Jeremiah, 2

1. The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,

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

2. 'Go and shout this in Jerusalem's ears: 'Yahweh says this: "I remember your faithful love, the affection of your bridal days, when you followed me through the desert, through a land unsown.

2. "Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the LORD, I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.

3. Israel was sacred to Yahweh; the first-fruits of his harvest; all who ate this incurred guilt, disaster befell them, Yahweh declares." '

3. Israel was holy to the LORD, the first fruits of his harvest. All who ate of it became guilty; evil came upon them, says the LORD."

4. Listen to Yahweh's word, House of Jacob and all the families of the House of Israel.

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

5. Yahweh says this, 'What did your ancestors find wrong in me for them to have deserted me so far as to follow Futility and become futile themselves?

5. Thus says the LORD: "What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?

6. They never said, "Where is Yahweh, who brought us out of Egypt and led us through the desert, through a land of plains and ravines, through a land of drought, of shadow dark as death, a land through which no one passes and where no human being lives?"

6. They did not say, `Where is the LORD who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us in the wilderness, in a land of deserts and pits, in a land of drought and deep darkness, in a land that none passes through, where no man dwells?'

7. I brought you to a country of plenty, to enjoy its produce and good things; but when you entered you defiled my country and made my heritage loathsome.

7. And I brought you into a plentiful land to enjoy its fruits and its good things. But when you came in you defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination.

8. The priests never asked, "Where is Yahweh?" Those skilled in the Law did not know me, the shepherds too rebelled against me and the prophets prophesied by Baal and followed the Useless Ones.

8. The priests did not say, `Where is the LORD?' Those who handle the law did not know me; the rulers transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Ba'al, and went after things that do not profit.

9. So I must state my case against you once more, Yahweh declares, and state my case against your children's children:

9. "Therefore I still contend with you, says the LORD, and with your children's children I will contend.

10. Cross to the isles of the Kittim and look, send to Kedar and carefully observe, see if anything like this has happened before!

10. For cross to the coasts of Cyprus and see, or send to Kedar and examine with care; see if there has been such a thing.

11. Does a nation change its gods? - and these are not gods at all! Yet my people have exchanged their Glory for the Useless One!

11. Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.

12. You heavens, stand aghast at this, horrified, utterly appalled, Yahweh declares.

12. Be appalled, O heavens, at this, be shocked, be utterly desolate, says the LORD,

13. For my people have committed two crimes: they have abandoned me, the fountain of living water, and dug water-tanks for themselves, cracked water-tanks that hold no water.

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

14. 'Is Israel a slave? Was he born into serfdom, for him to be preyed on like this?

14. "Is Israel a slave? Is he a homeborn servant? Why then has he become a prey?

15. Lions have roared at him, they have made their voices heard. They have left this country a desert, his towns lie burnt and uninhabited.

15. The lions have roared against him, they have roared loudly. They have made his land a waste; his cities are in ruins, without inhabitant.

16. The people of Noph and Tahpanhes have shaved your skull!

16. Moreover, the men of Memphis and Tah'panhes have broken the crown of your head.

17. Have you not brought this on yourself, by abandoning Yahweh your God, when he was guiding you on your way?

17. Have you not brought this upon yourself by forsaking the LORD your God, when he led you in the way?

18. What is the good of going to Egypt now to drink the water of the Nile? What is the good of going to Assyria to drink the water of the River?

18. And now what do you gain by going to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Nile? Or what do you gain by going to Assyria, to drink the waters of the Euphra'tes?

19. Your wickedness will bring its own punishment, your infidelities will bring you to book, so give thought and see how evil and bitter it is to abandon Yahweh your God and not to stand in awe of me, the Lord Yahweh Sabaoth declares.

19. Your wickedness will chasten you, and your apostasy will reprove you. Know and see that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake the LORD your God; the fear of me is not in you, says the Lord GOD of hosts.

