Jeremiah 2:4-17
New American Standard Bible
5This is what the Lord says: 'What injustice did your fathers find in Me, That they went far from Me, And walked after emptiness and became empty?
6They did not say, ‘Where is the Lord Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, Who led us through the wilderness, Through a land of deserts and of pits, Through a land of drought and of deep darkness, Through a land that no one crossed And where no person lived?’
7I brought you into the fruitful land To eat its fruit and its good things. But you came and defiled My land, And you made My inheritance an abomination.
8The priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’ And those who handle the Law did not know Me; The rulers also revolted against Me, And the prophets prophesied by Baal And walked after things that were of no benefit.
9'Therefore I will still contend with you,' declares the Lord, 'And I will contend with your sons’ sons.
10For cross to the coastlands of Kittim and see, And send to Kedar and observe closely, And see if there has been anything like this!
11Has a nation changed gods, When they were not gods? But My people have exchanged their glory For that which is of no benefit.
12Be appalled at this, you heavens, And shudder, be very desolate,' declares the Lord.
13'For My people have committed two evils: They have abandoned Me, The fountain of living waters, To carve out for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns That do not hold water.
14'Is Israel a slave? Or is he a servant born in the home? Why has he become plunder?
15The young lions have roared at him, They have roared loudly. And they have made his land a waste; His cities have been destroyed, without inhabitant.
16Also the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes Have shaved your head.
17Have you not done this to yourself By your abandoning the Lord your God When He led you in the way?
King James Version
Chapter 2
4Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel: 5Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain? 6Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt? 7And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination. 8The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
9Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children's children will I plead.
10For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.
11Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.
12Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.
13For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
14Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled?
15The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.
16Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head.
17Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 2
4Hear the word of the Lord, house of Jacob and all families of the house of Israel. 5This is what the Lord says: What fault did your ancestors find in me that they went so far from me, followed worthless idols, and became worthless themselves? 6They stopped asking, "Where is the Lord who brought us from the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and ravines, through a land of drought and darkness, a land no one traveled through and where no one lived? " 7I brought you to a fertile land to eat its fruit and bounty, but after you entered, you defiled my land; you made my inheritance detestable.
9Therefore, I will bring a case against you again. This is the Lord's declaration. I will bring a case against your children's children.
10Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and take a look. Send someone to Kedar and consider carefully; see if there has ever been anything like this:
11Has a nation ever exchanged its gods? (But they were not gods!) Yet my people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols.
12Be appalled at this, heavens; be shocked and utterly desolated! This is the Lord's declaration.
13For my people have committed a double evil: They have abandoned me, the fountain of living water, and dug cisterns for themselves-- cracked cisterns that cannot hold water.
14Is Israel a slave? Was he born into slavery? Why else has he become a prey?
15The young lions have roared at him; they have roared loudly. They have laid waste his land. His cities are in ruins, without inhabitants.
16The men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have also broken your skull.
17Have you not brought this on yourself by abandoning the Lord your God while he was leading you along the way?
New Living Translation
5This is what the Lord says: 'What did your ancestors find wrong with me that led them to stray so far from me? They worshiped worthless idols, only to become worthless themselves.
6They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord who brought us safely out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness — a land of deserts and pits, a land of drought and death, where no one lives or even travels?’
7'And when I brought you into a fruitful land to enjoy its bounty and goodness, you defiled my land and corrupted the possession I had promised you.
8The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those who taught my word ignored me, the rulers turned against me, and the prophets spoke in the name of Baal, wasting their time on worthless idols.
9Therefore, I will bring my case against you,' says the Lord. 'I will even bring charges against your children’s children in the years to come.
10'Go west and look in the land of Cyprus ; go east and search through the land of Kedar. Has anyone ever heard of anything as strange as this?
11Has any nation ever traded its gods for new ones, even though they are not gods at all? Yet my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols!
12The heavens are shocked at such a thing and shrink back in horror and dismay,' says the Lord.
13'For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me — the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!
14'Why has Israel become a slave? Why has he been carried away as plunder?
15Strong lions have roared against him, and the land has been destroyed. The towns are now in ruins, and no one lives in them anymore.
16Egyptians, marching from their cities of Memphis and Tahpanhes, have destroyed Israel’s glory and power.
17And you have brought this upon yourselves by rebelling against the Lord your God, even though he was leading you on the way!
English Standard Version
Chapter 2
4Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the clans of the house of Israel. 5Thus says the LORD: “What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?
6They 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 none passes through, where no man dwells?’
7And I brought you into a plentiful land to enjoy its fruits and its good things. But when you came in, you defiled my land and made my heritage an abomination.
8The priests did not say, ‘Where is the LORD?’ Those who handle the law did not know me; the shepherds transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal and went after things that do not profit.
9“Therefore I still contend with you, declares the LORD, and with your children’s children I will contend.
10For cross to the coasts of Cyprus and see, or send to Kedar and examine with care; see if there has been such a thing.
11Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.
12Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD,
13for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.
14“Is Israel a slave? Is he a homeborn servant? Why then has he become a prey?
15The lions have roared against him; they have roared loudly. They have made his land a waste; his cities are in ruins, without inhabitant.
16Moreover, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the crown of your head.
17Have you not brought this upon yourself by forsaking the LORD your God, when he led you in the way?
New International Version
5This is what the LORD says: 'What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.
6They did not ask, 'Where is the LORD, who brought us up out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness, through a land of deserts and ravines, a land of drought and utter darkness, a land where no one travels and no one lives?'
7I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and made my inheritance detestable.
8The priests did not ask, 'Where is the LORD?' Those who deal with the law did not know me; the leaders rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal, following worthless idols.
9Therefore I bring charges against you again,' declares the LORD. 'And I will bring charges against your children's children.
10Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and look, send to Kedar and observe closely; see if there has ever been anything like this:
11Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols.
12Be appalled at this, you heavens, and shudder with great horror,' declares the LORD.
13My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
14Is Israel a servant, a slave by birth? Why then has he become plunder?
15Lions have roared; they have growled at him. They have laid waste his land; his towns are burned and deserted.
16Also, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have cracked your skull.
17Have you not brought this on yourselves by forsaking the LORD your God when he led you in the way?
New King James Version
5Thus says the Lord: “What injustice have your fathers found in Me, That they have gone far from Me, Have followed idols, And have become idolaters?
6Neither did they say, ‘Where is the Lord, Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, Who led us through the wilderness, Through a land of deserts and pits, Through a land of drought and the shadow of death, Through a land that no one crossed And where no one dwelt?’
7I brought you into a bountiful country, To eat its fruit and its goodness. But when you entered, you defiled My land And made My heritage an abomination.
8The priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’ And those who handle the law did not know Me; The rulers also transgressed against Me; The prophets prophesied by Baal, And walked after things that do not profit.
9“Therefore I will yet bring charges against you,” says the Lord, “And against your children’s children I will bring charges.
10For pass beyond the coasts of Cyprus and see, Send to Kedar and consider diligently, And see if there has been such a thing.
11 Has a nation changed its gods, Which are not gods? But My people have changed their Glory For what does not profit.
12Be astonished, O heavens, at this, And be horribly afraid; Be very desolate,” says the Lord.
13“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.
14“ Is Israel a servant? Is he a homeborn slave? Why is he plundered?
15 The young lions roared at him, and growled; They made his land waste; His cities are burned, without inhabitant.
16Also the people of Noph and Tahpanhes Have broken the crown of your head.
17 Have you not brought this on yourself, In that you have forsaken the Lord your God When He led you in the way?
