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Infidelidad de Israel

Vino a mí la palabra del SEÑOR, diciendo: “Ve, proclama a los oídos de Jerusalén y diles que así ha dicho el SEÑOR: ‘Me acuerdo de ti, de la lealtad de tu juventud, del amor de tu noviazgo, cuando andabas en pos de mí en el desierto, en una tierra no sembrada. Santo era Israel para el SEÑOR, primicia de su cosecha. Todos los que lo devoraban eran culpables, y el mal recaía sobre ellos’, dice el SEÑOR”.

¡Oigan la palabra del SEÑOR, oh casa de Jacob y todas las familias de la casa de Israel! Así ha dicho el SEÑOR: “¿Qué maldad hallaron en mí sus padres, para que se hayan alejado de mí y se hayan ido tras la vanidad haciéndose vanos ellos mismos? No dijeron: ‘¿Dónde está el SEÑOR, que nos hizo subir de la tierra de Egipto y nos condujo por el desierto, por una tierra árida y de hoyos, por una tierra reseca y de densa oscuridad, por una tierra por la cual ningún hombre ha pasado ni habitó allí hombre alguno?’. Yo los introduje en una tierra fértil, para que comieran de su fruto y de lo bueno de ella. Pero cuando entraron, contaminaron mi tierra y convirtieron mi heredad en abominación. Los sacerdotes no dijeron: ‘¿Dónde está el SEÑOR?’. Los que se ocupaban de la ley no me conocieron. Los pastores se rebelaron contra mí, y los profetas profetizaron en nombre de Baal y anduvieron tras lo que no aprovecha. Por tanto, dice el SEÑOR, aún contenderé contra ustedes; contra los hijos de sus hijos contenderé. 10 Pasen a las costas de Quitim y observen. Envíen a Quedar y consideren cuidadosamente. Vean si acaso se ha hecho algo semejante a esto. 11 ¿Acaso alguna nación ha cambiado sus dioses, a pesar de que ellos no son dioses? Sin embargo, mi pueblo ha cambiado su gloria por lo que no aprovecha.

12 “¡Espántense, oh cielos, y horrorícense por esto! Tiemblen[a] en gran manera, dice el SEÑOR. 13 Porque dos males ha hecho mi pueblo: Me han abandonado a mí, que soy fuente de aguas vivas, y han cavado para sí cisternas, cisternas rotas que no retienen el agua.

14 “¿Acaso es Israel un esclavo, o uno nacido en casa? ¿Por qué ha llegado a ser una presa? 15 Los leones rugieron contra él, emitieron su voz e hicieron de su tierra una desolación. Sus ciudades están devastadas y sin habitantes. 16 Aun los hijos de Menfis y de Tafnes te rompieron el cráneo. 17 ¿No te ha sobrevenido esto porque abandonaste al SEÑOR tu Dios cuando él te conducía por el camino? 18 Ahora pues, ¿qué tienes tú que ver con el camino de Egipto, para que bebas las aguas del Nilo? ¿Y qué tienes que ver con el camino de Asiria, para que bebas las aguas del Río?”.

19 El SEÑOR Dios[b] de los Ejércitos dice: “Tu maldad te castigará, y tu apostasía te condenará. Reconoce, pues, y ve cuán malo y amargo es el haber abandonado al SEÑOR tu Dios y el no haberme temido. 20 Porque desde hace mucho quebraste tu yugo y rompiste tus coyundas. Dijiste: ‘¡No serviré!’. Ciertamente sobre toda colina alta y debajo de todo árbol frondoso te echabas tú, oh prostituta. 21 Yo te planté como una vid escogida, como una simiente del todo verdadera. ¿Cómo, pues, te me has convertido en una cosa repugnante, en una vid extraña?”.

