Jeremiah
Chapter 2
1 And the word of HaShem came to me, saying:
2 Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying: Thus saith
HaShem: I remember for thee the affection of thy youth, the love of thine
espousals; how thou wentest after Me in the wilderness, in a land that was not
sown.
3 Israel is HaShem'S hallowed portion, His first-fruits of
the increase; all that devour him shall be held guilty, evil shall come upon
them, saith HaShem.
4 Hear ye the word of HaShem, O house of Jacob, and all the
families of the house of Israel;
5 Thus saith HaShem: what unrighteousness have your fathers
found in Me, that they are gone far from Me, and have walked after things of
nought, and are become nought?
6 Neither said they: 'Where is HaShem 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?'
7 And I brought you into a land of fruitful fields, to eat
the fruit thereof and the good thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled My land,
and made My heritage an abomination.
8 The priests said not: 'Where is HaShem?' And they that
handle the law knew Me not, and the rulers transgressed against Me; the prophets
also prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
9 Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith HaShem, and with
your children's children will I plead.
10 For pass over to the isles of the Kittites, and see, and
send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there hath been such a
thing.
11 Hath a nation changed its gods, which yet are no gods? But
My people hath changed its glory for that which doth not profit.
12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly
afraid, be ye exceeding amazed, saith HaShem.
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.
14 Is Israel a servant? Is he a home-born slave? Why is he
become a prey?
15 The young lions have roared upon him, and let their voice
resound; and they have made his land desolate, his cities are laid waste,
without inhabitant.
16 The children also of Noph and Tahpanhes feed upon the
crown of thy head.
17 Is it not this that doth cause it unto thee, that thou
hast forsaken HaShem thy G-d, when He led thee by the way?
18 And now what hast thou to do in the way to Egypt, to drink
the waters of Shihor? Or what hast thou to do in the way to Assyria, to drink
the waters of the River?
19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy
backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil and a
bitter thing, that thou hast forsaken HaShem thy G-d, neither is My fear in
thee, saith the L-rd GOD of hosts.
20 For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy
bands, and thou saidst: 'I will not transgress'; upon every high hill and under
every leafy tree thou didst recline, playing 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?
22 For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much
soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before Me, saith the L-rd GOD.
23 How canst thou say: 'I am not defiled, I have not gone
after the Baalim'? See thy way in the Valley, know what thou hast done; thou art
a swift young camel traversing her ways;
24 A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the
wind in her desire; her lust, who can hinder it? All they that seek her will not
weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.
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.'
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;
27 Who say to a stock: 'Thou art my father', and to a stone:
'Thou hast brought us 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.'
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.
29 Wherefore will ye contend with Me? Ye all have
transgressed against Me, saith HaShem.
30 In vain have I smitten your children--they received no
correction; your sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
31 O generation, see ye the word of HaShem: have I been a
wilderness unto Israel? or a land of thick darkness? Wherefore say My people:
'We roam at large; we will come no more unto Thee'?
32 Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire?
Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number.
33 How trimmest thou thy way to seek love! Therefore--even
the wicked women hast thou taught thy ways;
34 Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the
innocent poor; thou didst not find them breaking in; yet for all these things
35 Thou saidst: 'I am innocent; surely His anger is turned
away from me' --behold, I will enter into judgment with thee, because thou
sayest: 'I have not sinned.'
36 How greatly dost thou cheapen thyself to change thy way?
Thou shalt be ashamed of Egypt also, as thou wast ashamed of Asshur.
37 From him also shalt thou go forth, with thy hands upon thy
head; for HaShem hath rejected them in whom thou didst trust, and thou shalt not
prosper in them.
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