The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah

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- Chapter 2 -

The word of Yahweh came to me and said,

“Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem. Say, ’Yahweh says this: I have called to mind on your behalf the covenant faithfulness in your youthfulness, your love at the time when we were engaged, when you went after me in the wilderness, the land that was not sown.

Israel was set apart to Yahweh, the firstfruits of his harvest! All who ate from the firstfruits were held guilty; disaster came upon them-this is Yahweh’s declaration.’”

Hear the word of Yahweh, house of Jacob and every family in the house of Israel.

Yahweh says this, “What did your fathers find wrong with me, that they went far from following me? That they went after useless idols and became useless themselves?

They did not say, ’Where is Yahweh, who brought us up from the land of Egypt? Where is Yahweh, who led us to the wilderness, into the land of the Arabah and pits, in a land of drought and deep darkness, a land through which no one passes and where no one lives?’

But I brought you to the land of Carmel, to eat its fruit and other good things! Yet when you came, you defiled my land, you made my inheritance an abomination!

The priest did not say, ‘Where is Yahweh?’ and the experts in the law did not care about me! The shepherds transgressed against me. The prophets prophesied for Baal and walked after unprofitable things.

So I will still accuse you-this is Yahweh’s declaration-and I will accuse your sons’ sons.

For cross over to the coasts of Kittim and look. Send messengers out to Kedar and find out and see if there has ever before been anything like this.

Has a nation exchanged gods, even though they were not gods? But my people have exchanged their glory for what cannot help them.

Shudder, heavens, because of this! Be shocked and horrified-this is Yahweh’s declaration.

For my people have committed two evils against me: They have abandoned the springs of living waters by digging out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that cannot hold water!

The Consequence of Israel’s Sin

Is Israel a slave? Was he not born at home? So why has he become plunder?

Young lions roared against him. They made a lot of noise and made his land a horror. His cities are destroyed without any inhabitants.

Also, the people of Memphis and Tahpanhes will shave your skull.

Did you not do this to yourselves when you abandoned Yahweh your God, while he was leading you along the way?

So now, why take the road to Egypt and drink the waters of Shihor? Why take the road to Assyria and drink the waters of the Euphrates River?

Your wickedness rebukes you, and your faithlessness punishes you. So think about it; understand that it is wicked and bitter for you to abandon me, Yahweh your God, and to dread me no more-this is the declaration of Yahweh the Lord of hosts.

For I broke your yoke that you had in ancient days; I tore your fetters off you. Still you said, ‘I will not serve!’ since you bowed down on every high hill and beneath every leafy tree, you adulterer.

But I myself had planted you as a choice vine, a completely true seed. Yet how you have changed toward me, a disloyal one from a foreign vine!

For even if you clean yourself in the river or wash with strong soap, your iniquity is a stain before me-this is the declaration of Lord Yahweh.

Israel’s Unfaithfulness

(Judges 2:10–15; Isaiah 43:22–28)

How can you say, ‘I am not defiled! I have not walked after the Baals?’ Look at your behavior in the valleys! Understand what you have done, you swift camel running its own way!

You are a wild donkey, accustomed to the wilderness, longing for life and panting after the useless wind! Who turns her around when she is in heat? Anyone seeking her does not tire himself. They go out to her in her month of heat.

You must restrain your feet from becoming bare and your throat from being thirsty! But you have said, ‘It is hopeless! No, I love strangers and go after them!’

Like the shame of a thief when he is found, so the house of Israel will be ashamed-they, their kings, their princes, and their priests and prophets!

These are the ones who say to the tree, ‘You are my father,’ and to the stone, ‘You gave birth to me.’ For their back faces me and not their faces. Nevertheless, they say in the time of troubles, ‘Arise and save us!’

Yet where are the gods that you made for yourselves? Let them arise if they wish to save you in your time of troubles, for your idols equal your cities in number, Judah!

So why do you accuse me of doing wrong? All of you have sinned against me-this is Yahweh’s declaration.

I have punished your people in vain. They would not accept discipline. Your sword has devoured your prophets like a destructive lion!

You who belong to this generation! Pay attention to my word, the word of Yahweh! Have I been a wilderness to Israel? Or a land of deep darkness? Why would my people say, ‘Let us wander around, we will not go to you anymore’?

Will a virgin forget her jewelry, a bride her veils? Yet my people have forgotten me for days without number!

