Jeremiah 2

1And the word of Jehovah came to me, saying,

1The Lord spoke to me, saying:

2Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, I remember for thee the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals; how thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.

2Go and announce this to the people of Jerusalem. This is what the Lord says: I remember how loyal you were when you were young, how you loved me like a bride. You followed me through the desert, through a land that had never been planted.

3Israel was holiness unto Jehovah, the first-fruits of his increase: all that devour him shall be held guilty; evil shall come upon them, saith Jehovah.

3Israel was holy to the Lord, the first harvest of his crop. Everyone who tried to destroy Israel was found guilty, and disaster struck them, says the Lord.

4Hear ye the word of Jehovah, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:

4Hear the word of the Lord, descendants of Jacob, and all the families of the nation of Israel.

5Thus saith Jehovah, What unrighteousness have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?

5This is what the Lord says: What did your ancestors find wrong with me that they wandered so far away? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.

6Neither said they, Where is Jehovah that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that 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 none passed through, and where no man dwelt?

6They didn’t ask, 'Where is the Lord who brought us out of Egypt and led us through the wilderness?' He led us through a dry land full of pits, a land of deep shadows and drought, where no one travels and no one lives.

7And I brought you into a plentiful land, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination.

7I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and its good things. But when you entered, you made my land unclean and turned my property into something disgusting.

8The priests said not, Where is Jehovah? and they that handle the law knew me not: the rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

8The priests didn't ask, 'Where is the Lord?' The experts in the law didn't know me. The leaders rebelled against me, the prophets spoke in the name of Baal, and they followed useless idols.

9Wherefore I will yet contend with you, saith Jehovah, and with your children’s children will I contend.

9Therefore, I will bring charges against you again, says the Lord, and I will bring charges against your children’s children.

10For pass over to the isles of Kittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently; and see if there hath been such a thing.

10Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and look. Send someone to Kedar and observe closely. See if anything like this has ever happened before.

11Hath a nation changed its gods, which yet are no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.

11Has a nation ever changed its gods, even though they aren't real gods? But my people have traded their glorious God for idols that can't help them at all.

12Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith Jehovah.

12Be shocked at this, you heavens! Shake with horror and be completely appalled, says the Lord.

13For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

13My people have committed two sins: They have abandoned me, the fountain of living water, and they have dug their own cisterns—broken cisterns that cannot hold any water.

14Is Israel a servant? is he a home-born slave? why is he become a prey?

14Is Israel a slave? Was he born into slavery? Why then has he become someone's prey?

15The young lions have roared upon him, and yelled; and they have made his land waste: his cities are burned up, without inhabitant.

15Enemies like young lions have roared at him; they have growled loudly. They have turned his land into a wasteland; his cities are burned and deserted.

16The children also of Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken the crown of thy head.

16Even the people of Memphis and Tahpanhes have cracked your skull.

17Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken Jehovah thy God, when he led thee by the way?

17Haven't you brought this on yourself by abandoning the Lord your God while he was leading you along the way?

18And now what hast thou to do in the way to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Shihor? or what hast thou to do in the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?

18Now why are you going to Egypt? Is it to drink the water of the Nile? And why are you going to Assyria? Is it to drink the water of the Euphrates?

19Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and a bitter, that thou hast forsaken Jehovah thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts.

19Your own wickedness will punish you, and your unfaithfulness will convict you. Realize and see how bad and bitter it is to abandon the Lord your God and to have no respect for me, says the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

20For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bonds; and thou saidst, I will not serve; for upon every high hill and under every green tree thou didst bow thyself, playing the harlot.

20Long ago I broke the yoke off your neck and tore off your chains. But you said, 'I will not serve you!' Instead, on every high hill and under every green tree, you lay down like a prostitute.

21Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate branches of a foreign vine unto me?

21I planted you like a choice vine from the very best seed. How then did you turn into a corrupt, wild vine for me?

22For though thou wash thee with lye, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord Jehovah.

22Even if you wash yourself with bleach and use plenty of soap, the stain of your guilt is still there before me, says the Lord God.

23How canst thou say, I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;

23How can you say, 'I am not stained; I haven't followed the Baals'? Look at how you behaved in the valley; think about what you have done. You are like a fast young camel running wildly in all directions.

24a wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind in her desire; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.

24You are like a wild donkey used to the desert, sniffing the wind in her passion. Who can control her when she is in heat? No male needs to tire himself out looking for her; at mating time, they will find her easily.

25Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst. But thou saidst, It is in vain; no, for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.

25Stop before your feet are bare and your throat is dry! But you said, 'It’s no use! I love these foreign gods, and I must follow them.'

26As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets;

26Just as a thief is ashamed when he is caught, so the people of Israel are ashamed—they, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets.

27who say to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face; but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.

27They 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 instead of their faces. But when they are in trouble, they cry out, 'Arise and save us!'

28But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.

28Where are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them get up and save you when you are in trouble! For you have as many gods as you have towns, O Judah.

29Wherefore will ye contend with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith Jehovah.

29Why do you bring complaints against me? You have all rebelled against me, says the Lord.

30In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

30I punished your children in vain; they didn't learn their lesson. Your own sword has devoured your prophets like a hungry lion.

31O generation, see ye the word of Jehovah. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? or a land of thick darkness? wherefore say my people, We are broken loose; we will come no more unto thee?

31You people of this generation, pay attention to the word of the Lord! Have I been like a desert to Israel or a land of total darkness? Why do my people say, 'We are free to roam; we won't come to you anymore'?

32Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

32Does a young woman forget her jewelry or a bride her wedding sash? Yet my people have forgotten me for more days than can be counted.

33How trimmest thou thy way to seek love! therefore even the wicked women hast thou taught thy ways.

33How well you know how to pursue love! Even the most wicked women could learn from your ways.

34Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the innocent poor: thou didst not find them breaking in; but it is because of all these things.

34The blood of the poor and innocent is found on your clothes, even though you didn't catch them breaking into your house. Despite all this,

35Yet thou saidst, I am innocent; surely his anger is turned away from me. Behold, I will enter into judgment with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.

35you say, 'I am innocent; surely God isn't angry with me anymore.' But I will pass judgment on you because you say, 'I have not sinned.'

36Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou shalt be ashamed of Egypt also, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.

36Why do you change your mind so easily? You will be disappointed by Egypt just as you were disappointed by Assyria.

37From thence also shalt thou go forth, with thy hands upon thy head: for Jehovah hath rejected those in whom thou trustest, and thou shalt not prosper with them.

37You will leave that place with your hands on your head in grief, because the Lord has rejected those you trust. You will not find any help from them.