20. 'It is long ago now since you broke your yoke, burst your bonds and said, "I will not serve!" Yet on every high hill and under every green tree you have sprawled and played the whore.

20. "For long ago you broke your yoke and burst your bonds; and you said, `I will not serve.' Yea, upon every high hill and under every green tree you bowed down as a harlot.

21. Yet I had planted you, a red vine of completely sound stock. How is it you have turned into seedlings of a vine that is alien to me?

21. Yet I planted you a choice vine, wholly of pure seed. How then have you turned degenerate and become a wild vine?

22. Even though you scrub yourself with soda and put in quantities of soap, the stain of your guilt would still be visible to me, the Lord Yahweh declares.

22. Though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me, says the Lord GOD.

23. How dare you say, "I am not defiled, I have not run after the Baals?" Look at your behaviour in the Valley, realise what you have done.

23. How can you say, `I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Ba'als'? Look at your way in the valley; know what you have done -- a restive young camel interlacing her tracks,

24. A wild she-donkey, at home in the desert, snuffing the breeze in desire; who can control her when she is on heat? Males need not trouble to look for her, they will find her in her month.

24. a wild ass used to the wilderness, in her heat sniffing the wind! Who can restrain her lust? None who seek her need weary themselves; in her month they will find her.

25. Beware! Your own foot will go unshod, your own throat grow dry! But you said, "It is no use! No! For I love the Strangers and they are the ones I shall follow."

25. Keep your feet from going unshod and your throat from thirst. But you said, `It is hopeless, for I have loved strangers, and after them I will go.'

26. 'Like a thief ashamed at being caught, so will the House of Israel be: they, their kings, their chief men, their priests and their prophets,

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

27. who say to a piece of wood, "You are my father," and to a stone, "You gave birth to me." For they turn to me their backs, never their faces; yet when trouble comes they shout, "Get up! Save us!"

27. who 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 say, `Arise and save us!'

28. Where are your gods you made for yourself? Let them get up if they can save you when trouble comes! For you have as many gods as you have towns, Judah!

28. But where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them arise, if they can save you, in your time of trouble; for as many as your cities are your gods, O Judah.

29. Why make out a case against me? You have all rebelled against me, Yahweh declares.

29. "Why do you complain against me? You have all rebelled against me, says the LORD.

30. In vain I have struck your children, they have not accepted correction; your own sword has devoured your prophets like a marauding lion.

30. In vain have I smitten your children, they took no correction; your own sword devoured your prophets like a ravening lion.

31. Now you of this generation, listen to what Yahweh says: Have I been a desert for Israel, or a land of gloom? Why do my people say, "We are our own masters, we will come to you no more"?

31. And you, O generation, heed the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of thick darkness? Why then do my people say, `We are free, we will come no more to thee'?

32. Does a girl forget her ornaments, a bride her sash? And yet my people have forgotten me, days beyond number.

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

33. 'How well you set your course in pursuit of love! And so you have schooled your ways to wicked deeds.

33. "How well you direct your course to seek lovers! So that even to wicked women you have taught your ways.

34. The very skirts of your robe are stained with the blood of the poor, of innocent men you never caught breaking and entering! And in spite of all this,

34. Also on your skirts is found the lifeblood of guiltless poor; you did not find them breaking in. Yet in spite of all these things

35. you say, "I am innocent, let his anger turn from me!" Now I pass sentence on you for saying, "I have not sinned."

35. you say, `I am innocent; surely his anger has turned from me.' Behold, I will bring you to judgment for saying, `I have not sinned.'

36. 'How frivolously you undertake a change of course! But you will be disappointed by Egypt just as you were by Assyria.

36. How lightly you gad about, changing your way! You shall be put to shame by Egypt as you were put to shame by Assyria.

37. You will have to leave there too with your hands on your head, for Yahweh has rejected those that you rely on, you will come to no good with them.'

37. From it too you will come away with your hands upon your head, for the LORD has rejected those in whom you trust, and you will not prosper by them.