How well you make your way to look for love. You have even taught your ways to wicked women.

The blood that was the life of innocent, poor people has been found on your clothes. These people were not discovered in acts of burglary.

Instead, in spite of all these things, you keep saying, ‘I am blameless. Surely Yahweh’s anger will turn from me.’ But look! You will be judged since you say, ‘I have not sinned.’

Why do you treat so very lightly this change in your ways? You will also be disappointed by Egypt, just as you were by Assyria.

You will also go out from there dejected, with your hands on your head, for Yahweh has rejected the ones whom you trusted, so you will not be helped by them.”

The LORD’s word came to me, saying,

“Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘The LORD says, “I remember for you the kindness of your youth, your love as a bride, how you went after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.

Israel was holiness to the LORD, the first fruits of his increase. All who devour him will be held guilty. Evil will come on them,”’ says the LORD.”

Hear the LORD’s word, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel!

The LORD says, “What unrighteousness have your fathers found in me, that they have gone far from me, and have walked after worthless vanity, and have become worthless?

They didn’t 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 the shadow of death, through a land that no one passed through, and where no man lived?’

I brought you into a plentiful land to eat its fruit and its goodness; but when you entered, you defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination.

The priests didn’t say, ‘Where is the LORD?’ and those who handle the law didn’t know me. The rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal and followed things that do not profit.

“Therefore I will yet contend with you,” says the LORD, “and I will contend with your children’s children.

For pass over to the islands of Kittim, and see. Send to Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there has been such a thing.

Has a nation changed its gods, which really are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which doesn’t profit.

“Be astonished, you heavens, at this and be horribly afraid. Be very desolate,” says the LORD.

“For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the spring of living waters, and cut out cisterns for themselves: broken cisterns that can’t hold water.

The Consequence of Israel’s Sin

Is Israel a slave? Is he born into slavery? Why has he become a captive?

The young lions have roared at him and raised their voices. They have made his land waste. His cities are burned up, without inhabitant.

The children also of Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken the crown of your head.

“Haven’t you brought this on yourself, in that you have forsaken the LORD your God,(a) when he led you by the way?

Now what do you gain by going to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Shihor? Or why do you go on the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?(b)

“Your own wickedness will correct you, and your backsliding will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing, that you have forsaken the LORD your God, and that my fear is not in you,” says the Lord, the LORD of Armies.

“For long ago I broke off your yoke, and burst your bonds. You said, ‘I will not serve;’ for on every high hill and under every green tree you bowed yourself, playing the prostitute.

Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a pure and faithful seed. How then have you turned into the degenerate branches of a foreign vine to me?

For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before me,” says the Lord GOD.

Israel’s Unfaithfulness

(Judges 2:10–15; Isaiah 43:22–28)

“How can you say, ‘I am not defiled. I have not gone after the Baals’? See your way in the valley. Know what you have done. You are a swift dromedary traversing her ways,

a wild donkey used to the wilderness, that sniffs the wind in her craving. When she is in heat, who can turn her away? All those who seek her will not weary themselves. In her month, they will find her.

“Keep your feet from being bare, and your throat from thirst. But you said, ‘It is in vain. No, for I have loved strangers, and I will go after them.’

As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so the house of Israel is ashamed— they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets,

who tell wood, ‘You are my father,’ and a stone, ‘You have given birth to me,’ 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!’

“But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble, for you have as many gods as you have towns, O Judah.

“Why will you contend with me? You all have transgressed against me,” says the LORD.

“I have struck your children in vain. They received no correction. Your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

Generation, consider the LORD’s word. Have I been a wilderness to Israel? Or a land of thick darkness? Why do my people say, ‘We have broken loose. We will come to you no more’?

“Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me for days without number.

How well you prepare your way to seek love! Therefore you have even taught the wicked women your ways.

Also the blood of the souls of the innocent poor is found in your skirts. You didn’t find them breaking in, but it is because of all these things.

“Yet you said, ‘I am innocent. Surely his anger has turned away from me.’ “Behold, I will judge you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’

Why do you go about so much to change your ways? You will be ashamed of Egypt also, as you were ashamed of Assyria.

You will also leave that place with your hands on your head; for the LORD has rejected those in whom you trust, and you won’t prosper with them.

Footnotes

(a)2:17 The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).

(b)2:18 i.e., the Euphrates River