Jeremiah 2
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New International VersionNew American Standard Bible 1995
1The word of the LORD came to me:1Now the word of the LORD came to me saying,
2"Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem: "This is what the LORD says: "'I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown.2"Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the LORD, "I remember concerning you the devotion of your youth, The love of your betrothals, Your following after Me in the wilderness, Through a land not sown.
3Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of his harvest; all who devoured her were held guilty, and disaster overtook them,'" declares the LORD.3"Israel was holy to the LORD, The first of His harvest. All who ate of it became guilty; Evil came upon them," declares the LORD.'"
4Hear the word of the LORD, you descendants of Jacob, all you clans of Israel.4Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel.
5This is what the LORD says: "What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.5Thus says the LORD, "What injustice did your fathers find in Me, That they went far from Me And walked after emptiness and became empty?
6They did not ask, 'Where is the LORD, who brought us up out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness, through a land of deserts and ravines, a land of drought and utter darkness, a land where no one travels and no one lives?'6"They did not 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 of pits, Through a land of drought and of deep darkness, Through a land that no one crossed And where no man dwelt?'
7I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and made my inheritance detestable.7"I brought you into the fruitful land To eat its fruit and its good things. But you came and defiled My land, And My inheritance you made an abomination.
8The priests did not ask, 'Where is the LORD?' Those who deal with the law did not know me; the leaders rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal, following worthless idols.8"The priests did not say, 'Where is the LORD?' And those who handle the law did not know Me; The rulers also transgressed against Me, And the prophets prophesied by Baal And walked after things that did not profit.
9"Therefore I bring charges against you again," declares the LORD. "And I will bring charges against your children's children.9"Therefore I will yet contend with you," declares the LORD, "And with your sons' sons I will contend.
10Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and look, send to Kedar and observe closely; see if there has ever been anything like this:10"For cross to the coastlands of Kittim and see, And send to Kedar and observe closely And see if there has been such a thing as this!
11Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols.11"Has a nation changed gods When they were not gods? But My people have changed their glory For that which does not profit.
12Be appalled at this, you heavens, and shudder with great horror," declares the LORD.12"Be appalled, O heavens, at this, And shudder, be very desolate," declares the LORD.
13"My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.13"For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, To hew for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns That can hold no water.
14Is Israel a servant, a slave by birth? Why then has he become plunder?14"Is Israel a slave? Or is he a homeborn servant? Why has he become a prey?
15Lions have roared; they have growled at him. They have laid waste his land; his towns are burned and deserted.15"The young lions have roared at him, They have roared loudly. And they have made his land a waste; His cities have been destroyed, without inhabitant.
16Also, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have cracked your skull.16"Also the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes Have shaved the crown of your head.
17Have you not brought this on yourselves by forsaking the LORD your God when he led you in the way?17"Have you not done this to yourself By your forsaking the LORD your God When He led you in the way?
18Now why go to Egypt to drink water from the Nile? And why go to Assyria to drink water from the Euphrates?18"But now what are you doing on the road to Egypt, To drink the waters of the Nile? Or what are you doing on the road to Assyria, To drink the waters of the Euphrates?
19Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you. Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the LORD your God and have no awe of me," declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.19"Your own wickedness will correct you, And your apostasies will reprove you; Know therefore and see that it is evil and bitter For you to forsake the LORD your God, And the dread of Me is not in you," declares the Lord GOD of hosts.
20"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.20"For long ago I broke your yoke And tore off your bonds; But you said, 'I will not serve!' For on every high hill And under every green tree You have lain down as a harlot.
21I had planted you like a choice vine of sound and reliable stock. How then did you turn against me into a corrupt, wild vine?21"Yet I planted you a choice vine, A completely faithful seed. How then have you turned yourself before Me Into the degenerate shoots of a foreign vine?
22Although you wash yourself with soap and use an abundance of cleansing powder, the stain of your guilt is still before me," declares the Sovereign LORD.22"Although you wash yourself with lye And use much soap, The stain of your iniquity is before Me," declares the Lord GOD.
23"How can you say, 'I am not defiled; I have not run after the Baals'? See how you behaved in the valley; consider what you have done. You are a swift she-camel running here and there,23"How can you say, 'I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baals '? Look at your way in the valley! Know what you have done! You are a swift young camel entangling her ways,
24a wild donkey accustomed to the desert, sniffing the wind in her craving-- in her heat who can restrain her? Any males that pursue her need not tire themselves; at mating time they will find her.24A wild donkey accustomed to the wilderness, That sniffs the wind in her passion. In the time of her heat who can turn her away? All who seek her will not become weary; In her month they will find her.
25Do not run until your feet are bare and your throat is dry. But you said, 'It's no use! I love foreign gods, and I must go after them.'25"Keep your feet from being unshod And your throat from thirst; But you said, 'It is hopeless! No! For I have loved strangers, And after them I will walk.'
26"As a thief is disgraced when he is caught, so the people of Israel are disgraced-- they, their kings and their officials, their priests and their prophets.26"As the thief is shamed when he is discovered, So the house of Israel is shamed; They, their kings, their princes And their priests and their prophets,
27They say to wood, 'You are my father,' and to stone, 'You gave me birth.' They have turned their backs to me and not their faces; yet when they are in trouble, they say, 'Come and save us!'27Who 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 will say, 'Arise and save us.'
28Where then are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them come if they can save you when you are in trouble! For you, Judah, have as many gods as you have towns.28"But where are your gods Which you made for yourself? Let them arise, if they can save you In the time of your trouble; For according to the number of your cities Are your gods, O Judah.
29"Why do you bring charges against me? You have all rebelled against me," declares the LORD.29"Why do you contend with Me? You have all transgressed against Me," declares the LORD.
30"In vain I punished your people; they did not respond to correction. Your sword has devoured your prophets like a ravenous lion.30"In vain I have struck your sons; They accepted no chastening. Your sword has devoured your prophets Like a destroying lion.
31"You of this generation, consider the word of the LORD: "Have I been a desert to Israel or a land of great darkness? Why do my people say, 'We are free to roam; we will come to you no more'?31"O generation, heed the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness to Israel, Or a land of thick darkness? Why do My people say, 'We are free to roam; We will no longer come to You'?
32Does a young woman forget her jewelry, a bride her wedding ornaments? Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number.32"Can a virgin forget her ornaments, Or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me Days without number.
33How skilled you are at pursuing love! Even the worst of women can learn from your ways.33"How well you prepare your way To seek love! Therefore even the wicked women You have taught your ways.
34On your clothes is found the lifeblood of the innocent poor, though you did not catch them breaking in. Yet in spite of all this34"Also on your skirts is found The lifeblood of the innocent poor; You did not find them breaking in. But in spite of all these things,
35you say, 'I am innocent; he is not angry with me.' But I will pass judgment on you because you say, 'I have not sinned.'35Yet you said, 'I am innocent; Surely His anger is turned away from me.' Behold, I will enter into judgment with you Because you say, 'I have not sinned.'
36Why do you go about so much, changing your ways? You will be disappointed by Egypt as you were by Assyria.36"Why do you go around so much Changing your way? Also, you will be put to shame by Egypt As you were put to shame by Assyria.
37You will also leave that place with your hands on your head, for the LORD has rejected those you trust; you will not be helped by them.37"From this place also you will go out With your hands on your head; For the LORD has rejected those in whom you trust, And you will not prosper with them."
New International Version (NIV)

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Jeremiah 1
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