Jeremiah, 2

1. Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

1. A word of Yahweh came to me,

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

2. "Go and shout this in the hearing of Jerusalem. This is Yahweh's word: I remember your kindness as a youth, the love of your bridal days, when you followed me in the wilderness, through a land not sown.

3. Israel [was] holiness unto the LORD, [and] the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.

3. Israel was holy to Yahweh, the first-fruits of his harvest. All who ate of it had to pay and misfortune fell on them - it is Yahweh who speaks.

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

4. Hear the word of Yahweh, people of Jacob, all you families of the nation of Israel.

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

5. What wrong did your fathers find in me that they strayed far from me? Why did they pursue what is worthless and become worthless themselves?

6. Neither said they, Where [is] the LORD 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 no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?

6. And they did not say: 'Where is Yahweh who brought us out of Egypt and led us in the wilderness, through a land of deserts and pits, a land of drought and darkness, a land still untrodden and without inhabitants?'

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

7. I brought you to a fertile land to eat of the choicest fruit. As soon as you came you defiled my land and dishonored my heritage!

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

8. The priests did not ask, 'Where is Yahweh?' The masters of my teaching did not know me; the pastors of my people betrayed me; the prophets followed worthless idols and spoke in the name of Baal.

9. Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children's children will I plead.

9. Therefore I contend with you - it is Yahweh who speaks - and I will contend with the sons of your sons!

10. For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.

10. Cross to the coasts of Cyprus and see, or send to Kedar and observe with care if there has ever been such a thing!

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

11. Has a nation exchanged its gods, false though they be? But my people have exchanged their Glory for what is worthless!

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

12. Be aghast at that, O heavens! Shudder, be utterly appalled - it is Yahweh who speaks -

13. For 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.

13. for my people have done two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living water, to dig for themselves leaking cisterns that hold no water!

14. [Is] Israel a servant? [is] he a homeborn [slave]? why is he spoiled?

14. Did I make Israel a slave or was he born in bondage? How then did you become the spoil of others?

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

15. The lions have roared against you, loudly indeed have they roared, making your country a wasteland, your cities a ruins without inhabitants.

16. Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head.

16. Even the Egyptians of Memphis and Tahpanhes have humbled you!

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

17. Didn't you bring this on yourself by forsaking Yahweh, your God, even as he led you in the way?

18. And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?

18. Now why call to Egypt? Will the water of the Nile heal you? And why go to Assyria? What good will the water of the River do you?

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

19. Your own wickedness chastises you and your own unfaithfulness punishes you! Know, and see that it is bitter and evil to forsake Yahweh your God and no longer to fear me - it is Yahweh, the God of hosts, who speaks!

20. For of old time I have broken thy yoke, [and] burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.

20. It was long ago that you broke your yoke and burst your bonds, saying: 'I will not serve!' On every high hill and under every green tree you played the harlot!

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

21. I planted you a choice vine, a shoot of wholesome stock; why have you become degenerate, a wild vine?

22. For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, [yet] thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.

22. Even if you wash with soda and use soap in abundance, the stain of your sin is always before me - it is the Lord Yahweh who speaks.

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

23. How do you dare say: 'I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baals'? See your footprints in the valley, admit what you have done, O restive young she-camel, running here and there.

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

24. Wild ass of the desert, sniffing the wind in her desire, who can restrain her lust? Those who pursue her, need not tire themselves, at mating time they will find her.

25. Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.

25. Run if you wish, until your feet are sore, and your throat is dry! But you say: 'It's no use, I love foreign gods, it is them I follow.'

26. As 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,

26. As a thief is shamed when caught, so is the house of Israel, they, their kings, their princes, their priests and their prophets!

27. Saying 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.

27. To a tree they say: 'You are my father!' and to a stone: 'You gave me birth!' For they have turned their back on me instead of their face! In the day of misfortune they will call me: 'Rise and save us!'

28. But 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.

28. Where, then, are the gods of your own making? Let them rise and save you if they can, in the time of your distress, for your gods, O Judah! are as many as your cities.

29. Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD.

29. Why argue with me? You have all betrayed me - it is Yahweh who speaks.

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

30. In vain did I strike your sons, they did not learn a lesson! And your sword, like a destroying lion devoured your prophets!

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

31. All you of this generation, hear what Yahweh says: Have I been a desert for Israel, a land of darkness? Why do my people say: 'We will depart from you and no more return to you'?

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

32. Does a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her sash? But my people have forgotten me for days without number!

33. Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.

33. How well you direct your steps in your search for lovers, even to walking along with crime!

34. Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.

34. Look at your garments stained with the blood of the innocent poor, although you did not catch them breaking in!

35. Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.

35. I know you say: 'I am innocent. Why does his anger not turn away from me?' I will accuse you: Yes, you have sinned!

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

36. How lightly do you change your way! You will be put to shame by Egypt as you were by Assyria.

37. Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head: for the LORD hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them.

37. You will also leave that place with your hands on your head, for Yahweh has rejected those you trust, and they will not help you!