Jeremiah 2:9-22

English Standard Version

⁹“Therefore ^(A)I still contend with you,
declares the Lord,
    and ^(B)with your children's children I will contend.
¹⁰For cross to the coasts of ^(C)Cyprus and see,
    or send to ^(D)Kedar and examine with care;
    see if there has been such a thing.
¹¹^(E)Has a nation changed its gods,
    ^(F)even though they are no gods?
But my people ^(G)have changed their glory
    for ^(H)that which does not profit.
¹²Be appalled, ^(I)O heavens, at this;
    be shocked, be utterly desolate,
declares the Lord,
¹³for my people have committed two evils:
^(J)they have forsaken ^(K)me,
    the fountain of ^(L)living waters,
and hewed out cisterns for themselves,
    broken cisterns that can hold no water.

¹⁴^(M)“Is Israel a slave? Is he a homeborn servant?
    Why then has he become a prey?
¹⁵^(N)The lions have roared against him;
    they have roared loudly.
They have made his land a waste;
    his cities are in ruins, ^(O)without inhabitant.
¹⁶Moreover, the men of ^(P)Memphis and ^(Q)Tahpanhes
    ^(R)have shaved^[a] the crown of your head.
¹⁷^(S)Have you not brought this upon yourself
    by forsaking the Lord your God,
    when ^(T)he led you in the way?
¹⁸^(U)And now what do you gain by going to Egypt
    to drink the waters of ^(V)the Nile?^[b]
^(W)Or what do you gain by going to Assyria
    to drink the waters of ^(X)the Euphrates?^[c]
¹⁹^(Y)Your evil will chastise you,
    and ^(Z)your apostasy will reprove you.
Know and see that it is evil and ^(AA)bitter
    for ^(AB)you to forsake the Lord your God;
    the fear of me is not in you,
declares the Lord God of hosts.

²⁰“For long ago I ^(AC)broke your yoke
    and burst your bonds;
    but you said, ^(AD)‘I will not serve.’
Yes, ^(AE)on every high hill
    and under every green tree
    you bowed down ^(AF)like a whore.
²¹^(AG)Yet I planted you a choice vine,
    wholly of pure seed.
^(AH)How then have you turned degenerate
    and become a wild vine?
²²Though you wash yourself with lye
    and use much soap,
    ^(AI)the stain of your guilt is still before me,
declares the Lord God.