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JeremiahChapter 2

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The word of the LORD came to me:
Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem: This is what the LORD says: I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown.
Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of his harvest. All who devour him incur guilt; disaster comes upon them, declares the LORD.
Hear the word of the LORD, house of Jacob, all you clans of the house of Israel.
This is what the LORD says: What fault did your fathers find in me, that they went far from me, chasing after worthless things and becoming worthless themselves?
They did not ask, "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 ravines, a land of drought and deep darkness, a land no one crosses and where no one lives?"
I brought you into a fruitful land to eat its fruit and its good things. But you came and defiled my land, and made my inheritance detestable.
The priests did not ask, "Where is the LORD?" Those who handle the law did not know me; the shepherds rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal and followed what has no worth.
Therefore I bring my case against you again, declares the LORD, and against your children's children I will bring it.
Cross over to the shores of Cyprus and look; send to Kedar and observe closely; see whether anything like this has ever happened.
Has any nation ever exchanged its gods, though they are no gods at all? Yet my people have exchanged their Glory for what has no worth.
Be appalled at this, you heavens; shudder and be utterly desolate, declares the LORD.
For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living water, and dug for themselves cisterns—cracked cisterns that cannot hold water.
Is Israel a slave? Was he born into servitude? Why then has he become plunder?
Young lions have roared over him; they have raised their voices. They have laid his land waste; his cities are burned, left without inhabitants.
Even the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the crown of your head.
Have you not brought this on yourself by forsaking the LORD your God while he was leading you along the way?
And now, what do you gain by going to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile? What do you gain by going to Assyria to drink the waters of the River?
Your own wickedness will discipline you; your own backsliding will rebuke you. Consider and see how evil and bitter it is for you to forsake the LORD your God and to have no fear of me, declares the Lord, the LORD of hosts.
Long ago I broke your yoke and tore off your bonds, but you said, "I will not serve." Instead, on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute.
I planted you as a choice vine, from wholly reliable seed. How then did you turn against me, becoming a degenerate, foreign vine?
Though you wash yourself with lye and use soap in abundance, the stain of your guilt remains before me, declares the Lord GOD.
How can you say, "I am not defiled; I have not run after the Baals"? Look at your way in the valley; know what you have done—a restless young camel running here and there,
a wild donkey at home in the wilderness, sniffing the wind in her craving—when she is in heat, who can turn her back? Any who seek her need not weary themselves; in her month they will find her.
Keep your feet from going bare and your throat from thirst. But you said, "It is hopeless. No! I love strangers, and after them I will go."
As a thief is disgraced when he is caught, so the house of Israel is disgraced—they, their kings and their officials, their priests and their prophets—
who say to a tree, "You are my father," and to a stone, "You gave me birth." They have turned their backs to me and not their faces; yet in their time of trouble they say, "Rise up and save us!"
But where are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them rise up and save you in your time of trouble, for your gods are as many as your cities, Judah.
Why do you bring a case against me? You have all rebelled against me, declares the LORD.
In vain I struck your children; they accepted no correction. Your own sword devoured your prophets like a ravening lion.
You of this generation, consider 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 to roam; we will come to you no more"?
Does a young woman forget her jewelry, a bride her wedding sash? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
How skillfully you arrange your ways to seek out love! Therefore you have even taught your ways to wicked women.
On your skirts is found the lifeblood of the innocent poor, though you did not catch them breaking in. Yet in spite of all this
you say, "I am innocent; surely his anger has turned from me." Now I will bring you to judgment because you say, "I have not sinned."
Why do you wander about so much, changing your way? You will be put to shame by Egypt too, as you were put to shame by Assyria.
From this one too you will go out with your hands on your head, for the LORD has rejected those you trust, and you will not prosper through them.
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