Jeremiah 2:4-19

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

What wrong did your ancestors find in me
    that they went far from me
and went after worthless things and became worthless themselves?^(A)
6 They did not say, “Where is the Lord,
    who brought us up from the land of Egypt,
who led us in the wilderness,
    in a land of deserts and pits,
in a land of drought and deep darkness,
    in a land that no one passes through,
    where no one lives?”^(B)
7 I brought you into a plentiful land
    to eat its fruits and its good things.
But when you entered you defiled my land
    and made my heritage an abomination.^(C)
8 The priests did not say, “Where is the Lord?”
    Those who handle the law did not know me;
the rulers^[a] transgressed against me;
    the prophets prophesied by Baal
    and went after things that do not profit.^(D)

⁹ Therefore once more I accuse you,
            says the Lord,
    and I accuse your children’s children.^(E)
10 Cross to the coasts of Cyprus and look;
    send to Kedar and examine with care;
    see if there has ever been such a thing.
¹¹ Has a nation changed its gods,
    even though they are no gods?
But my people have changed their glory
    for something that does not profit.^(F)
12 Be appalled, O heavens, at this;
    be shocked; be utterly desolate,
            says the Lord,
¹³ for my people have committed two evils:
    they have forsaken me,
the fountain of living water,
    and dug out cisterns for themselves,
cracked cisterns
    that can hold no water.^(G)

¹⁴ Is Israel a slave? Is he a homeborn servant?
    Why then has he become plunder?^(H)
15 The lions have roared against him;
    they have roared loudly.
They have made his land a waste;
    his cities are in ruins, without inhabitant.^(I)
16 Moreover, the people of Memphis and Tahpanhes
    have broken the crown of your head.^(J)
17 Have you not brought this upon yourself
    by forsaking the Lord your God,
    while he led you in the way?^(K)
18 What then do you gain by going to Egypt,
    to drink the waters of the Nile?
Or what do you gain by going to Assyria,
    to drink the waters of the Euphrates?^(L)
19 Your wickedness will punish you,
    and your faithlessness will convict you.
Know and see that it is evil and bitter
    for you to forsake the Lord your God;
    the fear of me is not in you,
            says the Lord God of hosts.^(M)