Jeremiah 2 Parallel Bible Translations

Jeremiah 2 ▼
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1 This message from the LORD came 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 loyal devotion of your youth, your love as a bride. You followed me in the desert, in a land that was not planted. “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 consecrated to the LORD, she was the first fruits of his produce. All who devoured her became guilty and disaster came on 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 this message from the LORD, you descendants of Jacob and all the families of the descendants 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 left me, and pursued worthless things, and so they became worthless? 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 up from the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through the land of desert and pits, through the land of dryness and deep darkness, a land that people don't pass through, and where no one lives?' 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 you into the fruitful land to eat its fruit and its good things. But you came in, defiled my land, and made my inheritance into an abomination. 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 say, 'Where is the LORD?' and those handling the Law didn't know me. The rulers transgressed against me, the prophets prophesied by Baal, and they followed that which does not profit. 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 |Therefore I'll again accuse you,| declares the LORD, |and I'll accuse 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 |Indeed, go over to the coasts of Cyprus and see, send to Kedar and pay very close attention. See if there has ever been such a thing as 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 a nation ever changed gods when they aren't even gods? But my people have exchanged their glory for that which does not profit. 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 Heavens, be appalled at this, be shocked, be utterly devastated,| 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 |Indeed, my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living water, and they have dug cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that cannot 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 |Is Israel a slave, or was he born a servant? Why then has he become plunder? “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 roar at him, they cry out loudly. They have made his land into a wasteland, and his cities are destroyed so they are without inhabitants. 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 Also, people from Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken your skull. 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 done this to yourselves, have you not, by forsaking the LORD your God, when he is the one who led you on the 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 Now, what are you doing on the road to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Nile? And what are you doing on the road to Assyria, to drink the waters of the Euphrates? 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 wickedness will be punished, and you will be corrected due to your acts of apostasy. Know and see that it's evil and bitter for you to forsake the LORD your God, but the fear of me is not in you,| declares the Lord GOD of the Heavenly 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 |For long ago I broke your yoke and tore off your bonds, But you said, 'I won't serve you!' Instead, on every high hill and under every green tree, you bend down to commit fornication. “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 myself as a choice vine, from the very best seed. How did you turn against me into a degenerate and foreign 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 Though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me,| declares the Lord GOD. 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, 'I'm not defiled. I haven't gone after the Baals.'? Look at what you've done in the valley. Know what you have done. You are a swift young camel galloping aimlessly; 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 a wild donkey accustomed to the desert, sniffing the wind in her passion. When she's in heat, who can turn her away? None of the males who pursue her need to tire themselves out, for in her month they'll find her.| 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 throat is dry. But you say, 'It's hopeless! Because I love foreign gods, I'll go after 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 is disgraced when he's caught, so the house of Israel is disgraced— they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets, “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 who say to a tree, 'You are my father,' and to a stone, 'You gave birth to me.' They have turned their back to me, but not their faces. In the time of their trouble, they'll say, 'Rise up! Deliver us!'| 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 |But where are your gods that you made for yourselves? Let them rise up, if they can deliver you in the time of your trouble. You have as many gods as you have towns, 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 contend with me? 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've punished your children with no results, they have accepted no discipline. Your sword has devoured your prophets like a destroying 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 |You, generation, pay attention to this message from the LORD! Am I the desert to Israel, or a land of gloom? Why do my people say, 'We're free to roam? We won't come to you anymore.' 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 Will a young woman forget her wedding ornaments, or a bride her attire? But my people have forgotten me days without number. 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 How well you perfect your techniques for seeking love. Therefore you can teach even the most immoral women your techniques. “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 On your skirts is found the lifeblood of the innocent poor, even though you didn't catch them breaking in. Yet despite all these things, 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 you say, 'I'm innocent. Surely his anger has turned away from me.'| |I'm about to bring charges against you because you say, '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 Why do you go about changing your mind so much? You will also be disappointed by Egypt, just as you were disappointed 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 go out from this place with your hands over your heads. For the LORD has rejected those in whom you trust, and you won't prosper through 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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