Jeremiah 2 Parallel Bible Translations

Jeremiah 2 ▼
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1 The LORD spoke his word to me, The word of the LORD came to me, saying, The word of the LORD came to me:
2 |Go and announce to Jerusalem, 'This is what the LORD says: I remember the unfailing loyalty of your youth, the love you had for me as a bride. I remember how you followed me into the desert, into a land that couldn't be farmed. “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. “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem: “This is what the LORD says: “’I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown.
3 Israel was set apart for the LORD. It was the best part of the harvest. All who devoured it became guilty, and disaster struck them,' | declares the LORD. Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of his harvest. All who ate of it incurred guilt; disaster came upon them, declares the LORD.” Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of his harvest; all who devoured her were held guilty, and disaster overtook them,’” declares the LORD.
4 Listen to the word of the LORD, descendants of Jacob, all the families in the nation of Israel. Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the clans of the house of Israel. Hear the word of the LORD, you descendants of Jacob, all you clans of Israel.
5 This is what the LORD says: What did your ancestors find wrong with me that they went so far away from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves. 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? This is what the LORD says: “What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.
6 They didn't ask, |Where is the LORD, who brought us from Egypt? He led us through the desert, through a wasteland and its pits, a land of drought and the shadow of death. No one lives there or travels there.| 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?’ They did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD, who brought us up out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness, through a land of deserts and ravines, a land of drought and utter darkness, a land where no one travels and no one lives?’
7 I brought them into a fertile land to eat its fruit and its produce. They came and made my land unclean. They made my property disgusting. 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. I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and made my inheritance detestable.
8 The priests didn't ask, |Where is the LORD?| Those who deal with my teachings didn't know me. The rulers rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied in the name of Baal and followed statues that couldn't help them. The priests did not say, ‘Where is the LORD?’ Those who handle the law did not know me; the shepherds transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal and went after things that do not profit. The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD?’ Those who deal with the law did not know me; the leaders rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal, following worthless idols.
9 |That is why I am bringing charges against you,| declares the LORD, |and I am bringing charges against your grandchildren. “Therefore I still contend with you, declares the LORD, and with your children’s children I will contend. “Therefore I bring charges against you again,” declares the LORD. “And I will bring charges against your children’s children.
10 Go over to the coasts of Cyprus, and see. Send [someone] to Kedar, and observe closely. See if there has ever been anything like this. 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. Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and look, send to Kedar and observe closely; see if there has ever been anything like this:
11 Has any nation ever exchanged gods? (Their gods aren't really gods.) Yet, my people have exchanged their Glory for something that doesn't help them. 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. Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols.
12 Be horrified over this, heaven. Be terribly afraid,| declares the LORD. Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD, Be appalled at this, you heavens, and shudder with great horror,” declares the LORD.
13 |My people have done two things wrong. They have abandoned me, the fountain of life-giving water. They have also dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that can't hold water. 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. “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
14 |Are the people of Israel slaves? Were they born into slavery? Why, then, have they become someone's property? “Is Israel a slave? Is he a homeborn servant? Why then has he become a prey? Is Israel a servant, a slave by birth? Why then has he become plunder?
15 Young lions have roared very loudly at them. Young lions have turned the land into a wasteland. The cities have been burned down, and everyone has left. The lions have roared against him; they have roared loudly. They have made his land a waste; his cities are in ruins, without inhabitant. Lions have roared; they have growled at him. They have laid waste his land; his towns are burned and deserted.
16 People from Noph and Tahpanhes have cracked your skulls, Israel. Moreover, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the crown of your head. Also, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have cracked your skull.
17 You have brought this on yourself by abandoning the LORD your God when he led you on his way. Have you not brought this upon yourself by forsaking the LORD your God, when he led you in the way? Have you not brought this on yourselves by forsaking the LORD your God when he led you in the way?
18 You won't gain anything by going to Egypt to drink water from the Nile River. You won't gain anything by going to Assyria to drink water from the Euphrates River. 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 Euphrates? Now why go to Egypt to drink water from the Nile? And why go to Assyria to drink water from the Euphrates?
19 Your own wickedness will correct you, and your unfaithful ways will punish you. You should know and see how evil and bitter it is for you if you abandon the LORD your God and do not fear me,| declares the Almighty LORD of Armies. Your evil will chastise 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, declares the Lord GOD of hosts. Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you. Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the LORD your God and have no awe of me,” declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.
20 |Long ago you broke off your yoke, tore off your chains, and said that you wouldn't be a slave. You lay down and acted like a prostitute on every high hill and under every large tree. “For long ago I broke your yoke and burst your bonds; but you said, ‘I will not serve.’ Yes, on every high hill and under every green tree you bowed down like a whore. “Long ago you broke off your yoke and tore off your bonds; you said, ‘I will not serve you!’ Indeed, on every high hill and under every spreading tree you lay down as a prostitute.
