Jeremiah 2:1-13

Common English Bible

2 The Lord’s word came to me:
² Go and proclaim to the people of Jerusalem,
The Lord proclaims:
I remember your first love,^[a]
    your devotion as a young bride,
    how you followed me in the wilderness,
    in an unplanted land.
³ Israel was devoted to the Lord,
    the early produce of the harvest.
Whoever ate from it became guilty;
    disaster overtook them,
        declares the Lord.
⁴ Listen to the Lord’s word,
    people of Judah,
    all you families of the Israelite household.

What wrong did your ancestors find in me
    that made them wander so far?
They pursued what was worthless
    and became worthless.
⁶ They didn’t ask,
    “Where’s the Lord who brought us up from the land of Egypt,
        who led us through the wilderness,
        in a land of deserts and ravines,
        in a land of drought and darkness,
        in a land of no return,
            where no one survives?”
⁷ I brought you into a land of plenty,
    to enjoy its gifts and goodness,
        but you ruined my land;
        you disgraced my heritage.
⁸ The priests didn’t ask,
    “Where’s the Lord?”
Those responsible for the Instruction didn’t know me;
    the leaders rebelled against me;
    the prophets spoke in the name of Baal,
        going after what has no value.
⁹ That is why I will take you to court
    and charge even your descendants,
        declares the Lord.
¹⁰ Look to the west as far as the shores of Cyprus
    and to the east as far as the land of Kedar.
Ask anyone there:
    Has anything this odd ever taken place?
¹¹     Has a nation switched gods,
        though they aren’t really gods at all?
Yet my people have exchanged their glory
    for what has no value.
¹² Be stunned at such a thing, you heavens;
    shudder and quake,
        declares the Lord.
¹³ My people have committed two crimes:
    They have forsaken me, the spring of living water.
    And they have dug wells, broken wells that can’t hold water.