Jeremiah 2

All 37 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1The LORD spoke his word to me:
2. 2Go and announce this to Jerusalem: The LORD says, 'I remember your youthful kindness and the love of your betrothal, when you followed me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.'
3. 3Israel was holy to the LORD, the first part of his harvest. All who devour Israel will become guilty, and disaster will come upon them, says the LORD.
4. 4Listen to the LORD's word, descendants of Jacob — all you families of Israel!
5. 5The LORD says, "What wrongdoing did your ancestors find in me that caused them to go far from me? They followed worthless things and became worthless themselves."
6. 6They never asked, 'Where is the LORD who brought us out of Egypt? Where is the one who led us through the wilderness — through barren deserts and deep ravines, through drought and the shadow of death, through land no one had ever crossed, where no one had ever lived?'
7. 7I brought you into a plentiful land to eat its fruit and its goodness. But when you entered, you defiled my land and made my inheritance detestable.
8. 8The priests did not say, "Where is the LORD?" Those who handle the law did not know me. The shepherds also sinned against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal and followed things that do not profit.
9. 9"So I will bring charges against you," says the LORD, "and against your children's children I will bring charges.
10. 10Cross the sea to the coasts of Kittim and look around. Send someone to Kedar and investigate carefully. See if anything like this has ever happened.
11. 11Has a nation ever changed its gods, which are not real gods? But my people have exchanged their glory for what does not profit.
12. 12Be astonished at this, you heavens, and be horribly afraid; be very desolate," says the LORD.
13. 13"My people have committed two evils: they have abandoned me — the fountain of living waters — and they have dug their own cisterns, cracked cisterns that can't hold water.
14. 14Is Israel a slave? Was he born into slavery? Then why has he been plundered?
15. 15Young lions have roared over him and growled. They've turned his land into a wasteland. His cities are burned and empty.
16. 16The people of Noph and Tahpanhes have broken the top of your head.
17. 17Haven't you brought this on yourself by abandoning the LORD your God while he was leading you along the way?
18. 18So what do you gain by running to Egypt to drink from the waters of Shihor? And what do you gain by running to Assyria to drink from the Euphrates?
19. 19Your own wickedness will correct you, and your backslidings will reprove you. Understand and see that it is an evil and bitter thing that you have forsaken the LORD your God, and that my fear is not in you," says the Lord GOD of hosts.
20. 20Long ago I broke your yoke and snapped your chains. You said, 'I will not transgress!' But then on every high hill and under every green tree, you wandered, playing the harlot.
21. 21I planted you as a noble vine, from the purest seed. So how have you turned into a degenerate plant of a strange vine to me?
22. 22Even if you wash yourself with lye and use plenty of soap, your wrongdoing is still marked before me, says the Lord GOD.
23. 23"How can you say, 'I'm not defiled — I haven't chased after the Baals'? Look at what you've done in the valley. Face what you are: a restless young camel running wild in every direction,
24. 24a wild donkey at home in the desert, sniffing the wind in her lust. When she's in heat, who can hold her back? No one who wants her needs to tire himself out searching — when her time comes, they'll find her easily.
25. 25Keep your foot from going bare and your throat from thirst. But you said, "There is no hope! No, for I have loved strangers, and I will go after them."
26. 26Like a thief who feels shame only when he's caught, so the house of Israel is put to shame — their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets.
27. 27They say to a wooden idol, 'You are my father,' and to a stone, 'You gave birth to me.' They've turned their backs to me instead of their faces. But when trouble comes, suddenly they cry out, 'Get up and save us!'
28. 28"Where are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them get up and save you when trouble strikes — if they can! Because you have as many gods as you have cities, Judah.
29. 29"Why are you arguing with me? Every one of you has rebelled against me," says the LORD.
30. 30"I punished your children, but it did no good — they refused to learn. Your own sword devoured your prophets like a ravaging lion.
31. 31You people of this generation, pay attention to the word of the LORD! Have I been a wasteland to Israel? A land of darkness? Why then do my people say, 'We are lords; we will come no more to you'?
32. 32"Does a young woman forget her jewelry? Does a bride forget her wedding dress? Yet my people have forgotten me for more days than anyone can count.
33. 33Why do you carefully arrange your way to seek love? Therefore you have also taught the wicked ones your ways.
34. 34Also the blood of the souls of the poor innocents is found on your clothes. I have not found it by secret search, but on all these.
35. 35Yet you say, "Because I am innocent, surely his anger will turn away from me." But look, I will bring my case against you because you say, "I have not sinned."
36. 36Why do you keep running from one alliance to another, constantly changing course? You'll be humiliated by Egypt just as you were humiliated by Assyria.
37. 37You'll leave that place too with your hands on your head in shame, because the LORD has rejected the nations you're trusting in. They will do you no good at all.