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Вероотстъпничеството на Израил

Словото Господне дойде към мен и каза:

(A)Иди и прогласи в ушите на йерусалимската дъщеря:
Така казва Господ: Помня за тебе
милеенето ти, когато беше млада,
любовта ти, когато беше невяста,
как Ме следваше в пустинята,
в незасята земя.
(B)Израил беше свят на Господа,
първият от рожбите Му,
всички, които го пояждаха, бяха сметнати за виновни;
зло ги постигаше, казва Господ.
Чуйте словото Господне, доме Яковов
и всички родове на Израилевия дом:
(C)Така казва Господ:
Каква неправда намериха в Мене бащите ви,
че се отдалечиха от Мен
и ходиха след суетата, и станаха суетни?
(D)Нито казаха: Къде е Господ,
Който ни изведе от Египетската земя,
Който ни води през пустинята,
през страна пуста и пълна с пропасти,
през страна безводна и покрита с мрачна тъмнина,
през страна, по която не минаваше човек
и където човек не живееше?
(E)И ви въведох в плодородна страна,
за да ядете плодовете ѝ и благата ѝ;
но като влязохте, осквернихте земята Ми
и направихте мерзост наследството Ми.
(F)Свещениците не казаха: Къде е Господ?
Законниците не Ме познаха;
също и управниците станаха престъпници против Мен
и пророците пророкуваха чрез Ваал
и ходиха след безполезните идоли.
(G)Затова Аз още ще се съдя с вас, казва Господ,
и с внуците ви ще се съдя.
10 Защото посетете Китимските острови и вижте,
пратете в Кидар и разгледайте внимателно,
и вижте, ставало ли е такова нещо –
11 (H)разменил ли е някой народ боговете си, при все че не са богове?
Моят народ, обаче, са разменили Славата си срещу онова, от което няма полза.
12 (I)Ужасете се, небеса, поради това,
настръхнете, смутете се премного, казва Господ,
13 (J)защото две злини стори Моят народ:
изоставиха Мен, извора на живите води,
и си издълбаха водоеми, пукнати водоеми,
които не могат да държат вода.
14 Израил слуга ли е? Домороден роб ли е?
Тогава защо стана пленник?
15 (K)Млади лъвове ръмжаха против него и реваха,
и запустиха земята му;
градовете му са изгорени и обезлюдени,
16 (L)още и жителите[a] на Мемфис и Тафнес
строшиха темето на главата ти.
17 (M)Не докара ли ти това сам на себе си,
като си изоставил Господа, своя Бог,
когато те водеше в пътя?
18 (N)И сега, защо ти е пътят за Египет?
Да пиеш водата на Нил[b] ли?
Или защо ти е пътят за Асирия?
Да пиеш водата на Ефрат[c] ли?
19 (O)Твоето нечестие ще те накаже
и твоите отстъпления ще те изобличат.
И така, познай и виж, че е зло и горчиво нещо,
че си изоставил Господа, своя Бог,
и че нямаш страх от Мене,
казва Господ, Йехова на Силите.
20 (P)Понеже отдавна съм строшил хомота ти
и съм разкъсал връзките ти;
и ти каза: Няма вече да бъда престъпница;
а независимо от това – на всеки висок хълм
и под всяко зелено дърво
си лягала като блудница.
21 (Q)А пък Аз те бях насадил като лоза отбрана,
семе съвсем чисто;
тогава ти как си се променила в изродени пръчки
на чужда за Мене лоза?
22 (R)Затова, макар и да се измиеш с луга
и да употребиш много сапун,
пак твоето беззаконие си остава петно пред Мене,
казва Господ Йехова.
23 (S)Как можеш да кажеш: Не съм се осквернила,
не съм ходила след ваалимите?
Виж пътя си в долината,
познай какво си сторила,
подобно на камила, която бързо тича насам-натам по пътищата,
24 (T)подобно на дива ослица, свикнала с пустинята,
която в страстта на душата си смърка въздуха;
в устрема ѝ кой може да я отвърне?
Онези, които я търсят, няма да си дават труд за нея –
в месеца ѝ ще я намерят.
25 (U)Въздържай крака си, за да не ходиш боса,
и гърлото си – за да не съхне от жажда.
Но ти си казала: Напразно! Не;
защото залюбих чужденци
и след тях ще ида.
26 Както се посрамва крадец, когато е открит,
така ще се посрами Израилевият дом –
те, царете им, първенците им,
свещениците им и пророците им,
27 (V)които казват на дървото: Ти си мой отец,
и на камъка: Ти си ме родил;
защото обърнаха към Мене гърба си, а не лицето си;
но пак по време на бедствието си ще кажат: Стани и ни избави.
28 (W)Но къде са твоите богове, които си си направил?
Нека те станат, ако могат да те избавят
по време на бедствието ти;
защото колкото са градовете ти,
толкова са и боговете ти, Юдо.
29 (X)Защо бихте искали да се препирате с Мене?
Вие всички сте отстъпници от Мене, казва Господ.
30 (Y)Напразно поразих децата ви;
те не приеха да се поправят;
собственият ви меч погуби пророците ви
като лъв – изтребител.
31 (Z)О, хора на този род, вижте словото на Господа, Който казва:
Бил ли съм Аз пустиня за Израил
или земя на мрачна тъмнина?
Защо тогава народът Ми казва:
Ние сме скъсали връзките си,
не искаме да дойдем вече при Тебе?
32 (AA)Може ли момата да забрави накита си
или невястата – украшенията си?
А народът Ми Ме забравяше през безбройни дни.
33 Как украсяваш пътя си, за да търсиш любов!
Така че си научила и лошите жени на твоите пътища!
34 (AB)Също и по полите ти бе намерена кръвта
на души – невинни сиромаси;
не намерих кървите с разкопаване, а по всички тези поли.
35 (AC)А при все това ти казваш: Невинна съм,
затова гневът Му непременно ще се отвърне от мен.
Ето, Аз ще се съдя с тебе
затова, че казваш: Не съм съгрешила.
36 (AD)Защо се луташ толкова много, за да промениш пътя си?
Ще се посрамиш и от Египет,
както се посрами от Асирия.
37 (AE)Ще излезеш и оттам
с ръцете си на главата си;
защото Господ отхвърли онези, на които уповаваш,
и ти няма да успееш с тях.

