Jeremiah 2
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 2[a]
Israel’s Unfaithfulness.[b] 1 The word of the Lord came to me, saying: 2 Go forth and proclaim this message in the hearing of Jerusalem: Thus says the Lord:
I remember the devotion you displayed in your youth,
your love like that of a bride,
when you followed me through the desert,
through a land that was unsown.
3 Israel was sacred to the Lord,
the firstfruits of his harvest.
Any people who partook of them were deemed guilty,
and disaster afflicted them, says the Lord.
4 Listen to the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob and all the families of the house of Israel. 5 Thus says the Lord:
What fault did your ancestors find in me
that causes them to stray so far from my side,
pursuing worthless idols[c]
and thereby becoming worthless themselves?
6 They never thought to ask, “Where is the Lord
who brought us up from the land of Egypt
and led us through the wilderness,
through a land of deserts and ravines,
a land of drought and intense darkness,
a land through which no one travels,
and a land in which no one dwells?”
7 I brought you into a fertile land
bursting forth with fruit and rich produce.
But when you entered, you defiled my land
and made my heritage loathsome.
8 The priests did not ask,
“Where is the Lord?”
Those who dealt with the law did not know me,
and even the shepherds rebelled against me.
The prophets prophesied by Baal
and worshiped gods who were powerless.
9 Therefore, says the Lord,
I will once again accuse you,
and I will further accuse
even your children’s children.
10 Cross over to the coast of the Kittim[d] and inquire;
send to Kedar and observe carefully.
See if anything similar to this
has ever previously occurred.
11 Has a nation ever changed its gods,
even though they are not gods at all?
Yet my people have exchanged their glory
for something that cannot help them in any way,
12 Be incredulous at this, O heavens;
shudder in your horror, says the Lord.
13 For my people are guilty of two evils:
they have forsaken me,
the fountain of living water,
and they have dug cisterns for themselves,
cracked cisterns that hold no water.
14 Is Israel a slave?
Was he born to be a servant?
Why then has he become plunder?
15 His enemies roar loudly at him like lions;[e]
they have made his country a wasteland;
his cities are burned to the ground and deserted.
16 The people of Memphis[f] and Tahpanhes
have shaved the crown of your head.
17 Have you not brought all this upon yourself
by forsaking the Lord, your God,
when he guided you along the way?
18 What advantage would you now achieve
by traveling to Egypt
to drink the waters of the Nile?
What would you gain by traveling to Assyria
to drink the waters of the Euphrates?
19 Your wickedness will bring about your punishment,
and your infidelities will condemn you.
Therefore, concentrate your thoughts
and see how bitter it is
to forsake the Lord, your God,
and to have no fear of me,
says the Lord, the God of hosts.
20 A long time ago you broke your yoke
and burst your bonds,
saying, “I will not serve.”
On every high hill
and under every green tree
you have sprawled and given yourself to harlotry.
21 I had planted you as a choice vine
from the purest stock.
How then did you degenerate
into a wild and corrupt vine?
22 Even if you would scrub yourself with lye
and use soap in great abundance,
the stain of your guilt
would still be clearly visible to me,
says the Lord God.
23 How can you say, “I am not defiled;
I have not gone after the Baals”?
Recall your conduct in the valley;
realize what you have done:
you have been like a restless she-camel
24 sniffing the wind in her lust;
who can restrain her ardor?
No males should exhaust themselves seeking her;
in her month they will find her.
25 You should stop before you wear out your shoes
and your throat becomes parched.
But you said, “It is hopeless.
I love these strangers,
and I must go after them.”
26 As a thief is ashamed when he is caught,
so the house of Israel will be ashamed:
they, their kings, their officials,
their priests, and their prophets,
27 those who say to a piece of wood, “You are my father,”
and to a stone, “You gave birth to me.”
They have turned their backs to me,
not their faces;
yet, in their time of trouble, they cry out,
“Rise up and save us!”
28 Where are the gods you have made for yourself?
Let them come to save you
in your time of trouble.
For you have as many towns
as you have gods, O Judah.
29 Why do you dare to plead with me?
You have all rebelled against me, says the Lord.
