Jeremiah 2:23-37 ▼

23 Howe sayest thou nowe, I am not vncleane, and I haue not folowed Baalim? Loke vpon thine owne wayes in the valleys what thou hast done? Thou art like a swift dromedarie that goeth easyly her way.

24 And thy wantonnesse is lyke a wylde Asse that vseth the wildernesse, and that snuffeth and bloweth at her wyll: who can tame her? All they that seeke her, shall not fayle but fynde her in her moneth.

25 Kepe thy foote from nakednesse, and thy throte from thirst, and thou thinkest in thy selfe: tushe, I wil take no sorowe, for I haue loued the straungers, and them wyll I folowe.

26 Lyke as a theefe that is taken with the deede, commeth to shame: euen so is the house of Israel come to confusion, the common people, their kynges and rulers, their priestes and prophetes.

27 For they say to a stocke, Thou art my father, & to a stone, Thou hast begotten me: yea they haue turned their backe vpon me, and not their face: but in the tyme of their trouble, when they say, stande vp and helpe vs:

28 I shall aunswere them Where are nowe thy gods that thou hast made thee? bid them stande vp, and helpe thee in the time of thy neede: For loke howe many cities thou hast O Iuda, so many gods hast thou also.

29 Wherfore then wyll ye go to lawe with me? seeyng ye all are sinners agaynst me, saith the Lorde.

30 It is but lost labour that I smite your children, for they receaue not my correction: your owne sworde destroyeth your prophetes, lyke a deuouryng lion.

31 Oh generation, hearken vnto the worde of the Lorde: Am I become a wildernesse vnto the people of Israel? or a lande that hath no lyght? wherfore saith my people then, We are lordes, we wyll come no more vnto thee?

32 Doth a mayde forget her rayment, or a bride her stomacher? but my people hath forgotten me a very long whyle.

33 Why beautifiest thou thy wayes so hyely, to obteyne fauour therthrough? therfore also hast thou taught wickednesse through thy wayes.

34 Upon thy wynges is found the blood of poore and innocent people, whom thou didst not fynde in corners & holes: but thou sluest the prophetes for reprouyng all these thynges.

35 Yet darest thou say, I am without sinne and giltlesse, Tushe, his wrath can not come vpon me: Beholde, I wyll reason with thee, because thou darest say, I haue not offended.

36 Why gaddest thou so much hither and thither, to chaunge thy wayes? for thou shalt be confounded aswell of Egypt as thou wast of the Assyrians.

37 Yea thou shalt go thy way from them, and smite thine handes together vpon thy head, because the Lorde shall bring that confidence and hope of thine to naught, & thou shalt not prosper withal.