Footnotes

  1. 2:16 От евр. синовете.
  2. 2:18 Евр. Сиор. Вж. Ис. Нав. 13:3.
  3. 2:18 От евр. реката.

Israel Forsakes God

The word(A) of the Lord came to me: “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem:

“This is what the Lord says:

“‘I remember the devotion of your youth,(B)
    how as a bride you loved me
and followed me through the wilderness,(C)
    through a land not sown.
Israel was holy(D) to the Lord,(E)
    the firstfruits(F) of his harvest;
all who devoured(G) her were held guilty,(H)
    and disaster overtook them,’”
declares the Lord.

Hear the word of the Lord, you descendants of Jacob,
    all you clans of Israel.

This is what the Lord says:

“What fault did your ancestors find in me,
    that they strayed so far from me?
They followed worthless idols(I)
    and became worthless(J) themselves.
They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord,
    who brought us up out of Egypt(K)
and led us through the barren wilderness,
    through a land of deserts(L) and ravines,(M)
a land of drought and utter darkness,
    a land where no one travels(N) and no one lives?’
I brought you into a fertile land
    to eat its fruit and rich produce.(O)
But you came and defiled my land
    and made my inheritance detestable.(P)
The priests did not ask,
    ‘Where is the Lord?’
Those who deal with the law did not know me;(Q)
    the leaders(R) rebelled against me.
The prophets prophesied by Baal,(S)
    following worthless idols.(T)