30 In vain I struck down your children,
but they refused to accept my correction.
Your own sword has devoured your prophets
like a ravening lion.
31 You of this generation,
behold the word of the Lord!
Have I been a desert for Israel
or a land of darkness?
Why then do my people say,
“We have broken away;
we will come to you no more”?
32 Does a girl forget her jewelry
or a bride her sash?
Yet for days beyond number
my people have forgotten me.
33 How well you direct your course
in the pursuit of love.
Even wanton women have profited
from their observance of your ways.
34 On your clothing can be found
the life-blood of the innocent poor,
whom you never caught breaking into a house.
Despite all this,[g]
35 you continue to proclaim, “I am innocent;
obviously, he has no cause to be angry with me.”
But behold, I will bring judgment upon you
for claiming that you have not sinned.
36 How nonchalant you are
as you change your course.
Just as you were shamed by Assyria,
you will be put to shame by Egypt.
37 From there also you will depart
with your hands upon your head.
For the Lord has rejected those upon whom you rely,
and with them you will not prosper.
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 2:1 In speaking of the covenant, which is an essential structure in the life of the Israelite people, Jeremiah uses the bold conjugal imagery of the prophet Hosea.
- Jeremiah 2:1 Foreign divinities are like poisoned wells. The image is a powerful one in a country in which water was rare and precious.
- Jeremiah 2:5 Worthless idols: they are incapable of saving their worshipers.
- Jeremiah 2:10 Kittim: Cyprus. Kedar: a nomad tribe of the Arabian Desert (see Jer 49:28).
- Jeremiah 2:15 Lions: the Assyrians, whose arms bore the emblem of the lion.
- Jeremiah 2:16 Memphis: capital of Lower Egypt. Tahpanhes: in the eastern part of the Nile Delta. The shaving is a sign of the victor’s contempt.
- Jeremiah 2:34 An allusion to sacrifices of children: see Jer 7:31. It was permissible to kill thieves caught in the act (see Ex 22:1).
Jeremiah 2
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 2
Infidelity of Israel.[a] 1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 Go, cry out this message for Jerusalem to hear!
I remember the devotion[b] of your youth,
how you loved me as a bride,
Following me in the wilderness,
in a land unsown.(A)
3 Israel was dedicated to the Lord,
the first fruits[c] of his harvest;
All who ate of it were held guilty,
evil befell them—oracle of the Lord.(B)
4 Listen to the word of the Lord, house of Jacob!
All you clans of the house of Israel,
5 thus says the Lord:
What fault did your ancestors find in me
that they withdrew from me,
Went after emptiness,
and became empty themselves?(C)
6 They did not ask, “Where is the Lord
who brought us up from the land of Egypt,
Who led us through the wilderness,
through a land of wastes and ravines,
A land of drought and darkness,
a land which no one crosses,
where no one dwells?”(D)
7 I brought you into the garden land
to eat its fine fruits,
But you entered and defiled my land,
you turned my heritage into an abomination.(E)
8 The priests did not ask,
“Where is the Lord?”
The experts in the law[d] did not know me:
the shepherds rebelled against me.
The prophets prophesied by Baal,
and went after useless idols.(F)
9 Therefore I will again accuse you—oracle of the Lord—
even your children’s children I will accuse.(G)
10 Cross to the coast of Cyprus and see,
send to Kedar[e] and carefully inquire:
Where has anything like this been done?
11 Does any other nation change its gods?—
even though they are not gods at all!
But my people have changed their glory
for useless things.(H)
12 Be horrified at this, heavens;
shudder, be appalled—oracle of the Lord.
13 Two evils my people have done:
they have forsaken me, the source of living waters;
They have dug themselves cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.(I)
14 Is Israel a slave, a house-born servant?[f]
Why then has he become plunder?
15 Against him lions roar,
they raise their voices.
They have turned his land into a waste;
his cities are charred ruins, without an inhabitant.(J)
16 Yes, the people of Memphis[g] and Tahpanhes
shave the crown of your head.
17 Has not forsaking the Lord, your God,
done this to you?(K)
18 And now, why go to Egypt,[h]
to drink the waters of the Nile?
