gladly would I treat you like my children and give you a pleasant land, the most beautiful inheritance of any nation.' I thought you would call me 'Father' and not turn away from following me.19I thought, "How I long to make you my sons and give you a desirable land, the most beautiful inheritance of all the nations." I thought, "You will call me 'My Father' and never turn away from me."
20But like a woman unfaithful to her husband, so you, Israel, have been unfaithful to me," declares the LORD.20However, as a woman may betray her lover, so you have betrayed me, house of Israel. This is the LORD's declaration.
21A cry is heard on the barren heights, the weeping and pleading of the people of Israel, because they have perverted their ways and have forgotten the LORD their God.21A sound is heard on the barren heights: the children of Israel weeping and begging for mercy, for they have perverted their way; they have forgotten the LORD their God.
22"Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding." "Yes, we will come to you, for you are the LORD our God.22Return, you faithless children. I will heal your unfaithfulness. "Here we are, coming to you, for you are the LORD our God.
23Surely the idolatrous commotion on the hills and mountains is a deception; surely in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.23Surely, falsehood comes from the hills, commotion from the mountains, but the salvation of Israel is only in the LORD our God.
24From our youth shameful gods have consumed the fruits of our ancestors' labor-- their flocks and herds, their sons and daughters.24From the time of our youth the shameful one has consumed what our fathers have worked for--their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.
25Let us lie down in our shame, and let our disgrace cover us. We have sinned against the LORD our God, both we and our ancestors; from our youth till this day we have not obeyed the LORD our God."25Let us lie down in our shame; let our disgrace cover us. We have sinned against the LORD our God, both we and our fathers, from the time of our youth even to this day. We have not obeyed the LORD our God."
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
Jeremiah 2
Top of Page
Top of Page