“Therefore I bring charges(U) against you again,”
declares the Lord.
    “And I will bring charges against your children’s children.
10 Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus(V) and look,
    send to Kedar[a](W) and observe closely;
    see if there has ever been anything like this:
11 Has a nation ever changed its gods?
    (Yet they are not gods(X) at all.)
But my people have exchanged their glorious(Y) God
    for worthless idols.
12 Be appalled at this, you heavens,
    and shudder with great horror,”
declares the Lord.
13 “My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken(Z) me,
    the spring of living water,(AA)
and have dug their own cisterns,
    broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
14 Is Israel a servant, a slave(AB) by birth?
    Why then has he become plunder?
15 Lions(AC) have roared;
    they have growled at him.
They have laid waste(AD) his land;
    his towns are burned(AE) and deserted.(AF)
16 Also, the men of Memphis(AG) and Tahpanhes(AH)
    have cracked your skull.
17 Have you not brought this on yourselves(AI)
    by forsaking(AJ) the Lord your God
    when he led you in the way?
18 Now why go to Egypt(AK)
    to drink water from the Nile[b]?(AL)
And why go to Assyria(AM)
    to drink water from the Euphrates?(AN)
19 Your wickedness will punish you;
    your backsliding(AO) will rebuke(AP) you.
Consider then and realize
    how evil and bitter(AQ) it is for you
when you forsake(AR) the Lord your God
    and have no awe(AS) of me,”
declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.

20 “Long ago you broke off your yoke(AT)
    and tore off your bonds;(AU)
    you said, ‘I will not serve you!’(AV)
Indeed, on every high hill(AW)
    and under every spreading tree(AX)
    you lay down as a prostitute.(AY)
21 I had planted(AZ) you like a choice vine(BA)
    of sound and reliable stock.
How then did you turn against me
    into a corrupt,(BB) wild vine?
22 Although you wash(BC) yourself with soap(BD)
    and use an abundance of cleansing powder,
    the stain of your guilt is still before me,”
declares the Sovereign Lord.(BE)
23 “How can you say, ‘I am not defiled;(BF)
    I have not run after the Baals’?(BG)
See how you behaved in the valley;(BH)
    consider what you have done.
You are a swift she-camel
    running(BI) here and there,
24 a wild donkey(BJ) accustomed to the desert,(BK)
    sniffing the wind in her craving—
    in her heat who can restrain her?
Any males that pursue her need not tire themselves;
    at mating time they will find her.
25 Do not run until your feet are bare
    and your throat is dry.
But you said, ‘It’s no use!(BL)
    I love foreign gods,(BM)
    and I must go after them.’(BN)

26 “As a thief is disgraced(BO) when he is caught,
    so the people of Israel are disgraced—
they, their kings and their officials,
    their priests(BP) and their prophets.(BQ)
27 They say to wood,(BR) ‘You are my father,’
    and to stone,(BS) ‘You gave me birth.’
They have turned their backs(BT) to me
    and not their faces;(BU)
yet when they are in trouble,(BV) they say,
    ‘Come and save(BW) us!’
28 Where then are the gods(BX) you made for yourselves?
    Let them come if they can save you
    when you are in trouble!(BY)
For you, Judah, have as many gods
    as you have towns.(BZ)

29 “Why do you bring charges against me?
    You have all(CA) rebelled against me,”
declares the Lord.
30 “In vain I punished your people;
    they did not respond to correction.(CB)
Your sword has devoured your prophets(CC)
    like a ravenous lion.

31 “You of this generation, consider the word of the Lord:

“Have I been a desert to Israel
    or a land of great darkness?(CD)
Why do my people say, ‘We are free to roam;
    we will come to you no more’?(CE)
32 Does a young woman forget her jewelry,
    a bride her wedding ornaments?
Yet my people have forgotten(CF) me,
    days without number.
33 How skilled you are at pursuing(CG) love!
    Even the worst of women can learn from your ways.
34 On your clothes is found
    the lifeblood(CH) of the innocent poor,
    though you did not catch them breaking in.(CI)
Yet in spite of all this
35     you say, ‘I am innocent;(CJ)
    he is not angry with me.’
But I will pass judgment(CK) on you
    because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’(CL)
36 Why do you go about so much,
    changing(CM) your ways?
You will be disappointed by Egypt(CN)
    as you were by Assyria.
37 You will also leave that place
    with your hands on your head,(CO)
for the Lord has rejected those you trust;
    you will not be helped(CP) by them.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 2:10 In the Syro-Arabian desert
  2. Jeremiah 2:18 Hebrew Shihor; that is, a branch of the Nile