Why go to Assyria,
to drink the waters of the River?
19 Your own wickedness chastises you,
your own infidelities punish you.
Know then, and see, how evil and bitter
is your forsaking the Lord, your God,
And your showing no fear of me,
oracle of the Lord, the God of hosts.(L)
20 Long ago you broke your yoke,(M)
you tore off your bonds.
You said, “I will not serve.”
On every high hill, under every green tree,
you sprawled and served as a prostitute.[i]
21 But I had planted you as a choice vine,
all pedigreed stock;
How could you turn out so obnoxious to me,
a spurious vine?(N)
22 Even if you scour it with lye,
and use much soap,
The stain of your guilt is still before me,
oracle of the Lord God.(O)
23 How can you say, “I am not defiled,
I have not pursued the Baals”?
Consider your conduct in the Valley,[j]
recall what you have done:
A skittish young camel,
running back and forth,
24 a wild donkey bred in the wilderness,
Sniffing the wind in her desire—
who can restrain her lust?
None seeking her need tire themselves;
in her time they will find her.
25 Stop wearing out your feet
and parching your throat!
But you say, “No use! No!
How I love these strangers,
after them I must go.”(P)
26 As the thief is shamed when caught,
so shall the house of Israel be shamed:
They, their kings, their princes,
their priests and their prophets;(Q)
27 They say to a piece of wood, “You are my father,”
and to a stone, “You gave me birth.”
They turn their backs to me, not their faces;
yet in their time of trouble they cry out,
“Rise up and save us!”
28 Where are the gods you made for yourselves?
Let them rise up!
Will they save you in your time of trouble?
For as numerous as your cities
are your gods, O Judah!
And as many as the streets of Jerusalem
are the altars you have set up for Baal.(R)
29 Why are you arguing with me?
You have all rebelled against me—oracle of the Lord.
30 In vain I struck your children;
correction they did not take.
Your sword devoured your prophets
like a ravening lion.(S)
31 You people of this generation,
consider the word of the Lord:
Have I become a wilderness to Israel,
a land of gloom?
Why then do my people say, “We have moved on,
we will not come to you any more”?
32 Does a young woman forget her jewelry,
a bride her sash?
Yet my people have forgotten me
days without number.(T)
33 How well you pick your way
when seeking love!
In your wickedness,
you have gone by ways unclean!
34 On your clothing is
the life-blood of the innocent,
you did not find them committing burglary;
35 Nonetheless you say, “I am innocent;
at least, his anger is turned away from me.”
Listen! I will judge you
on that word of yours, “I have not sinned.”
36 How frivolous you have become
in changing your course!
By Egypt you will be shamed,
just as you were shamed by Assyria.(U)
37 From there too you will go out,
your hands upon your head;
For the Lord has rejected those in whom you trust,
with them you will have no success.(V)
Footnotes
- 2:1–3:5 These chapters may contain some of Jeremiah’s early preaching. He portrays Israel as the wife of the Lord, faithful only in the beginning, when she walked behind him (2:2–3, 5; 3:1). Consistent with the marriage metaphor, he describes her present unfaithfulness as adultery (2:20; 3:2–3); now she walks behind the Baals.
- 2:2 Devotion: Heb. hesed; Israel’s gratitude, fidelity, and love for God.
- 2:3 First fruits: the first yield of a harvest offered as a sign of dependence on and gratitude toward the Lord of the land, thus divine property. Israel, then, is a gift made to God, set apart for his use; cf. Ex 23:19.
- 2:8 Experts in the law: the priests. The shepherds: the kings and nobles.
- 2:10 Kedar: a nomadic tribe in north Arabia. Cyprus and Kedar represent west and east.
- 2:14 House-born servant: one born in the master’s house, in contrast to a slave acquired by purchase or as a captive; cf. Lv 22:11.
- 2:16 Memphis: the capital of Lower Egypt. Tahpanhes: a frontier city of Egypt, east of the Delta. Shave the crown of your head: an image for Egypt plundering Judah; perhaps a reference to the capture of King Jehoahaz in 609 B.C. (2 Kgs 23:34).