21 I planted you like a choice grapevine from the very best seed. Now you have turned against me and have become a wild vine. Yet I planted you a choice vine, wholly of pure seed. How then have you turned degenerate and become a wild vine? I had planted you like a choice vine of sound and reliable stock. How then did you turn against me into a corrupt, wild vine?
22 Even if you wash with detergent and use a lot of soap, I would still see the stains from your wickedness,| declares the Almighty LORD. Though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me, declares the Lord GOD. Although you wash yourself with soap and use an abundance of cleansing powder, the stain of your guilt is still before me,” declares the Sovereign LORD.
23 |How can you say that you haven't dishonored yourselves and haven't followed other gods-the Baals? Look how you've behaved in the valley. Acknowledge what you've done. You are like a young camel that swiftly runs here and there. How can you say, ‘I am not unclean, I have not gone after the Baals’? Look at your way in the valley; know what you have done— a restless young camel running here and there, “How can you say, ‘I am not defiled; I have not run after the Baals’? See how you behaved in the valley; consider what you have done. You are a swift she-camel running here and there,
24 You are like a wild donkey that is used to the desert, sniffing the wind while in heat. All who look for you won't get tired. They will find you during your monthly period. a wild donkey 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. a wild donkey accustomed to the desert, sniffing the wind in her craving— in her heat who can restrain her? Any males that pursue her need not tire themselves; at mating time they will find her.
25 Don't run until your feet are bare and your throats are dry. But you say that it's useless. You love foreign gods and follow them. Keep your feet from going unshod and your throat from thirst. But you said, ‘It is hopeless, for I have loved foreigners, and after them I will go.’ Do not run until your feet are bare and your throat is dry. But you said, ‘It’s no use! I love foreign gods, and I must go after them.’
26 |As a thief feels ashamed when he's caught, so the nation of Israel will feel ashamed. Their kings, princes, priests, and prophets will also feel ashamed. “As a thief is shamed when caught, so the house of Israel shall be shamed: they, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets, “As a thief is disgraced when he is caught, so the people of Israel are disgraced— they, their kings and their officials, their priests and their prophets.
27 You call wood your father. You call stone your mother. You've turned your backs, not your faces, to me. But when you're in trouble, you ask me to come and rescue you. 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!’ They say to wood, ‘You are my father,’ and to stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ They have turned their backs to me and not their faces; yet when they are in trouble, they say, ‘Come and save us!’
28 Where are the gods that you made for yourselves? Let them come and rescue you when you're in trouble. You have as many gods as you have cities, Judah! 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. Where then are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them come if they can save you when you are in trouble! For you, Judah, have as many gods as you have towns.
29 |Why do you complain about me? All of you have rebelled against me,| declares the LORD. “Why do you contend with me? You have all transgressed against me, declares the LORD. “Why do you bring charges against me? You have all rebelled against me,” declares the LORD.
30 |I have punished your children without results. They didn't respond to correction. You killed my prophets like a raging lion. In vain have I struck your children; they took no correction; your own sword devoured your prophets like a ravening lion. “In vain I punished your people; they did not respond to correction. Your sword has devoured your prophets like a ravenous lion.
31 |Consider the word of the LORD, people of this generation. Haven't I been a desert, a land of thick darkness, for Israel? Why do my people say that they are free to wander around and no longer come to me? And you, O generation, behold 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 you’? “You of this generation, consider the word of the LORD: “Have I been a desert to Israel or a land of great darkness? Why do my people say, ‘We are free to roam; we will come to you no more’?
32 A young woman can't forget her jewelry or a bride her veils. Yet, my people have forgotten me for countless days. Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number. Does a young woman forget her jewelry, a bride her wedding ornaments? Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number.
33 You carefully planned ways to look for love. You taught your ways to wicked women. “How well you direct your course to seek love! So that even to wicked women you have taught your ways. How skilled you are at pursuing love! Even the worst of women can learn from your ways.
34 You have the blood from poor and innocent people on your clothes. You didn't kill them for breaking in to your home. Also on your skirts is found the lifeblood of the guiltless poor; you did not find them breaking in. Yet in spite of all these things On your clothes is found the lifeblood of the innocent poor, though you did not catch them breaking in. Yet in spite of all this
35 In spite of all this you say, 'I'm innocent. God will turn his anger from me, because I haven't sinned.' 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.’ you say, ‘I am innocent; he is not angry with me.’ But I will pass judgment on you because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’
36 You change your mind so easily. You will be put to shame by Egypt as you were put to shame by Assyria. How much you go about, changing your way! You shall be put to shame by Egypt as you were put to shame by Assyria. Why do you go about so much, changing your ways? You will be disappointed by Egypt as you were by Assyria.
37 You will also leave this place with your hands over your head, because the LORD has rejected those you trust. You will not be helped by them.| From it too you will come away with your hands on your head, for the LORD has rejected those in whom you trust, and you will not prosper by them. You will also leave that place with your hands on your head, for the LORD has rejected those you trust; you will not be helped by them.
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