22 El SEÑOR Dios[c] dice: “Aunque te laves con lejía y amontones jabón sobre ti, la mancha de tu pecado permanecerá delante de mí. 23 ¿Cómo puedes decir: ‘No estoy contaminada; nunca anduve tras los Baales’? Mira tu proceder en el valle; reconoce lo que has hecho, oh camellita liviana que entrecruza sus caminos. 24 Eres un asna montés, acostumbrada al desierto, que en el ardor de su deseo olfatea el viento. Estando en su celo, ¿quién la detendrá? Todos los que la busquen no tendrán que fatigarse, pues la hallarán en su ardor. 25 ¡Evita que tus pies anden descalzos y que tu garganta tenga sed! Pero dijiste: ‘¡No, es inútil! Porque amo a los extraños, y tras ellos he de ir’.

26 “Como el ladrón se avergüenza cuando es sorprendido, así se avergonzarán los de la casa de Israel —ellos, sus reyes, sus magistrados, sus sacerdotes y sus profetas—, 27 los que dicen a un árbol: ‘Tú eres mi padre’, y a una piedra: ‘Tú me has dado a luz’.

“Ciertamente me han dado las espaldas y no la cara, pero en el tiempo de su angustia dicen: ‘¡Levántate y líbranos!’. 28 Pero, ¿dónde están tus dioses que te hiciste? ¡Que se levanten, si te han de librar en el tiempo de tu desgracia! Porque según el número de tus ciudades, oh Judá, han sido tus dioses. 29 ¿Por qué contienden conmigo? Todos ustedes se han rebelado contra mí, dice el SEÑOR. 30 En vano he azotado a sus hijos; ellos no han recibido corrección. Su espada ha devorado a sus profetas como un león destructor. 31 ¡Oh generación, consideren la palabra del SEÑOR! ¿Acaso he sido para Israel como un desierto o como una tierra de tinieblas? ¿Por qué ha dicho mi pueblo: ‘Somos libres; nunca más volveremos a ti’? 32 ¿Se olvida acaso la virgen de sus joyas, o la novia de su atavío? Sin embargo, mi pueblo se ha olvidado de mí por innumerables días.

33 “¡Qué bien dispones tus caminos para buscar amor! Ciertamente aun a las malas mujeres enseñaste tus caminos. 34 Hasta en tus faldas se ha encontrado la sangre de las personas pobres e inocentes. No los hallaste forzando la entrada. Sin embargo, en todo esto 35 tú dices: ‘Soy inocente; ciertamente él ha apartado su ira de mí’. Porque dijiste: ‘No he pecado’, he aquí que yo entraré en juicio contra ti. 36 ¡Cuán frívola eres para cambiar tus caminos! También serás avergonzada por Egipto, como fuiste avergonzada por Asiria. 37 También de allí saldrás con las manos sobre tu cabeza. Porque el SEÑOR ha desechado los objetos de tu confianza, y no prosperarás con ellos”.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremías 2:12 Según Peshita; heb., Sean destruidos.
  2. Jeremías 2:19 Lit., Señor YHWH.
  3. Jeremías 2:22 Cf. Deut. 24:1-4.

Again the Lord spoke to me and said:

Go and shout this in Jerusalem’s streets: This is what the Lord says! I remember how eager you were to please me as a young bride long ago, how you loved me and followed me even through the barren deserts. In those days Israel was a holy people, the first of my children.[a] All who harmed them were counted deeply guilty, and great evil fell on anyone who touched them.

4-5 O Israel, says the Lord, why did your fathers desert me? What sin did they find in me that turned them away and changed them into fools who worship idols? They ignore the fact that it was I, the Lord, who brought them safely out of Egypt and led them through the barren wilderness, a land of deserts and rocks, of drought and death, where no one lives or even travels. And I brought them into a fruitful land, to eat of its bounty and goodness, but they made it into a land of sin and corruption and turned my inheritance into an evil thing. Even their priests cared nothing for the Lord, and their judges ignored me; their rulers turned against me, and their prophets worshiped Baal and wasted their time on nonsense.

But I will not give you up—I will plead for you to return to me and will keep on pleading; yes, even with your children’s children in the years to come!

