Jeremiah 2

Israel’s Early Love for God

1 The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah again.

2 “Go shout this to Jerusalem: ‘This is what the LORD says, I remember how you used to love Me when you were young, how you followed Me like a bride sticking close to her man in the wilderness, a place with nothing out there.’”

3 “Israel was holy to Me, the first fruits of My harvest. Anybody who messed with them caught judgment. Disaster hit them because they were touching what was Mine,” says the LORD.

Israel Turns Away

4 Hear the word of the LORD, all you people of Israel and families of Jacob.

5 This is what the LORD says: “Tell Me, what did your fathers find wrong with Me, Why did they dip out and chase after worthless things, becoming worthless themselves?”

6 “They never stopped to say, ‘Where is the LORD who brought us up from Egypt and guided us through the wild desert, through pits, darkness, and lands nobody survives?’”

7 “I brought you into a rich land with good fruit and blessings. But when you got there, you contaminated it and trashed the land I gave you.”

8 “The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD?’ The law experts did not know Me. The leaders turned rebellious. The prophets spoke in Baal’s name and followed fake gods.”

God Brings His Case Against Israel

9 “So I am coming at you, and your children, with charges,” declares the LORD.

10 “Go check Cyprus, send messengers to Kedar, look everywhere. Has anything like this ever happened?”

11 “Has a nation ever swapped out its gods, even though their gods are not real, But My people traded Me out, the God of glory, for something worthless.”

12 “Heaven, be shocked. Be horrified. Be wrecked by this,” declares the LORD.

Two Sins

13 “My people committed two sins: they ditched Me, the fountain of living water, and then they dug busted, cracked wells that cannot hold a drop.”

Israel’s Slavery and Rebellion

14 “Is Israel a slave, Was he born to be owned, Then why is he getting beat down?”

15 “Young lions roar at him and growl. They laid his land waste. His cities burned with no one living in them.”

16 “Even the people of Memphis and Tahpanhes shaved the top of your head, humiliating you.”

17 “And you did this to yourself when you abandoned the LORD your God, the One guiding you.”

18 “So tell Me, what good is it running to Egypt to drink from the Nile, Or running to Assyria to drink from the Euphrates?”

19 “Your own wickedness is going to correct you. Your own backsliding will teach you a lesson. Realize how evil and bitter it is to ditch the LORD and stop fearing Me,” says the Lord GOD of armies.

Israel’s Unfaithfulness

20 “Long ago you broke off My yoke, snapped My chains, and said, ‘I do not want to serve You!’ But on every high hill and under every green tree you laid yourself out, acting wild with other gods.”

21 “I planted you like a choice vine, pure and good. So how you turn into a wild, corrupt vine?”

22 “You can scrub yourself with soap and strong detergent, but your guilt is still stained in front of Me,” declares the Lord GOD.

Israel Denies Her Sin

23 “How can you say, ‘I am not dirty; I have not chased after the Baals’, Look at the trail you left in the valley, you are like a wild young camel running in circles.”

24 “You are like a wild donkey in heat, sniffing the wind. Nobody has to chase you, when you are thirsty for sin, you go find it.”

25 “But when you get tired and your sandals break and your throat dries up, you still say, ‘Nah, I am good. I am not turning back. I am chasing these other gods.’”

Shame of False Gods

26 “As a thief is ashamed when he has caught, that is how Israel will be, kings, leaders, priests, prophets, all of them.”

27 “They tell a piece of wood, ‘You are my father,’ and a stone, ‘You gave me life.’ They turned their backs to Me, not their faces. But when trouble hits, they say, ‘Lord, save us!’”

28 “So let those gods you made get up and save you when trouble comes. Judah, you got as many gods as you got cities.”

God Rebukes and Warns

29 “Why are you arguing with Me, You all rebelled against Me?” says the LORD.

30 “I disciplined your children, but it did not change you. Your sword devoured your prophets like a hungry lion.”

31 “Listen, people, have I been a desert to you, A land of darkness, Why do My people say, ‘We out. We do not want God anymore’?”

32 “Does a young woman forget her jewelry, Does a bride forget her wedding dress, But My people forgot Me, day after day.”

Israel’s Desperation

33 “How smooth you are at chasing lovers. You have even taught wicked women your tricks.”

34 “Your clothes are stained with the blood of the innocent poor, people you did not catch breaking in. It is murder on your hands.”

35 “But you still say, ‘I am innocent! God’s anger will not touch me.’ But watch, I am bringing judgment because you keep acting like you did not do anything.”

36 “Why are you flipping between allies, Egypt is going to let you down just like Assyria did.”

37 “You will leave Egypt with your hands on your head in shame, because the LORD rejected those you trust. You will not succeed with them at all.”