2Jeremiah 2

Israel's Unfaithfulness

1The Lord told meSelect Jeremiah 2:1

2to go to Jerusalem and tell everyone that he had said: When you were my young bride, you loved me and followed me through the barren desert.Select Jeremiah 2:2

3You belonged to me alone, like the first part of the harvest, and I severely punished those who mistreated you.Select Jeremiah 2:3

4Listen, people of Israel,Select Jeremiah 2:4

5and I, the Lord, will speak. I was never unfair to your ancestors, but they left me and became worthless by following worthless idols.Select Jeremiah 2:5

6Your ancestors refused to ask for my help, though I had rescued them from Egypt and led them through a treacherous, barren desert, where no one lives or dares to travel.Select Jeremiah 2:6

7I brought you here to my land, where food is abundant, but you made my land filthy with your sins.Select Jeremiah 2:7

8The priests who teach my laws don't care to know me. Your leaders rebel against me; your prophets give messages from Baal and worship false gods.Select Jeremiah 2:8

The Accuses His People

9I will take you to court and accuse you and your descendants *Select Jeremiah 2:9

10of a crime that no nation has ever committed before. Just ask anyone, anywhere, from the eastern deserts to the islands in the west.Select Jeremiah 2:10

11You will find that no nation has ever abandoned its gods even though they were false. I am the true and glorious God, but you have rejected me to worship idols.Select Jeremiah 2:11

12Tell the heavens to tremble with fear!Select Jeremiah 2:12

13You, my people, have sinned in two ways— you have rejected me, the source of life-giving water, and you've tried to collect water in cracked and leaking pits dug in the ground.Select Jeremiah 2:13

14People of Israel, you weren't born slaves; you were captured in war.Select Jeremiah 2:14

15Enemies roared like lions and destroyed your land; towns lie burned and empty.Select Jeremiah 2:15

16Soldiers from the Egyptian towns of Memphis and Tahpanhes have cracked your skulls.Select Jeremiah 2:16

17It's all your own fault! You stopped following me, the Lord your God,Select Jeremiah 2:17

18and you trusted the power of Egypt and Assyria.Select Jeremiah 2:18

19Your own sins will punish you, because it was a bitter mistake for you to reject me without fear of punishment. I, the Lord All-Powerful, have spoken.Select Jeremiah 2:19

20Long ago you left me and broke all ties between us, refusing to be my servant. Now you worship other gods by having sex on hilltops or in the shade of large trees.Select Jeremiah 2:20

21You were a choice grapevine, but you have become a wild, useless vine.Select Jeremiah 2:21

Israel Is Stained with Guilt

22The Lord said: People of Israel, you are stained with guilt, and no soap or bleach can wash it away.Select Jeremiah 2:22

23You deny your sins and say, “We aren't unclean. We haven't worshiped Baal.” But think about what you do in Hinnom Valley. You run back and forth like young camels, as you rush to worship one idol after another.Select Jeremiah 2:23

24You are a female donkey sniffing the desert air, wanting to mate with just anyone. You are an easy catch!Select Jeremiah 2:24

25Your shoes are worn out, and your throat is parched from running here and there to worship foreign gods. “Stop!” I shouted, but you replied, “No! I love those gods too much.”Select Jeremiah 2:25

26You and your leaders are more disgraceful than thieves— you and your kings, your priests and prophetsSelect Jeremiah 2:26

27worship stone idols and sacred poles as if they had created you and had given you life. You have rejected me, but when you're in trouble, you cry to me for help.Select Jeremiah 2:27

28Go cry to the gods you made! There should be enough of them to save you, because Judah has as many gods as it has towns.Select Jeremiah 2:28

Israel Rebels against the

29The Lord said to Israel: You accuse me of not saving you, but I say you have rebelled.Select Jeremiah 2:29

30I tried punishing you, but you refused to come back to me, and like fierce lions you killed my prophets.Select Jeremiah 2:30

31Now listen to what I say! Did I abandon you in the desert or surround you with darkness? You are my people, yet you have told me, “We'll do what we want, and we refuse to worship you!”Select Jeremiah 2:31

32A bride could not forget to wear her jewelry to her wedding, but you have forgotten me day after day.Select Jeremiah 2:32

33You are so clever at finding lovers that you could give lessons to a prostitute.Select Jeremiah 2:33

34You killed innocent people for no reason at all. And even though their blood can be seen on your clothes,Select Jeremiah 2:34

35you claim to be innocent, and you want me to stop being angry with you. So I'll take you to court, and we'll see who is right.Select Jeremiah 2:35

36When Assyria let you down, you quickly ran to Egypt, but you'll find no help there,Select Jeremiah 2:36

37and you will leave in great sadness. I won't let you find help from those you trust.Select Jeremiah 2:37