Jeremiah 2
EasyEnglish Bible
Israel's people have turned against the Lord
2 The Lord spoke to me again. 2 He said, ‘Go and tell this to the people in Jerusalem:
“This is what the Lord says:
I remember how you used to love me when you were young.
You loved me as a young wife loves her husband.
You followed me through the wilderness,
where no crops were growing.
3 At that time, Israel belonged to me as my special people.
They were like the first crops that grew on my land.
I promised to punish anyone who tried to hurt them.
I sent great trouble to those who attacked you.
That is what I, the Lord, have said.” ’
4 Listen to what the Lord says, you descendants of Jacob, all you families in Israel. 5 This is the Lord's message to you:
‘I had done nothing wrong against your ancestors,
but they turned away from me.
Instead, they worshipped useless idols.
So they themselves became useless.
6 They did not think to themselves,
“Where is the Lord?
We should ask him to help us.
He brought us safely out of Egypt.
He led us through the wilderness.
It was a place with dry sand and deep holes.
There was no water there and it was dangerous.
Nobody lives in that desert,
and nobody even travels through it.”
7 But I, the Lord, brought you to a good land.
It was a place where fruit grew on trees.
You could eat all those good things,
as well as the crops that you grew there.
You came into the land that I had promised to give to you.
But you spoiled it with your sins.
You made it a disgusting place.
8 Your priests did not ask, “Where is the Lord?”
The people who taught my laws did not know me.
Your leaders turned against me.
Your prophets spoke messages from Baal.
They worshipped useless idols.’
9 So the Lord says this:
‘Because of your sins, I will speak against you in court.
I will show that you are guilty,
as well as your children and your grandchildren.
10 No other nation has done what you have done!
Send people across the sea to islands in the west.
Or send them to the deserts in the east.
Let them find out if any other people have done this terrible thing.
11 Have any other nations turned against their gods?
No! They have not done that, even to their false gods!
But my people have turned against me,
the true God who makes them great.’
12 The Lord says,
‘The whole universe should see how terrible this is.
Yes, everything should shake with fear!
13 My people have done two evil things:
I give them life, like a spring of fresh water,
but they have turned away from me.
Instead, they have tried to get water for themselves.
They have dug holes in the ground to store it.
But those holes cannot hold the water.
It quickly runs away.
14 Israel's people are surely not slaves.
They were not born as slaves.
But their enemies have taken them away as prisoners.
15 Their enemies have attacked them like lions.
They have destroyed my people's land.
They have destroyed your cities with fire.
Nobody lives in them any more.
16 Soldiers from Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken your skulls![a]
17 You Israelites have caused this to happen.
The Lord your God was leading you on the right way.
But you decided not to follow him any longer.
18 So what help will you get from Egypt?
If you drink water from the Nile river,
will that make you strong? No!
And what help will you get from Assyria?
If you drink water from the Euphrates river,
will that make you strong? No!
19 The wicked things that you have done will punish you.
You are guilty because you have turned away from me.
You have brought terrible trouble on yourselves,
because you have turned against me, the Lord your God.
Because you no longer respect me,
you will realize that you are in great trouble.’
That is what the Lord God Almighty says.
20 ‘A long time ago, you stopped obeying me.
You refused to accept my authority.
You said, “I will not serve you!”
Instead, you go up on the hills to worship other gods.
You lie down under the green trees,
and you live like prostitutes.
21 I planted you in my land,
like the very good seed of a vine.
But see how you have changed!
You have become like a wild vine.
Your grapes are bad and useless.
22 You may use strong soap to make yourselves clean.
But I still see the dirt of your sins.’
That is what the Almighty Lord says.
23 ‘You say, “We have not made ourselves unclean.
We do not worship the idols of Baal.”
But remember what you have done in the valleys.[b]
You hurry to find another idol that you can worship.
Like a female camel, you cannot control yourselves.
24 You are like a wild female donkey that lives in the wilderness.
She lifts her nose to smell the air.
She wants to find a male donkey.
Nobody can control her.
Male donkeys do not have to chase her.
She will come to them to have sex with them.
You are like that as you chase after false gods.
25 Stop running after them!
Your feet will hurt and you will become very thirsty.
You say, “Do not try to stop us! We cannot turn back.
We love foreign gods and we must serve them!”
26 A robber is ashamed when people catch him.
The people of Israel will become ashamed like that.
They will all be ashamed of their sins.
Their kings, their officers, their priests and their prophets are all guilty.
27 They worship a piece of wood,
and they say, “You are my father.”
They say to a stone, “You gave birth to me.”
They have not turned to come to me.
Instead, they have turned away from me.
But when trouble comes to them,
they call out to me to rescue them.
28 But where are the gods that you made for yourselves?
Ask them to save you when trouble comes!
You have enough gods to give you help.
Yes, people of Judah,
your gods are as many as your towns!
29 You cannot argue against me.
You have all turned against me.’
