Jeremiah 2

1Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,Cross-references: Jer 1:11 · Jer 7:1 · Jer 23:28 · Ezek 7:1 · Heb 1:1 · 2Pet 1:21

2“Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Yahweh says, “I remember for you the kindness of your youth, your love as a bride, how you went after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.Cross-references: Ex 14:31 · Ex 16:8 · Ex 24:3 · Deut 2:7 · Deut 8:2 · Deut 8:15 · +21 more

3Israel was holiness to Yahweh, the first fruits of his increase. All who devour him will be held guilty. Evil will come on them,”’ says Yahweh.”Cross-references: Ex 4:22 · Ex 19:5 · Ex 22:29 · Ex 23:16 · Num 18:12 · Deut 7:6 · +24 more

4Hear Yahweh’s word, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel!Cross-references: Isa 51:1 · Jer 5:21 · Jer 7:2 · Jer 13:15 · Jer 19:3 · Jer 31:1 · +5 more

5Yahweh says, “What unrighteousness have your fathers found in me, that they have gone far from me, and have walked after worthless vanity, and have become worthless?Cross-references: Deut 32:21 · 1Sam 12:21 · 2Ki 17:15 · Ps 115:8 · Isa 5:3 · Isa 29:13 · +14 more

6They didn’t say, ‘Where is Yahweh 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 the shadow of death, through a land that no one passed through, and where no man lived?’Cross-references: Ex 14:1 · Deut 8:14 · Deut 32:10 · Judg 6:13 · 2Ki 2:14 · Job 3:5 · +13 more

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 heritage an abomination.Cross-references: Lev 18:24 · Num 13:27 · Num 14:7 · Num 35:33 · Deut 6:10 · Deut 6:18 · +12 more

8The priests didn’t say, ‘Where is Yahweh?’ and those who handle the law didn’t know me. The rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal and followed things that do not profit.Cross-references: Deut 33:10 · 1Sam 2:12 · 1Sam 12:21 · 1Ki 18:22 · 1Ki 18:29 · 1Ki 18:40 · +24 more

9“Therefore I will yet contend with you,” says Yahweh, “and I will contend with your children’s children.Cross-references: Ex 20:5 · Lev 20:5 · Isa 3:13 · Isa 43:26 · Jer 2:29 · Jer 2:35 · +3 more

10For pass over to the islands of Kittim, and see. Send to Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there has been such a thing.Cross-references: Gen 10:4 · Gen 25:13 · Num 24:24 · Judg 19:30 · 1Chr 1:7 · 1Chr 23:1 · +7 more

11Has a nation changed its gods, which really are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which doesn’t profit.Cross-references: Deut 33:29 · Ps 3:3 · Ps 106:20 · Ps 115:4 · Isa 37:19 · Jer 2:5 · +6 more

12“Be astonished, you heavens, at this and be horribly afraid. Be very desolate,” says Yahweh.Cross-references: Deut 32:1 · Isa 1:2 · Jer 6:19 · Jer 22:29 · Mic 6:2 · Matt 27:45 · +1 more

13“For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the spring of living waters, and cut out cisterns for themselves: broken cisterns that can’t hold water.Cross-references: Judg 10:13 · 1Sam 12:10 · Ps 36:9 · Ps 81:11 · Ps 115:4 · Ps 146:3 · +32 more

14Is Israel a slave? Is he born into slavery? Why has he become a captive?Cross-references: Gen 15:3 · Ex 4:22 · Eccl 2:7 · Isa 50:1

15The young lions have roared at him and raised their voices. They have made his land waste. His cities are burned up, without inhabitant.Cross-references: Judg 14:5 · Job 4:10 · Ps 57:4 · Isa 1:7 · Isa 5:9 · Isa 5:29 · +22 more

16The children also of Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken the crown of your head.Cross-references: Deut 33:20 · 2Ki 18:21 · 2Ki 23:33 · Isa 1:6 · Isa 8:8 · Isa 19:13 · +8 more

17“Haven’t you brought this on yourself, in that you have forsaken Yahweh your God, when he led you by the way?Cross-references: Lev 26:15 · Num 32:23 · Deut 28:15 · Deut 32:10 · Deut 32:19 · 1Chr 28:9 · +12 more

18Now what do you gain by going to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Shihor? Or why do you go on the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?Cross-references: Josh 13:3 · 2Ki 16:7 · 2Chr 28:20 · Isa 30:1 · Isa 31:1 · Jer 2:36 · +5 more

19“Your own wickedness will correct you, and your backsliding will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing, that you have forsaken Yahweh your God, and that my fear is not in you,” says the Lord, Yahweh of Armies.Cross-references: Job 20:11 · Ps 36:1 · Prov 1:31 · Prov 5:22 · Isa 3:9 · Isa 5:5 · +17 more