10-11 Look around you and see if you can find another nation anywhere that has traded in its old gods for new ones—even though their gods are nothing. Send to the west to the island of Cyprus; send to the east to the deserts of Kedar. See if anyone there has ever heard so strange a thing as this. And yet my people have given up their glorious God for silly idols! 12 The heavens are shocked at such a thing and shrink back in horror and dismay. 13 For my people have done two evil things: They have forsaken me, the Fountain of living waters; and they have built for themselves broken cisterns that can’t hold water!

14 Why has Israel become a nation of slaves? Why is she captured and led far away?

15 I see great armies marching on Jerusalem with mighty shouts[b] to destroy her and leave her cities in ruins, burned and desolate. 16 I see the armies of Egypt rising against her, marching from their cities of Memphis and Tahpanhes to utterly destroy Israel’s glory and power. 17 And you have brought this on yourselves by rebelling against the Lord your God when he wanted to lead you and show you the way!

18 What have you gained by your alliances with Egypt and with Assyria? 19 Your own wickedness will punish you. You will see what an evil, bitter thing it is to rebel against the Lord your God, fearlessly forsaking him, says the Lord Almighty. 20 Long ago you shook off my yoke and broke away from my ties. Defiant, you would not obey me. On every hill and under every tree you’ve bowed low before idols.

21 How could this happen? How could this be? For when I planted you, I chose my seed so carefully—the very best. Why have you become this degenerate race of evil men? 22 No amount of soap or lye can make you clean. You are stained with guilt that cannot ever be washed away. I see it always before me, the Lord God says. 23 You say it isn’t so, that you haven’t worshiped idols? How can you say a thing like that? Go and look in any valley in the land! Face the awful sins that you have done, O restless female camel, seeking for a male! 24 You are a wild donkey, sniffing the wind at mating time. (Who can restrain your lust?) Any jack wanting you need not search, for you come running to him! 25 Why don’t you turn from all this weary running after other gods? But you say, “Don’t waste your breath. I’ve fallen in love with these strangers and I can’t stop loving them now!”

26-27 Like a thief, the only shame that Israel knows is getting caught. Kings, princes, priests, and prophets—all are alike in this. They call a carved-up wooden post their father, and for their mother they have an idol chiseled out from stone. Yet in time of trouble they cry to me to save them! 28 Why don’t you call on these gods you have made? When danger comes, let them go out and save you if they can! For you have as many gods as there are cities in Judah. 29 Don’t come to me—you are all rebels, says the Lord. 30 I have punished your children, but it did them no good; they still will not obey. And you yourselves have killed my prophets as a lion kills its prey.

31 O my people, listen to the words of God: Have I been unjust to Israel? Have I been to them a land of darkness and of evil? Why then do my people say, “At last we are free from God; we won’t have anything to do with him again!” 32 How can you disown your God like that?[c] Can a girl forget her jewels? What bride will seek to hide her wedding dress? Yet for years on end my people have forgotten me—the most precious of their treasures.

33 How you plot and scheme to win your lovers. The most experienced harlot could learn a lot from you! 34 Your clothing is stained with the blood of the innocent and the poor. Brazenly you murder without a cause. 35 And yet you say, “I haven’t done a thing to anger God. I’m sure he isn’t angry!”[d] I will punish you severely because you say, “I haven’t sinned!”

36 First here, then there, you flit about, going from one ally to another for their help; but it’s all no good—your new friends in Egypt will forsake you as Assyria did before. 37 You will be left in despair and cover your face with your hands, for the Lord has rejected the ones that you trust. You will not succeed despite their aid.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 2:3 the first of my children, literally, “the firstfruits of his harvest.”
  2. Jeremiah 2:15 I see great armies marching on Jerusalem with mighty shouts, literally, “The lions have roared against him.”
  3. Jeremiah 2:32 How can you disown your God like that? implied. the most precious of their treasures, implied.
  4. Jeremiah 2:35 he isn’t angry, implied.

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