Jeremiah 2

The LORD recalled Israel's early devotion as a young bride who followed Him through the wilderness. He charged them with forsaking the fountain of living waters and hewing out broken cisterns that can hold no water. Israel's own wickedness would correct her, for she had committed two evils -- forsaking the LORD and turning to worthless idols.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,	The word of the LORD came to me, saying:
2	Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.	"Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem: 'This is what the LORD says: I remember Your devotion in Your youth, Your love as a young bride — how You followed Me through the desert, through a land not sown with crops.
3	Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.	Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of his harvest. All who devoured Israel were held guilty, and disaster came on them,'" says the LORD.
4	Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:	Hear the word of the LORD, You house of Jacob — all you families of Israel.
5	Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?	This is what the LORD says: "What fault did Your ancestors find in Me, that they strayed so far? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.
6	Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?	They did not ask, 'Where is the LORD Who brought us up from Egypt? He led us through the desert, through a land of dry wasteland and deep darkness, through a land no one travels and no one lives in.'
7	And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.	I brought You into a fertile land to enjoy its fruit and good things. But when You entered, You defiled My land and made My inheritance detestable.
8	The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.	The priests did not ask, 'Where is the LORD?' Those who handled the law did not know Me. The leaders rebelled against Me. The prophets prophesied by Baal and followed useless things.
9	Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children's children will I plead.	"Therefore I will bring charges against You," says the LORD. "I will bring charges against Your grandchildren too.
10	For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing:	Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and look. Send to Kedar and observe closely. See if anything like this has happened:
11	Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.	Has any nation ever changed its gods — even though they are not real gods at all? Yet My people have exchanged their Glory for something that has no value.
12	Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.	Be shocked at this, You heavens! Shudder with great horror," says the LORD.
13	For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.	"My people have committed two sins: They have abandoned Me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns — broken cisterns that hold no water.
14	Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled?	Is Israel a slave? Was He born into slavery? Why then has He become plunder?
15	The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.	Lions have roared at Him and raised their voices. They have ruined His land. His cities are burned down with no one living in them.
16	Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have fed on the crown of thy head.	Also the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the crown of Your head.
17	Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?	Have You not brought this on Yourself by forsaking the LORD Your God when He led You in the way?
18	And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?	Now why go to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile? And why go to Assyria to drink water from the Euphrates?
19	Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.	Your own wickedness will punish You. Your unfaithfulness will correct You. Know and see how evil and bitter it is to forsake the LORD Your God and to have no fear of Me," says the Lord GOD of hosts.
20	For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.	"Long ago I broke Your yoke and tore off Your chains. You said, 'I will not serve idols.' Yet on every high hill and under every green tree You lay down and played the harlot.
21	Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?	I planted You as a choice vine — all good stock. How then have You turned into a corrupt, wild vine?
22	For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.	Even if You scrub Yourself with lye and use plenty of soap, the stain of Your iniquity is still before Me," says the Lord GOD.
23	How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;	How can You say, 'I am not defiled — I have not followed the Baals'? Look at what You did in the valley. Know what You have done. You are a swift young camel running back and forth,
24	A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.	a wild donkey at home in the desert, sniffing the wind in her craving. Who can hold her back when she is in heat? Any male that seeks her will find her easily in her season.
25	Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.	Keep Your feet from going bare and Your throat from thirst. But You said, 'It is no use! I love foreign gods and must go after them.'
26	As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets,	As a thief is shamed when caught, so the house of Israel is shamed — their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets.
27	Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.	They say to wood, 'You are my father,' and to stone, 'You gave birth to me.' They have turned their backs to Me and not their face. Yet when they are in trouble, they say, 'Come and save us.'
28	But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.	Where then are the gods You made for Yourself? Let them come if they can save You when You are in trouble. For You have as many gods as You have cities, O Judah.
29	Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD.	Why do You bring charges against Me? You have all rebelled against Me," says the LORD.
30	In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.	I struck Your people in vain — they accepted no correction. Your sword has devoured Your prophets like a destroying lion.
31	O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?	You of this generation, listen to the word of the LORD. Have I been a desert to Israel? A land of deep darkness? Why do My people say, 'We are free to roam — we will come to You no more'?
32	Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.	Does a young woman forget her jewelry? Does a bride forget her wedding clothes? Yet My people have forgotten Me for more days than can be counted.
33	Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.	How skilled you are at chasing love! You have even taught the wicked women your ways.
34	Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.	On your clothes is found the blood of the innocent poor. You did not catch them breaking in — yet in spite of all this
35	Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from him. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.	you say, 'I am innocent. Surely His anger has turned away from me.' But I will judge you because you say, 'I have not sinned.'
36	Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.	Why do you run here and there, changing your alliances? You will be disappointed by Egypt just as you were disappointed by Assyria.
37	Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head: for the LORD hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them.	You will leave that place with Your hands on Your head, for the LORD has rejected those You trust. You will not succeed with their help.