Jeremiah 2:1-13 ▼

1 Now the word of the LORD came to me saying,

2 |Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the LORD, |I remember concerning you the devotion of your youth, The love of your betrothals, Your following after Me in the wilderness, Through a land not sown.

3 |Israel was holy to the LORD, The first of His harvest. All who ate of it became guilty; Evil came upon them,| declares the LORD.'|

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

5 Thus says the LORD, |What injustice did your fathers find in Me, That they went far from Me And walked after emptiness and became empty?

6 |They did not say, 'Where is the LORD Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, Who led us through the wilderness, Through a land of deserts and of pits, Through a land of drought and of deep darkness, Through a land that no one crossed And where no man dwelt?'

7 |I brought you into the fruitful land To eat its fruit and its good things. But you came and defiled My land, And My inheritance you made an abomination.

8 |The priests did not say, 'Where is the LORD?' And those who handle the law did not know Me; The rulers also transgressed against Me, And the prophets prophesied by Baal And walked after things that did not profit.

9 |Therefore I will yet contend with you,| declares the LORD, |And with your sons' sons I will contend.

10 |For cross to the coastlands of Kittim and see, And send to Kedar and observe closely And see if there has been such [a thing] as this!

11 |Has a nation changed gods When they were not gods? But My people have changed their glory For that which does not profit.

12 |Be appalled, O heavens, at this, And shudder, be very desolate,| declares the LORD.

13 |For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, To hew for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns That can hold no water.