That is what the Lord says.
30 ‘When I punished your people,
they did not change how they lived.
When I sent my prophets to you,
you killed them as if you were a hungry lion.’
31 Listen to the Lord's message, you people who are alive today:
‘People of Israel, why do you not trust me?
Have I become like a desert for you?
Have I become a dark and dangerous land for you to live in?
No! But you say, “We are free to go where we like.
We do not need to serve you any more.”
32 A young woman does not forget to wear her jewels.
When a woman marries,
she does not forget to wear her special dress.
But for many years, my people have forgotten me.
33 You are very clever. You can always find someone to love.
Even prostitutes could learn something from you!
34 You have been cruel to poor people for no reason.
Your clothes have their blood on them!
They had not robbed you,
but you still killed them.
You have done all these bad things, but still you say,
35 “We have not done anything that is wrong.
God cannot be angry with us!”
Be careful! I will surely punish you,
because you say, “I am not guilty of any sin.”
36 You try to get help from other nations.
You run here and there to make new friends.
You hoped for help from Assyria,
but no help came.
And you will get no help from Egypt either.
37 You will come away from Egypt with your hands on your heads.
You will be ashamed and upset.
The Lord has turned away from those nations.
You have trusted them to help you,
But you will not receive any help from them.’
Footnotes
- 2:16 ‘Memphis’ and ‘Tahpanhes’ were cities in Egypt.
- 2:23 They worshipped false gods in the valleys. See Jeremiah 7:31-32; 19:1-6.
Jeremia 2
Hoffnung für Alle
Mein Volk läuft nutzlosen Götzen nach
2 Der Herr gab mir wieder eine Botschaft und befahl: 2 »Geh nach Jerusalem und rufe den Menschen dort zu: So spricht der Herr: Ich denke daran, Israel, wie du mir treu gewesen bist, als du noch jung warst. Du liebtest mich wie eine Braut ihren Bräutigam. Selbst durch die Wüste bist du mit mir gegangen, dorthin, wo man weder sät noch erntet. 3 Du gehörtest mir allein, so wie die ersten Früchte der Ernte mir gehören. Wer sich an dir vergriff, machte sich schuldig, und ich brachte Unheil über ihn.
4 Hört, was ich euch sage, ihr Nachkommen von Jakob, all ihr Sippen Israels: 5 Was habe ich euren Vorfahren Böses getan, dass sie sich so weit von mir entfernten? Sie liefen nichtigen Götzen nach und wurden dadurch selbst zunichte. 6 Von mir, dem Herrn, wollten sie nichts mehr wissen, dabei hatte ich sie doch aus Ägypten geführt. Durch die Wüste hatte ich sie geleitet, durch ein dürres und zerklüftetes Land, das trocken und dunkel ist, das niemand durchwandert und kein Mensch bewohnt. 7 Ich brachte euch in ein fruchtbares Land, damit ihr seine besten Früchte genießen könnt. Doch kaum wart ihr angekommen, da habt ihr es entweiht; mein eigenes Land habt ihr zu einem Ort gemacht, den ich verabscheue. 8 Die Priester haben nicht nach mir gefragt, sie, die mit dem Gesetz vertraut sein sollten, kannten mich nicht einmal! Die Führer[a] meines Volkes haben sich gegen mich aufgelehnt, und die Propheten haben im Namen des Gottes Baal geweissagt, nutzlosen Götzen sind sie nachgelaufen! 9 Darum muss ich euch weiterhin anklagen, euch und sogar noch eure Enkel! Darauf gebe ich, der Herr, mein Wort.
10 Fahrt doch einmal übers Meer nach Zypern, oder sendet Boten bis ins Wüstenland Kedar und forscht nach, ob es so etwas jemals gab: 11 Hat eines dieser Völker je seine Götter gewechselt? Und dabei sind sie doch gar keine Götter! Mein Volk aber hat seinen herrlichen Gott mit nutzlosen Götzen vertauscht, die ihm nicht helfen können! 12 Entsetzt euch darüber, ihr Himmel, zittert vor Schreck und Empörung! Das sage ich, der Herr. 13 Denn mein Volk hat eine doppelte Sünde begangen: Erst haben sie mich verlassen, die Quelle mit Leben spendendem Wasser, und dann haben sie sich rissige Zisternen ausgehauen, die überhaupt kein Wasser halten.«
Deine Untreue bringt dich zu Fall
14 »Israel, bist du denn ein Knecht, schon als Sklave geboren, dass jeder dich als Beute nimmt? 15 Deine Feinde brüllen wie die Löwen, sie brüllen und verwüsten dein Land, die Städte sind niedergebrannt und menschenleer. 16 Und nun werden auch noch die Ägypter aus Memfis und Tachpanhes kommen und dir den Kopf kahl scheren.