The word of Adonai came to me: “Go and shout in the ears of Yerushalayim that this is what Adonai says:

‘I remember your devotion when you were young;
how, as a bride, you loved me;
how you followed me through the desert,
through a land not sown.

“‘Isra’el is set aside for Adonai,
the firstfruits of his harvest;
all who devour him will incur guilt;
evil will befall them,” says Adonai.

Hear the word of Adonai, house of Ya‘akov
and all families in the house of Isra’el;
here is what Adonai says:

“What did your ancestors find wrong with me
to make them go so far away from me,
to make them go after nothings
and become themselves nothings?
They didn’t ask, ‘Where is Adonai,
who brought us out of the land of Egypt,
who led us through the desert,
through a land of wastes and ravines,
through a land of drought and death-dark shadows,
through a land where no one travels
and where no one ever lived?’
I brought you into a fertile land
to enjoy its fruit and all its good things;
but when you entered, you defiled my land
and made my heritage loathsome.
The cohanim didn’t ask, ‘Where is Adonai?’
Those who deal with the Torah did not know me,
the people’s shepherds rebelled against me;
the prophets prophesied by Ba‘al
and went after things of no value.

“So again I state my case against you,” says Adonai,
“and state it against your grandchildren too.
10 Cross to the coasts of the Kitti’im and look;
send to Kedar and observe closely;
see if anything like this has happened before:
11 has a nation ever exchanged its gods
(and theirs are not gods at all!)?
Yet my people have exchanged their Glory
for something without value.
12 Be aghast at this, you heavens!
Shudder in absolute horror!” says Adonai.
13 “For my people have committed two evils:
they have abandoned me,
the fountain of living water,
and dug themselves cisterns, broken cisterns,
that can hold no water!

14 “Is Isra’el a slave, born into serfdom?
If not, why has he become plunder?
15 The young lions are roaring at him —
how loudly they are roaring!
They desolate his country,
demolishing and depopulating his cities.
16 The people of Nof and Tachpanches
feed on the crown of your head.

17 “Haven’t you brought this on yourself
by abandoning Adonai your God
when he led you along the way?
18 If you go to Egypt, what’s in it for you?
Drinking water from the Nile?
If you go to Ashur, what’s in it for you?
Drinking water from the [Euphrates] River?
19 Your own wickedness will correct you,
your own backslidings will convict you;
you will know and see how bad and bitter
it was to abandon Adonai your God,
and how fear of me is not in you,”
says Adonai Elohim-Tzva’ot.

20 “For long ago I broke your yoke;
when I snapped your chains, you said, ‘I won’t sin.’
Yet on every high hill, under every green tree,
you sprawled and prostituted yourself.
21 But I planted you as a choice vine
of seed fully tested and true.
How did you degenerate
into a wild vine for me?
22 Even if you scrub yourself
with soda and plenty of soap,
the stain of your guilt is still there before me,”
says Adonai Elohim.

23 “How can you say, ‘I am not defiled,
I have not pursued the ba‘alim’?
Look at your conduct in the valley,
understand what you have done.
You are a restive young female camel,
running here and there,
24 wild, accustomed to the desert,
sniffing the wind in her lust —
who can control her when she’s in heat?
Males seeking her need not weary themselves,
for at mating season they will find her.

