Jeremiah 2

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,	1 This word of the LORD came to me:
2 'Go and shout this in Jerusalem's ears: 'Yahweh says this: "I remember your faithful love, the affection ofyour bridal days, when you fol owed me through the desert, through a land unsown.	2 Go, cry out this message for Jerusalem to hear! I remember the devotion of your youth, how you loved me as a bride, Following me in the desert, in a land unsown.
3 Israel was sacred to Yahweh; the first-fruits of his harvest; al who ate this incurred guilt, disaster befelthem, Yahweh declares." '	3 Sacred to the LORD was Israel, the first fruits of his harvest; Should anyone presume to partake of them, evil would befall him, says the LORD.
4 Listen to Yahweh's word, House of Jacob and al the families of the House of Israel.	4 Listen to the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob! All you clans of the house of Israel,
5 Yahweh says this, 'What did your ancestors find wrong in me for them to have deserted me so far as tofol ow Futility and become futile themselves?	5 thus says the LORD: What fault did your fathers find in me that they withdrew from me, Went after empty idols, and became empty themselves?
6 They never said, "Where is Yahweh, who brought us out of Egypt and led us through the desert, througha land of plains and ravines, through a land of drought, of shadow dark as death, a land through which no onepasses and where no human being lives?"	6 They did not ask, "Where is the LORD who brought us up from the land of Egypt, Who led us through the desert, through a land of wastes and gullies, Through a land of drought and darkness, through a land which no one crosses, where no man dwells?"
7 I brought you to a country of plenty, to enjoy its produce and good things; but when you entered youdefiled my country and made my heritage loathsome.	7 When I brought you into the garden land to eat its goodly fruits, You entered and defiled my land, you made my heritage loathsome.
8 The priests never asked, "Where is Yahweh?" Those skilled in the Law did not know me, the shepherdstoo rebel ed against me and the prophets prophesied by Baal and fol owed the Useless Ones.	8 The priests asked not, "Where is the LORD?" Those who dealt with the law knew me not: the shepherds rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal, and went after useless idols.
9 So I must state my case against you once more, Yahweh declares, and state my case against yourchildren's children:	9 Therefore will I yet accuse you, says the LORD, and even your children's children I will accuse.
10 Cross to the isles of the Kittim and look, send to Kedar and careful y observe, see if anything like thishas happened before!	10 Pass over to the coast of the Kittim and see, send to Kedar and carefully inquire: Where has the like of this been done?
11 Does a nation change its gods? - and these are not gods at al ! Yet my people have exchanged theirGlory for the Useless One!	11 Does any other nation change its gods?-- yet they are not gods at all! But my people have changed their glory for useless things.
12 You heavens, stand aghast at this, horrified, utterly appalled, Yahweh declares.	12 Be amazed at this, O heavens, and shudder with sheer horror, says the LORD.
13 For my people have committed two crimes: they have abandoned me, the fountain of living water, anddug water-tanks for themselves, cracked water-tanks that hold no water.	13 Two evils have my people done: they have forsaken me, the source of living waters; They have dug themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that hold no water.
14 'Is Israel a slave? Was he born into serfdom, for him to be preyed on like this?	14 Is Israel a slave, a bondman by birth? Why then has he become booty?
15 Lions have roared at him, they have made their voices heard. They have left this country a desert, histowns lie burnt and uninhabited.	15 Against him lions roar full-throated cries. They have made his land a waste; his cities are charred ruins, without inhabitant.
16 The people of Noph and Tahpanhes have shaved your skul !	16 Yes, the people of Memphis and Tahpanhes shave the crown of your head.
17 Have you not brought this on yourself, by abandoning Yahweh your God, when he was guiding you onyour way?	17 Has not the forsaking of the LORD, your God, done this to you?
18 What is the good of going to Egypt now to drink the water of the Nile? What is the good of going toAssyria to drink the water of the River?	18 And now, why go to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Nile? Why go to Assyria, to drink the waters of the Euphrates?
19 Your wickedness wil bring its own punishment, your infidelities wil bring you to book, so give thoughtand see how evil and bitter it is to abandon Yahweh your God and not to stand in awe of me, the Lord YahwehSabaoth declares.	19 Your own wickedness chastises you, your own infidelities punish you. Know then, and see, how evil and bitter is your forsaking the LORD, your God, And showing no fear of me, says the Lord, the GOD of hosts.
