Jeremiah 2:1-19 ▼

1 MOREOVER the word of the LORD came upon me, saying,

2 Go and proclaim in the ears of the people of Jerusalem, and say, Thus says the LORD: I remember you, the kindness of your youth, the love of your long-suffering; for you walked after me in the wilderness, in the land that was not sown.

3 Israel has sanctified to the LORD the first fruits of his crops; all those who embezzle them shall be condemned; evil shall come upon them, says 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 iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me and have walked after vanity and have profited nothing?

6 Neither did they say, Where is the LORD who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a waste and depressed land, through a desolate land and a land of the shadow of death, a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwells?

7 And I brought you into a land of plenty, to eat its fruit and its goodness; but when you came in, you defiled my land and made my heritage an abomination.

8 The priests did not say, Where is the LORD? And those who handle the law did not know me; the leaders also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and went after things that do not profit.

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

10 For cross over to the islands of China and see; and send to Kedar, and understand diligently, and see if there ever has been such a thing as this.

11 Have the Gentiles changed their gods, which are not gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.

12 Be astonished, O heavens, at this, and tremble and be exceedingly afraid, says the LORD.

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

14 Is Israel a servant? If he is a homeborn heir, why then is he plundered?

15 The lions have roared against him, and growled, and they made his land waste; his villages have become desolate without inhabitants.

16 Also certain rulers of the inhabitants of Memphis and Tahapanes shall rule over you.

17 Behold, such shall be done unto you, because you have forsaken the LORD your God, at a time when he led you in his way.

18 And now, why is it that you go in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? And why is it that you go in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river (Euphrates)?

19 Your own evil shall chastise you, and your repentance shall reprove .you; know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, for you have forsaken the LORD your God, and you have not revered me, says the LORD God of hosts.