17 Das alles hast du dir selbst zuzuschreiben, weil du mich, den Herrn, verlassen hast, deinen Gott, der dich so sicher geführt hat! 18 Was versprichst du dir davon, nach Ägypten und Assyrien zu reisen? Willst du etwa aus dem Nil und aus dem Euphrat trinken?[b] 19 Deine eigene Bosheit wird dich strafen, deine Untreue bringt dich zu Fall: Erkenne doch, wie schmerzlich und bitter es ist, dass du mich, den Herrn, deinen Gott, verlassen hast und mir keine Ehrfurcht mehr erweist. Das sage ich, der allmächtige Herr und Gott.
20 Schon seit jeher hast du dich geweigert, mir zu dienen, du hast dich losgerissen, dich von mir befreit wie von einem drückenden Joch. Und dann warfst du dich anderen Göttern an den Hals wie eine Hure. Auf allen Hügeln und unter jedem dicht belaubten Baum bautest du deine Altäre auf. 21 Ich hatte dich als edlen Weinstock eingepflanzt, als Rebe aus bester Züchtung. Wie kommt es dann, dass du zu einem wilden Weinstock wurdest, zu so einer schlechten Rebe? 22 Du kannst dich waschen, so viel du willst, mit Seife, sogar mit Natronlauge – den Schmutz deiner Schuld wirst du nicht los, das sage ich, der Herr!
23 Wie kannst du da behaupten: ›Ich habe nichts getan! Niemals bin ich anderen Göttern nachgelaufen‹? Führ dir doch vor Augen, was du da unten im Hinnomtal treibst, denk über deine Taten nach! Du bist wie eine brünstige Kamelstute, die ständig hin und her läuft, 24 wie eine wilde Eselin, die jeden Pfad in der Wüste kennt; vor Gier schnappt sie nach Luft, und niemand kann sie zurückhalten. Kein Hengst, der sie sucht, muss sich müde laufen: In ihrer Brunstzeit lässt sie sich schnell von ihm finden. 25 Israel, lauf dir nicht die Füße wund, sieh zu, dass du nicht verdurstest, wenn du den Göttern hinterherrennst! Du aber sagst: ›Es hat keinen Zweck, mich zu ermahnen! Ich liebe sie nun einmal, die anderen Götter, und hinter ihnen bin ich her!‹
26 Doch wie ein Dieb, der auf frischer Tat ertappt wird, kleinlaut dasteht, so muss sich auch Israel schämen: die Könige und führenden Männer, die Priester und Propheten, 27 alle, die zu einer Holzstatue sagen: ›Du bist mein Vater!‹, und zu einer Steinsäule: ›Du hast mir das Leben geschenkt!‹ Mir kehren sie nur noch den Rücken zu. Doch wenn sie in Not geraten, dann schreien sie zu mir: ›O Herr, rette uns!‹ 28 Ihr Judäer, wo sind nun eure Götter, die ihr euch selbst angefertigt habt? Sollen sie doch kommen und euch aus dem Unglück retten! Denn ihr habt so viele Götter wie Städte im Land! 29 Warum klagt ihr mich an?, frage ich euch. Schließlich habt ihr alle mich verlassen! 30 Vergeblich habe ich euch geschlagen, ihr wolltet euch nicht ändern. Ich sandte Propheten zu euch, doch ihr habt euch auf sie gestürzt wie wilde Löwen und sie mit euren Schwertern umgebracht.
31 Was seid ihr doch für ein Volk! Hört, was ich, der Herr, euch sage: War ich etwa gefährlich für euch wie die Wüste, wie ein Land, in dem Finsternis herrscht? Warum ruft ihr denn: ›Wir wollen weg von dir und kehren nie wieder zurück!‹ 32 Vergisst ein Mädchen seinen Schmuck oder eine Braut ihr Hochzeitskleid? Niemals! Mein Volk jedoch hat mich seit langer Zeit vergessen!
33 Überall hast du nach Liebhabern gesucht, Israel – das kannst du wirklich gut! Dabei schreckst du selbst vor Verbrechen nicht zurück.[c] 34 Das Blut unschuldiger, armer Menschen klebt an deinen Kleidern. Sie waren keine Einbrecher, du hast sie nicht in Notwehr getötet. Doch trotz allem 35 behauptest du: ›Ich habe nichts getan! Gott wird schon nicht länger zornig auf mich sein!‹ Aber glaub mir, ich werde dich vor Gericht bringen, gerade weil du dich für unschuldig hältst!
36 Warum läufst du ständig umher und suchst einen neuen Bündnispartner? Ägypten wird dich genauso bitter enttäuschen, wie Assyrien es tat! 37 Auch von dort wirst du völlig verzweifelt zurückkehren. Denn ich, der Herr, will von diesen Völkern, auf die du dein Vertrauen setzt, nichts wissen; du wirst mit ihnen kein Glück haben!«
Jeremiah 2
King James Version
2 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
2 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.
3 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.
4 Hear ye the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:
5 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?
6 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?
7 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.
8 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.
9 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.
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