- 2:18 Egypt and Assyria were the competing foreign powers favored by rival parties within Judah. The desire for such foreign alliances is a further desertion of the Lord, the source of living waters (v. 13), in favor of the above-named powers, symbolized by the waters of the Nile and the Euphrates rivers.
- 2:20 Served as a prostitute: idolatry (because Israel is the “bride” of God); cf. vv. 2–3.
- 2:23 The Valley: probably Ben-hinnom, south of Jerusalem, site of the sanctuary of Topheth, where children were sacrificed to Molech; cf. 7:31.
Jeremija 2
Biblija: suvremeni hrvatski prijevod
BOG osuđuje Judu zbog nevjere
2 Primio sam poruku od BOGA: 2 »Idi u Jeruzalem i reci svima što govori BOG:
Sjećam se kad ste bili mlad narod,
kako ste mi bili vjerni.
Voljeli ste me kao mladenka.
Slijedili ste me kroz pustinju,
gdje nije bilo usjeva.
3 Izraelci su BOGU bili svetinja,
prvi plodovi njegove žetve.
Svi koji su ih poželjeli načeti,
bili su proglašeni krivima i kažnjeni.«
Tako mi je rekao BOG.
4 Slušaj poruku BOGA, rode Jakovljev,
poslušajte, sva plemena Izraelova!
5 Ovako vam kaže BOG:
»Što su mi zamjerili vaši preci,
zašto su me napustili?
Štovali su bezvrijedne idole
pa su i sami postali ništavni.
6 Nisu se pitali: ‘Gdje je BOG,
koji nas je izveo iz Egipta,
proveo nas kroz golu pustoš,
kroz zemlju pustinja i provalija,
kroz zemlju suše i duboke tame,
zemlju kojom nitko ne putuje,
kraj u kojem nitko ne stanuje?’
7 Doveo sam vas u zemlju obilja,
da uživate u njenim plodovima i dobrima.
Ali vi ste zagadili moju zemlju,
moj posjed učinili odvratnim.
8 Svećenici nisu pitali: ‘Gdje je BOG?’
Poznavatelji zakona mene nisu poznavali,
vođe naroda protiv mene su se pobunili.
Proroci su govorili u ime lažnog boga Baala,
išli su za stvarima koje im nisu mogle pomoći.«
9 »Stoga, sad opet dižem tužbu protiv vas«,
rekao je BOG,
»vodit ću parnicu i protiv vaše unučadi.
10 Prijeđite preko mora na otok Cipar,
pošaljite nekog u Kedar, da pomno razmotri.
Vidjet ćete da nikad prije vas
nitko nije kao vi postupio.
11 Je li ikad neki narod promijenio svoje bogove
premda su štovali idole?
A moj je narod prezreo svog slavnoga Boga,
zamijenio ga štovanjem bezvrijednih idola.
12 Nebesa, zgražajte se nad tim,
drhtite u šoku od silnog užasa!«
Tako je rekao BOG.
13 »Moj je narod kriv za dvostruko zlo:
ostavili su mene—izvor žive vode,
a štovali su lažne bogove—napukle bunare
koji ne mogu zadržati vodu.«
14 »Izrael nije sluga niti je rođen kao rob.
Pa zašto ih neprijatelji odvode kao zatočenike?
15 Kao lavovi, na njega su rikali
i njegovu zemlju opustošili.
Gradovi su mu spaljeni i prazni.
16 Vojske iz Memfisa i Tahpanesa[a]
glavu su vam smrskale.
17 Sami ste krivi za svoju nesreću
jer ste prezreli svog BOGA
koji vas je dobrim putem vodio.
18 Izraelci, je li vam pomoglo
što ste išli u Egipat i pili vodu iz Nila?
Je li vam pomoglo
što ste išli u Asiriju i pili iz Eufrata?
19 Krivo ste činili i bit ćete kažnjeni.
Nesreća će se na vas svaliti,
a vi ćete iz toga morati učiti.
Shvatite kako je loše svog BOGA prezreti
i ne imati strahopoštovanja prema meni.«
Tako je rekao Gospodar BOG Svevladar.