25 “Stop before your shoes wear out,
and your throat is dry from thirst!
But you say, ‘No, it’s hopeless!
I love these strangers, and I’m going after them.’
26 Just as a thief is ashamed when caught,
so is the house of Isra’el ashamed —
they, their kings, their leaders,
their cohanim and their prophets,
27 who say to a log, ‘You are my father,’
and to a stone, ‘You gave us birth.’
For they have turned their backs to me
instead of their faces.
But when trouble comes, they will plead,
‘Rouse yourself and save us!’
28 Where are your gods that you made for yourselves?
Let them rouse themselves,
if they can save you when trouble comes.
Y’hudah, you have as many gods
as you have cities!
29 Why argue with me? You have all
rebelled against me!” says Adonai.

30 “In vain have I struck down your people.
They would not receive correction.
Your own sword has devoured your prophets
like a marauding lion.
31 You of this generation,
look at the word of Adonai:
Have I been a desert to Isra’el?
or a land of oppressive darkness?
Why do my people say, ‘We’re free to roam,
we will no longer come to you’?
32 Does a girl forget her jewellery,
or a bride her wedding sash?
Yet my people have forgotten me,
days beyond numbering.
33 You are so clever in your search for love
that the worst of women can learn from you!
34 Right there on your clothing
is the blood of the innocent poor,
although you never caught them breaking and entering.
Yet concerning all these things,
35 you say, ‘I am innocent;
surely he’s no longer angry at me.’
Here, I am passing sentence on you,
because you say, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’
36 You cheapen yourself
when you change course so often —
you will be disappointed by Egypt too,
just as you were disappointed by Ashur.
37 Yes, you will leave him too,
with your hands on your heads [in shame].
For Adonai rejects those in whom you trust;
from them you will gain nothing.”

Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

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.

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.

Hear ye the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:

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?

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?

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.

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.

Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the Lord, and with your children's children will I plead.

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.

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.

12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith 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.

14 Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled?

15 The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.

16 Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy 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?

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?

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.

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.

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 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;

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.

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 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.

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 plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith 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.

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?

32 Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

33 Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy 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.

35 Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, 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.

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.

God’s Case Against Israel

Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Go and cry in the hearing of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord:

“I remember you,
The kindness of your (A)youth,
The love of your betrothal,
(B)When you [a]went after Me in the wilderness,
In a land not sown.
(C)Israel was holiness to the Lord,
(D)The firstfruits of His increase.
(E)All that devour him will offend;
Disaster will (F)come upon them,” says the Lord.’ ”

Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob and all the families of the house of Israel. Thus says the Lord:

(G)“What injustice have your fathers found in Me,
That they have gone far from Me,
(H)Have followed [b]idols,
And have become idolaters?
Neither did they say, ‘Where is the Lord,
Who (I)brought us up out of the land of Egypt,
Who led us through (J)the wilderness,
Through a land of deserts and pits,
Through a land of drought and the shadow of death,
Through a land that no one crossed
And where no one dwelt?’
I brought you into (K)a bountiful country,
To eat its fruit and its goodness.
But when you entered, you (L)defiled My land
And made My heritage an abomination.
The priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’
And those who handle the (M)law did not know Me;
The rulers also transgressed against Me;
(N)The prophets prophesied by Baal,
And walked after things that do not profit.

“Therefore (O)I will yet [c]bring charges against you,” says the Lord,
“And against your children’s children I will bring charges.
10 For pass beyond the coasts of [d]Cyprus and see,
Send to [e]Kedar and consider diligently,
And see if there has been such a (P)thing.
11 (Q)Has a nation changed its gods,
Which are (R)not gods?
(S)But My people have changed their Glory
For what does not profit.
12 Be astonished, O heavens, at this,
And be horribly afraid;
Be very desolate,” says the Lord.
13 “For My people have committed two evils:
They have forsaken Me, the (T)fountain of living waters,
And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.