20 'It is long ago now since you broke your yoke, burst your bonds and said, "I wil not serve!" Yet on every high hil and under every green tree you have sprawled and played the whore.	20 Long ago you broke your yoke, you tore off your bonds. "I will not serve," you said. On every high hill, under every green tree, you gave yourself to harlotry.
21 Yet I had planted you, a red vine of completely sound stock. How is it you have turned into seedlings of a vine that is alien to me?	21 I had planted you, a choice vine of fully tested stock; How could you turn out obnoxious to me, a spurious vine?
22 Even though you scrub yourself with soda and put in quantities of soap, the stain of your guilt would stilbe visible to me, the Lord Yahweh declares.	22 Though you scour it with soap, and use much lye, The stain of your guilt is still before me, says the Lord GOD.
23 How dare you say, "I am not defiled, I have not run after the Baals?" Look at your behaviour in theVal ey, realise what you have done.	23 How can you say, "I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baals"? Consider your conduct in the Valley, recall what you have done: A frenzied she-camel, coursing near and far,
24 A wild she-donkey, at home in the desert, snuffing the breeze in desire; who can control her when sheis on heat? Males need not trouble to look for her, they wil find her in her month.	24 breaking away toward the desert, Snuffing the wind in her ardor-- who can restrain her lust? No beasts need tire themselves seeking her; in her month they will meet her.
25 Beware! Your own foot will go unshod, your own throat grow dry! But you said, "It is no use! No! For Ilove the Strangers and they are the ones I shal fol ow."	25 Stop wearing out your shoes and parching your throat! But you say, "No use! no! I love these strangers, and after them I must go."
26 'Like a thief ashamed at being caught, so wil the House of Israel be: they, their kings, their chief men,their priests and their prophets,	26 As the thief is shamed when caught, so shall the house of Israel be shamed: They, their kings and their princes, their priests and their prophets;
27 who say to a piece of wood, "You are my father," and to a stone, "You gave birth to me." For they turn to me their backs, never their faces; yet when trouble comes they shout, "Get up! Save us!"	27 They who say to a piece of wood, "You are my father," and to a stone, "You gave me birth." They turn to me their backs, not their faces; yet, in their time of trouble they cry out, "Rise up and save us!"
28 Where are your gods you made for yourself? Let them get up if they can save you when trouble comes!For you have as many gods as you have towns, Judah!	28 Where are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them rise up! Will they save you in your time of trouble? For as numerous as your cities are your gods, O Judah! And as many as the streets of Jerusalem are the altars you have set up for Baal.
29 Why make out a case against me? You have al rebel ed against me, Yahweh declares.	29 How dare you still plead with me? You have all rebelled against me, says the LORD.
30 In vain I have struck your children, they have not accepted correction; your own sword has devouredyour prophets like a marauding lion.	30 In vain I struck your children; the correction they did not take. Your sword devoured your prophets like a ravening lion.
31 Now you of this generation, listen to what Yahweh says: Have I been a desert for Israel, or a land ofgloom? Why do my people say, "We are our own masters, we wil come to you no more"?	31 You, of this generation, take note of the word of the Lord: Have I been a desert to Israel, a land of darkness? Why do my people say, "We have moved on, we will come to you no more"?
32 Does a girl forget her ornaments, a bride her sash? And yet my people have forgotten me, daysbeyond number.	32 Does a virgin forget her jewelry, a bride her sash? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
33 'How wel you set your course in pursuit of love! And so you have schooled your ways to wicked deeds.	33 How well you pick your way when seeking love! You who, in your wickedness, have gone by ways unclean!
34 The very skirts of your robe are stained with the blood of the poor, of innocent men you never caughtbreaking and entering! And in spite of al this,	34 You, on whose clothing there is the life-blood of the innocent, whom you found committing no burglary;
35 you say, "I am innocent, let his anger turn from me!" Now I pass sentence on you for saying, "I have not sinned."	35 Yet withal you say, "I am innocent; at least, his anger is turned away from me." Behold, I will judge you on that word of yours, "I have not sinned."
36 'How frivolously you undertake a change of course! But you will be disappointed by Egypt just as youwere by Assyria.	36 How very base you have become in changing your course! By Egypt will you be shamed, as you were shamed by Assyria.
37 You wil have to leave there too with your hands on your head, for Yahweh has rejected those that yourely on, you will come to no good with them.'	37 From there also shall you go away with hands upon your head; For the LORD has rejected those in whom you trust, with them you will have no success.