20 »Davno sam slomio vaš jaram
i pokidao vaše lance,
ali rekli ste: ‘Nećemo ti služiti!’
No svuda ste se, kao prava bludnica,
klanjali drugima, i gore na uzvisinama
i dolje pod krošnjama.
21 Posadio sam vas kao biranu lozu,
nikli ste iz najboljeg sjemena.
Kako ste onda izrasli
u divlju lozu loših plodova?
22 Ako se i lužinom, s puno sapuna operete,
još će uvijek biti vidljiva mrlja vaše krivnje.«
Tako je rekao Gospodar BOG.
23 »Kako možeš reći: ‘Nisam se pokvario,
nisam se pred kipovima Baala klanjao?’
Gledaj što si u dolini[b] učinio,
razmisli kako si postupao.
Kao brza deva što trčkara uokolo,
i ti se predomišljaš bezglavo.
24 Kao divlja si pustinjska magarica,
što žudno njuši vjetar u vrijeme parenja
i nitko je ne može obuzdati kad se tjera.
Svaki će je željni mužjak naći,
laka je meta u vrijeme parenja.
25 Ne trči toliko za idolima,
da ti se obuća posve istroši
i grlo sasvim osuši.
Ali ti kažeš: ‘Ništa od toga.
Volim tuđe bogove.
Njih ću slijediti.’«
26 »Kao što je lopova sram kad ga uhvate na djelu,
tako bi se i narod Izraela trebao posramiti,
i svi njegovi kraljevi, poglavari, svećenici, proroci.
27 Drvenim idolima govore: ‘Ti si mi otac’,
kamenu izjavljuju: ‘Ti si me rodio.’
Okrenuli su mi leđa umjesto lice.
Ali u nevolji me zovu: ‘Dođi i spasi nas!’
28 Ali gdje su vam idoli koje ste sebi napravili?
Neka oni dođu i spase vas od nevolje!
Judejci, imate bogova koliko i gradova!«
29 »S kojim pravom iznosite tužbe protiv mene?
Svi ste se protiv mene pobunili.«
Tako poručuje BOG.
30 »Nije pomoglo što sam vas kažnjavao,
niste se popravili.
Svoje ste proroke mačevima sjekli,
kao razjareni lav ih ubijali.«
31 Ljudi ovog naraštaja,
obratite pažnju na riječ BOŽJU:
»Jesam li Izraelu bio kao pustinja,
ili kao opasna mračna zemlja?
Zašto mi onda moj narod govori:
‘Slobodni smo ići svojim putem,
više ti se nećemo vratiti’?
32 Djevojka ne zaboravlja svoj nakit,
kao ni nevjesta svoju vjenčanicu.
A moj narod mene zaboravlja
bezbroj puta, uvijek iznova.
33 Kako vješto nalazite nove ljubavnike!
I najpokvarenije žene mogu učiti od vas.
34 Na vama je krv nedužnih siromaha,
a niste ih našli da vam u kuću provaljuju.
35 A vi ipak tvrdite: ‘Nedužni smo.
Bog se ne ljuti na nas.’
Zato ću vas sad optužiti za laž
jer tvrdite da ništa niste skrivili.
36 Lutate uokolo tražeći pomoć,
stalno olako mijenjate mišljenje.
Ali, bit ćete razočarani i Egiptom,
kao što ste se razočarali Asirijom.
37 Bit ćete odvedeni iz Egipta[c],
s rukama na glavama.
Bog je odbacio te narode kojima vjerujete
i zato vam oni ne mogu pomoći.«
Footnotes
- 2,16 Memfis i Tahpanes Gradovi u Egiptu.
- 2,23 dolina Dolina Hinom pokraj Jeruzalema, u kojoj su Izraelci izvodili obrede žrtvovanja djece i druge obrede odvratne Bogu. Vidi Jr 7,31-32; 19,2-6; 32,35.
- 2,37 iz Egipta Doslovno: »iz ovoga«. Vjerojatno se odnosi na privremeni savez s Egiptom, ali također može značiti da će biti izvedeni iz Jeruzalema ili iz trenutne situacije.
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
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