Jeremiah 2:2-25

Rotherham(i) 2 Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying––Thus, saith Yahweh, I remember, in thy behalf, the lovingkindness of thy youthful days, The love of thy bridal estate,––Thy coming out after me, Through the desert, Through a land, not sown: 3 Holiness, was Israel unto Yahweh, The firstfruit of his increase,––All that devoured it, were held guilty, Calamity, used to come upon them,––Declareth Yahweh. 4 Hear ye the word of Yahweh, O house of Jacob, And all the families of the house of Israel. 5 Thus, saith Yahweh,––What did your fathers find in me, by way of perversity, that they removed far from me,––and went after vanity, and became vain? 6 Neither said they, Where is Yahweh, Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt,––Who led us: Through the desert, Through a land of wastes and clefts, Through a land of parched places and of death–shade, Through a land, Along which no man had passed, And in which no son of earth dwelt? 7 Then brought, I, you into a country of garden, land, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof,––and yet, when ye entered, then defiled ye my land, and, mine inheritance, ye made an abomination. 8 The priests, said not, Where, is Yahweh? And, they who handled the law, did not acknowledge me, And, the shepherds, transgressed against me,––And, the prophets, prophesied by Baal, And so, after things that could not profit, did they walk.
9 Therefore, yet further, will I plead with you, Declareth Yahweh, Yea, with your children’s children, will I plead. 10 For––pass through the coastlands of the West, and see, And, unto Kedar, send ye and, consider diligently,––And see––whether there hath been the like of this! 11 Hath, a nation, changed, gods, although, they, were No–gods? Yet, my people, have changed my glory, for that which could not profit! 12 Be amazed, O ye heavens, at this,––And shudder, be dried up utterly, Urgeth Yahweh. 13 For, two wicked things, have my people committed,––Me, have they forsaken, a fountain of living water, To hew out for themselves, cisterns, broken cisterns, that cannot hold water.
14 Was Israel, a servant? Born in the house, was, he? Wherefore hath he become a prey? 15 Against him, have been roaring, wild lions, They have uttered their voice,––and have made his land a desolation, His cities, have been burned, so as to have no inhabitant. 16 Even the sons of Noph and Tahpanhes, have been crushing the crown of the head. 17 Is not this, what thou wast certain to do for thyself,––in that thou didst forsake Yahweh thy God, when he was leading thee by the way? 18 Now, therefore, what hast thou to do with the way to Egypt, to drink the waters of Shihor? Or what hast thou to do with the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River[=Euphrates]? 19 Let thy wickedness correct, thee, And, thine apostasies, rebuke thee, Know therefore and see, That it is a wicked thing and a bitter, that thou shouldest have forsaken Yahweh thy God,––And that the dread of me, should not have pertained to thee, Declareth My Lord, Yahweh of hosts.
20 For, in age–past time, I brake thy yoke, I tare off thy fetters, And thou saidst, I will not transgress,––Nevertheless, on every high hill, and under every green tree, wast thou lying down as an unchaste woman. 21 Yet, I, planted thee a precious vine, a wholly true seed,––How then didst thou change thyself towards me, into the degenerate plantings of the alien vine? 22 For, though thou wash thee with nitre, And take thee much soap, Yet is thine iniquity inscribed, before me, Declareth My Lord, Yahweh. 23 How canst thou say, I have not defiled myself, After the Baalim, have I not gone? See thy way, in the valley, Own, what thou hast done,––A nimble young she–camel, crossing her own ways; 24 A wild ass, taught of the desert, In the desire of her soul, she snuffeth the wind, In her occasion, who can turn her back? None who seek her, will weary themselves, In her month, they shall find her! 25 Withhold thy foot from being unshod, And thy throat from thirst! But thou saidst, Hopeless! No! for I love foreigners, and, after them, will I go.