20“For long ago I broke off your yoke, and burst your bonds. You said, ‘I will not serve;’ for on every high hill and under every green tree you bowed yourself, playing the prostitute.Cross-references: Ex 3:8 · Ex 19:8 · Ex 24:3 · Ex 34:14 · Lev 26:13 · Deut 4:20 · +30 more

21Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a pure and faithful seed. How then have you turned into the degenerate branches of a foreign vine to me?Cross-references: Gen 18:19 · Gen 26:3 · Gen 32:28 · Ex 15:17 · Deut 4:37 · Deut 32:32 · +15 more

22For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before me,” says the Lord Yahweh.Cross-references: Deut 32:34 · Job 9:30 · Job 14:17 · Ps 90:8 · Ps 130:3 · Jer 16:17 · +3 more

23“How can you say, ‘I am not defiled. I have not gone after the Baals’? See your way in the valley. Know what you have done. You are a swift dromedary traversing her ways,Cross-references: Gen 3:12 · 1Sam 15:13 · Esth 8:16 · Ps 36:2 · Ps 50:21 · Prov 28:13 · +14 more

24a wild donkey used to the wilderness, that sniffs the wind in her craving. When she is in heat, who can turn her away? All those who seek her will not weary themselves. In her month, they will find her.Cross-references: Job 11:12 · Job 39:5 · Jer 2:27 · Jer 14:6 · Hos 5:15

25“Keep your feet from being bare, and your throat from thirst. But you said, ‘It is in vain. No, for I have loved strangers, and I will go after them.’Cross-references: Deut 28:48 · Deut 29:19 · Deut 32:16 · 2Chr 28:22 · Isa 2:6 · Isa 20:2 · +12 more

26As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so the house of Israel is ashamed— they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets,Cross-references: Ezra 9:7 · Neh 9:32 · Prov 6:30 · Isa 1:29 · Jer 2:36 · Jer 3:24 · +4 more

27who tell wood, ‘You are my father,’ and a stone, ‘You have given birth to me,’ for they have turned their back to me, and not their face, but in the time of their trouble they will say, ‘Arise, and save us!’Cross-references: Judg 10:8 · Ps 78:34 · Ps 115:4 · Isa 26:16 · Isa 44:9 · Isa 46:6 · +10 more

28“But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble, for you have as many gods as you have towns, O Judah.Cross-references: Deut 32:37 · Judg 10:14 · 2Ki 3:13 · 2Ki 17:30 · Isa 45:20 · Isa 46:2 · +3 more

29“Why will you contend with me? You all have transgressed against me,” says Yahweh.Cross-references: Jer 2:23 · Jer 2:35 · Jer 3:2 · Jer 5:1 · Jer 6:13 · Jer 9:2 · +2 more

30“I have struck your children in vain. They received no correction. Your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.Cross-references: 1Ki 19:10 · 1Ki 19:14 · 2Chr 24:21 · 2Chr 28:22 · 2Chr 36:16 · Neh 9:26 · +19 more

31Generation, consider Yahweh’s word. Have I been a wilderness to Israel? Or a land of thick darkness? Why do my people say, ‘We have broken loose. We will come to you no more’?Cross-references: Deut 8:12 · Deut 31:20 · Deut 32:15 · 2Sam 12:7 · 2Chr 31:10 · Neh 9:21 · +12 more

32“Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me for days without number.Cross-references: Gen 24:22 · Gen 24:30 · Gen 24:53 · 2Sam 1:24 · Ps 9:17 · Ps 45:13 · +13 more

33How well you prepare your way to seek love! Therefore you have even taught the wicked women your ways.Cross-references: 2Chr 33:9 · Isa 57:7 · Jer 2:23 · Jer 2:36 · Jer 3:1 · Ezek 16:27 · +4 more

34Also the blood of the souls of the innocent poor is found in your skirts. You didn’t find them breaking in, but it is because of all these things.Cross-references: Ex 22:2 · 2Ki 21:16 · 2Ki 24:4 · Ps 106:37 · Isa 57:5 · Isa 59:7 · +7 more

35“Yet you said, ‘I am innocent. Surely his anger has turned away from me.’ “Behold, I will judge you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’Cross-references: Job 33:9 · Prov 28:13 · Isa 58:3 · Jer 2:9 · Jer 2:23 · Jer 2:29 · +3 more

36Why do you go about so much to change your ways? You will be ashamed of Egypt also, as you were ashamed of Assyria.Cross-references: 2Chr 28:16 · 2Chr 28:20 · Isa 20:5 · Isa 30:1 · Isa 31:1 · Jer 2:18 · +12 more

37You will also leave that place with your hands on your head; for Yahweh has rejected those in whom you trust, and you won’t prosper with them.Cross-references: Num 14:41 · 2Sam 13:19 · 2Chr 13:12 · Isa 10:4 · Jer 2:36 · Jer 17:5 · +3 more