This is what the Lord says:

(A)What injustice did your fathers find in Me,
That they went far from Me,
And walked after (B)emptiness and became empty?
They did not say, ‘Where is the Lord
Who (C)brought us up out of the land of Egypt,
Who (D)led us through the wilderness,
Through a land of deserts and of pits,
Through a land of drought and of [a]deep darkness,
Through a land that no one crossed
And where no person lived?’
I brought you into the (E)fruitful land
To eat its fruit and its good things.
But you came and (F)defiled My land,
And you made My inheritance an abomination.
The (G)priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’
And those who handle the Law (H)did not know Me;
The [b]rulers also revolted against Me,
And the (I)prophets prophesied by Baal
And walked after (J)things that were of no benefit.

“Therefore I will still (K)contend with you,” declares the Lord,
“And I will contend with your sons’ sons.
10 For (L)cross to the coastlands of [c]Kittim and see,
And send to (M)Kedar and observe closely,
And see if there has been anything like this!
11 Has a nation changed gods,
When (N)they were not gods?
But My people have (O)exchanged their glory
For that which is of no benefit.
12 Be appalled at this, (P)you heavens,
And shudder, be very desolate,” declares the Lord.
13 “For My people have committed two evils:
They have abandoned Me,
The (Q)fountain of living waters,
To carve out for themselves (R)cisterns,
Broken cisterns
That do not hold water.

14 “Is Israel (S)a slave? Or is he a servant born in the home?
Why has he become plunder?

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 2:6 Or the shadow of death
  2. Jeremiah 2:8 Lit shepherds
  3. Jeremiah 2:10 I.e., Cyprus and other islands

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