20 For long ago I[a] broke your yoke;(A)
I[b] tore off your chains.
You insisted, “I will not serve!”
On every high hill
and under every green tree(B)
you lay down like a prostitute.(C)

21 I planted you, a choice vine(D)
from the very best seed.
How then could you turn into
a degenerate, foreign vine?(E)

22 Even if you wash with lye
and use a great amount of bleach,[c](F)
the stain of your iniquity is still in front of me.(G)
This is the Lord God’s declaration.

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Footnotes

  1. 2:20 LXX reads you
  2. 2:20 LXX reads you
  3. 2:22 Lit cleansing agent

20 “For long ago I broke your yoke
    and tore off your bonds,
But you said, ‘I won’t serve you!’
    Instead, on every high hill
and under every green tree,
    you bend down to commit fornication.
21 I planted you myself as a choice vine,
    from the very best seed.[a]
How did you turn against me
    into a degenerate and foreign vine?
22 Though you wash yourself with lye
    and use much soap,
the stain of your guilt is still before me,”
        declares the Lord God.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 2:21 Lit. faithful seed