Jeremiah 2:1-19 ▼

1 Moreouer, the worde of the Lorde came vnto me, saying:

2 Go thy way, crye in the eares of Hierusalem, and say, Thus saith the Lorde: I remember thee, the kindnesse of thy youth, and the loue of thy despousyng, in that thou folowedst me through the wildernesse in an vntylled lande.

3 Israel was an halowed thyng vnto the Lorde, and was his first fruites: All they that deuour Israel shall offende, misfortune shall fall vpon them, saith the Lorde.

4 Heare therfore the worde of the Lord O thou house of Iacob, and all the generations of the house of Israel.

5 Thus saith the Lorde, What vnfaithfulnesse founde your fathers in me, that they went so farre away fro me, fallyng to lightnesse, and beyng so vayne?

6 They thought not in their heartes, where is the Lord that brought vs out of the lande of Egypt, that led vs thorowe the wildernesse, through a desert & rough lande, through a drye and deadly lande, yea a lande that no man had gone through, and wherin no man had dwelt?

7 And when I had brought you into a pleasauut fertile lande, that ye myght enioy the fruites & all the commodities of the same: ye went foorth and defiled my lande, and brought mine heritage to abhomination.

8 The priestes them selues sayde not, Where is the Lord? They that had the lawe in their handes knewe me not, the sheepheardes offended agaynst me, the prophetes did prophecie in Baal, and folowed such thinges as shal bryng them no profite.

9 Wherfore I am constrayned, saith the Lorde, yet agayne to contende in iudgement with you, and with your childers children.

10 Go into the Isles of Cethim, and loke well: sende vnto Cedar, take diligent heede, and see whether such thynges be done there,

11 Whether the gentiles them selues haue chaunged their gods which yet are no gods in deede? but my people hath chaunged their honour for a thyng that may not helpe them.

12 Be astonished O ye heauens, be afraide and abashed at such a thyng, saith the Lorde.

13 For my people hath done two euils: they haue forsaken me the well of the water of lyfe, and digged them pittes, yea vile and broken pittes that can holde no water.

14 Is Israel a bonde seruaunt, or one of the housholde? why is he the so spoyled?

15 They rore and crye vpon him as lions, they haue made his lande waste: his cities are so burnt vp, that there is no man dwellyng in them:

16 Yea the children of Noph & Taphnes shall cracke their crowne.

17 Commeth not this vnto thee because thou hast forsaken the Lorde thy God, euen when he led thee by the way?

18 And what hast thou nowe to do in the streete of Egypt, to drynke water out of Nilus? Either what makest thou in the way to Assyria, to drynke water of the fludde?

19 Thine owne wickednesse shall reproue thee, and thy turnyng away shall condempne thee: that thou mayest knowe and vnderstand howe euyll and hurtfull a thyng it is, that thou hast forsaken the Lorde thy God, and hast not feared me, saith the Lorde God of hoastes.