14 Is Israel (U)a servant?
Is he a homeborn slave?
Why is he plundered?
15 (V)The young lions roared at him, and growled;
They made his land waste;
His cities are burned, without inhabitant.
16 Also the people of [f]Noph and (W)Tahpanhes
Have [g]broken the crown of your head.
17 (X)Have you not brought this on yourself,
In that you have forsaken the Lord your God
When (Y)He led you in the way?
18 And now why take (Z)the road to Egypt,
To drink the waters of (AA)Sihor?
Or why take the road to (AB)Assyria,
To drink the waters of [h]the River?
19 Your own wickedness will (AC)correct you,
And your backslidings will rebuke you.
Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing
That you have forsaken the Lord your God,
And the [i]fear of Me is not in you,”
Says the Lord God of hosts.

20 “For of old I have (AD)broken your yoke and burst your bonds;
And (AE)you said, ‘I will not [j]transgress,’
When (AF)on every high hill and under every green tree
You lay down, (AG)playing the harlot.
21 Yet I had (AH)planted you a noble vine, a seed of highest quality.
How then have you turned before Me
Into (AI)the degenerate plant of an alien vine?
22 For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap,
Yet your iniquity is (AJ)marked[k] before Me,” says the Lord God.

23 “How(AK) can you say, ‘I am not [l]polluted,
I have not gone after the Baals’?
See your way in the valley;
Know what you have done:
You are a swift dromedary breaking loose in her ways,
24 A wild donkey used to the wilderness,
That sniffs at the wind in her desire;
In her time of mating, who can turn her away?
All those who seek her will not weary themselves;
In her month they will find her.
25 Withhold your foot from being unshod, and your throat from thirst.
But you said, (AL)‘There is no hope.
No! For I have loved (AM)aliens, and after them I will go.’

26 “As the thief is ashamed when he is found out,
So is the house of Israel ashamed;
They and their kings and their princes, and their priests and their (AN)prophets,
27 Saying to a tree, ‘You are my father,’
And to a (AO)stone, ‘You gave birth to me.’
For they have turned their back to Me, and not their face.
But in the time of their (AP)trouble
They will say, ‘Arise and save us.’
28 But (AQ)where are your gods that you have made for yourselves?
Let them arise,
If they (AR)can save you in the time of your [m]trouble;
For (AS)according to the number of your cities
Are your gods, O Judah.

29 “Why will you plead with Me?
You all have transgressed against Me,” says the Lord.
30 “In vain I have (AT)chastened your children;
They (AU)received no correction.
Your sword has (AV)devoured your prophets
Like a destroying lion.

31 “O generation, see the word of the Lord!
Have I been a wilderness to Israel,
Or a land of darkness?
Why do My people say, ‘We [n]are lords;
(AW)We will come no more to You’?
32 Can a virgin forget her ornaments,
Or a bride her attire?
Yet My people (AX)have forgotten Me days without number.

33 “Why do you beautify your way to seek love?
Therefore you have also taught
The wicked women your ways.
34 Also on your skirts is found
(AY)The blood of the lives of the poor innocents.
I have not found it by [o]secret search,
But plainly on all these things.
35 (AZ)Yet you say, ‘Because I am innocent,
Surely His anger shall turn from me.’
Behold, (BA)I will plead My case against you,
(BB)Because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’
36 (BC)Why do you gad about so much to change your way?
Also (BD)you shall be ashamed of Egypt (BE)as you were ashamed of Assyria.
37 Indeed you will go forth from him
With your hands on (BF)your head;
For the Lord has rejected your trusted allies,
And you will (BG)not prosper by them.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 2:2 followed
  2. Jeremiah 2:5 vanities or futilities
  3. Jeremiah 2:9 contend with
  4. Jeremiah 2:10 Heb. Kittim, representative of western cultures
  5. Jeremiah 2:10 In northern Arabian desert, representative of eastern cultures
  6. Jeremiah 2:16 Memphis in ancient Egypt
  7. Jeremiah 2:16 Or grazed
  8. Jeremiah 2:18 The Euphrates
  9. Jeremiah 2:19 dread
  10. Jeremiah 2:20 Kt. serve
  11. Jeremiah 2:22 stained
  12. Jeremiah 2:23 defiled
  13. Jeremiah 2:28 Or evil
  14. Jeremiah 2:31 have dominion
  15. Jeremiah 2:34 digging