Jeremiah 2

1 Now the word [message, declaration] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] came [existed, came into being] to me, saying [to speak, to command], word study 2 “Go and proclaim [cry out, announce] in the hearing [ears, ability to listen] of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] says: ‘I remember [keep in mind, recall] the devotion [kindness, loving commitment] of your youth [early years, young adulthood], your love [affection, loyalty] as a bride [newly married, betrothed], how you followed [walked after, obeyed] Me in the wilderness [desert, barren land], in a land [territory, region] not sown [planted, cultivated]. word study 3 Israel [set apart, holy nation] was holy [consecrated, dedicated] to the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], the firstfruits [choice part, initial harvest] of His harvest [produce, crops]. All [everything, every person] who devoured [ate, consumed] her found themselves guilty [held accountable, deserving punishment]; disaster [evil, calamity] came upon them [approached, happened to],’” declares [says, utters] the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord of Israel]. word study 4 Hear [listen and obey] the word [divine message] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], O house [family, dwelling place] of Jacob [the son of Isaac and Rebekah], and all [everything, every single one] you families [clans, tribes] of the house [nation, people] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people]. word study 5 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: “What fault [iniquity, moral evil] did your fathers [ancestors, forefathers] find in Me that they strayed [gone far away, removed themselves] so far from Me, and followed [walked after] worthless [vain, empty] idols, and became [to become, turned into] worthless [vain, without value] themselves? word study 6 They did not ask, ‘Where [in what location, aye] is the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] who brought us up [ascended, led us out] from the land [region, territory] of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness [desert, barren land], through a land of deserts [arid places, waste] and pits [deep holes, chasms], a land of drought [dryness, barrenness] and darkness [shadow of death, gloom], a land where no one travels [passes through, crosses] and no one lives [dwells, resides]?’ word study 7 I brought you into a [plentiful, fertile] fertile land [of fruitful fields, a plantation] to eat its [fruit and goodness, the fruit thereof and the commodities of the same] fruit and bounty [the good things that grow there], but you came and defiled [made unclean] My land [the soil or ground, a country, territory, or region], and made My [inheritance, promised land, heritage] inheritance detestable [an abomination, a disgusting thing, detestable]. word study 8 The priests [spiritual leaders, mediators] did not ask, ‘Where [in what location, what is Your presence] is the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God]?’ The experts [those who handle, teach] in the law [Torah, instruction] no longer knew [had intimate knowledge of, understood] Me, and the leaders [rulers, shepherds] rebelled [transgressed, turned away] against Me. The prophets [spokespersons for God, messengers] prophesied [spoke under divine influence, declared] by Baal [a false deity, idol] and followed [walked after, pursued] useless [worthless, unprofitable] idols [false gods, images]. word study 9 Therefore [so, thus], I will contend [argue, plead] with you again [still, once more], declares the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God], and I will bring a case [plead, accuse] against your children’s children [sons, descendants, posterity]. word study 10 Cross over [to the islands, pass through] to the coasts [coastlands, sea-lands] of Cyprus [Kittim, Chittim] and take a look [see, behold]; send [dispatch, go] to Kedar [a land of nomadic peoples] and consider [examine, take diligent heed] carefully [diligently, with great care]; see [look, observe] if there has ever been [if there be, if there hath been] anything [such a thing, something like this] like this [of this kind, similar]: word study 11 Has a nation [Gentile, non-Hebrew people] ever changed [exchanged, replaced] its gods [idols, false deities], though they are [in reality] no gods [not divine] at all? Yet My people [Israel, God’s chosen] have exchanged [traded, swapped] their Glory [great honor, splendor] for [in place of] useless [profitless, worthless] idols [false gods, images]. word study 12 Be stunned [utterly appalled, shocked] by this [what is happening, these events], O heavens [the sky, the abode of God]; be shocked [horribly afraid, frightened] and utterly appalled [desolate, devastated],” declares the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]. word study 13 “For My people [the nation of Israel, God’s chosen] have committed two evils [morally wrong actions, sinful deeds]: They have forsaken [abandoned, turned away from] Me, the fountain [source, spring] of living [life-giving, spiritual] water, and they have dug [hewed, carved out] their own cisterns [water-holes, reservoirs]— broken [shattered, cracked] cisterns that cannot [are unable to] hold [contain, sustain] water [refreshment, spiritual nourishment]. word study 14 Is Israel [a servant, a homeborn slave] a slave [a bondservant, one bound to serve]? Was he born [from the womb, a child of the house] into slavery [a state of bondage, servitude]? Why then has he become [been made, fallen prey to] prey [plunder, spoil, a victim of conquest]? word study 15 The young lions [roaring like conquerors] have roared at him; they have growled [yelled, given forth their voice] with a loud voice [a powerful sound]. They have laid waste [made a desolation, burned up] his land [country, territory]; his cities [towns, populated areas] lie in ruins [are burned without inhabitant], without [lacking] inhabitant [one to dwell, a resident]. word study 16 The men [sons, descendants] of Memphis [Noph, the capital city of Egypt] and Tahpanhes [a city in Egypt, filled with pity] have shaved [broken, deflowered] the crown [top, scalp] of your head [the upper part of the head]. word study 17 Have you not [certainly] brought this [disaster, calamity] on yourself by forsaking [abandoning, loosening] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] your God [Elohim, the supreme deity] when He led [guided, walked with] you in the way [path, journey, manner of life]? word study 18 Now [at this time, in this moment] what will you gain [or accomplish, or benefit] on your way [journey, path] to Egypt [the land of the Nile] to drink [to satisfy your thirst, to feast on] the waters [the life-giving source, the spiritual refreshment] of the Nile [Shihor, the dark or murky river]? What will you gain [or accomplish, or benefit] on your way [journey, path] to Assyria [the land of the Euphrates] to drink [to satisfy your thirst, to feast on] the waters [the life-giving source, the spiritual refreshment] of the Euphrates [the river]? word study 19 Your own evil [wickedness, moral badness] will discipline [correct, teach a lesson] you; your own apostasies [backslidings, faithlessness] will reprimand [rebuke, reprove] you. Consider [know, realize] and realize [see, understand] how evil [bad, morally harmful] and bitter [painful, unpleasant] it is for you to forsake [abandon, leave] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] your God [Elohim, the one supreme God] and to have no fear [dread, reverence] of Me,” declares the Lord [Adonay, a title of reverence] GOD [Yehovah] of Hosts [armies, a large group]. word study 20 “For long ago [from of old, from ancient times] you broke [shattered, ruptured] your yoke [a wooden beam laid on the neck] and tore off [pulled away, separated] your chains [bonds, restraints], saying, ‘I will not serve [be a slave, obey]!’ Indeed, on every high [elevated, lofty] hill and under every green [luxuriant, fresh] tree you lay down [marched, wandered] as a prostitute [fornicating, being unfaithful, committing idolatry]. word study 21 I [the Lord] had planted you like a choice [noble, select] vine from the very best [right, true] seed [offspring, descendants]. How [in what way, where] could you turn yourself before Me into a rotten [degenerate, useless], wild [foreign, strange] vine [plant, branches]? word study 22 Although you wash with lye [using natron or nitre] and use [plenty of] an abundance of soap, the stain [permanent mark, defilement] of your guilt [iniquity, moral evil] is still before Me [in My presence, face to face],” declares the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] GOD [Yehovah]. word study 23 “How [in what way] can you say, ‘I am not [absolutely not] defiled [morally contaminated]; I have not [never] run [pursued] after [in pursuit of] the Baals’? Look [see] at your behavior [way of life] in the valley [lowland]; acknowledge [recognize] what you have done [accomplished]. You are a swift [quick] young she-camel [female camel] galloping [traversing] here and there [in different directions], word study 24 a wild donkey [untrained, fierce] at home in the wilderness [desert, open field], sniffing the wind [a blast of air] in the heat of her desire [strong longing, craving]. Who can restrain [turn back, control] her passion [soul, essence]? All who seek [search for, look to] her need not weary [become weak, faint] themselves; in mating season [her month, time of estrus] they will find [attain, discover] her. word study 25 You should have kept [withheld, restrained] your feet [steps, paths] from going bare [unshod, without sandals] and your throat [neck, parched area] from being thirsty [parched, dry from need of water]. But you said, ‘It is hopeless [incurable, desperate]! For I love [have affection for, am devoted to] foreign gods [strangers, idols], and I must go [follow, walk after] after them [pursue, chase after].’ word study 26 As the thief [a person who takes things that don’t belong to them] is ashamed [feeling guilt or embarrassment, confounded] when he is caught [found, taken], so the house [dwelling place, family] of Israel [God’s chosen people] is disgraced [ashamed, put to shame]. They, their kings [royal rulers], their officials [leaders, princes], their priests [spiritual leaders, mediators], and their prophets [God’s spokespersons] word study 27 say to a tree [a wooden idol], ‘You are my father [a paternal figure, a source of guidance and protection],’ and to a stone [a lifeless object, an inanimate thing], ‘You gave me birth [brought me into existence, nurtured me].’ For they have turned their backs [rejected, abandoned] to Me and not their faces [toward my presence, in reverence], yet in the time [season, moment] of trouble [distress, affliction] they beg, ‘Rise up [stand, come to our aid] and save us [rescue, deliver us]!’ word study 28 But where [in what location, at what point] are the gods [Elohim, false deities] you made [created, fashioned] for yourselves? Let them rise up [arise, stand] in your time [season, moment] of trouble [adversity, distress] and save [rescue, deliver] you if they can [are able, have power]; for your gods [idols, false objects of worship] are as numerous [many, abundant] as your cities [towns, villages], O Judah [the tribe of Judah, the people of God]. word study 29 Why [for what reason, on what grounds] do you bring a case [plead, contend] against Me? You have all [every one of you, collectively] rebelled [transgressed, revolted] against Me [to My face, in opposition to Me],” declares [says, utters] the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God]. word study 30 “I have struck [smitten, punished] your sons [children, descendants] in vain [to no purpose, without effect]; they accepted [received, took] no discipline [correction, instruction]. Your own sword [cutting instrument, weapon] has devoured [eaten, consumed] your prophets [spokesmen, messengers] like [similar to, comparable to] a voracious [destroying, ravaging] lion.” word study 31 You people of this generation [a period of time or a group of people], consider the word [message or Chronicles] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]: “Have I been a wilderness [a desert or open field] to Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants] or a land of dense darkness [a deep or profound darkness]? Why do My people [a nation or tribe] say, ‘We are free to roam [to wander restlessly]; we will come to You no more’? word study 32 Does a maiden [virgin, young woman] forget her jewelry [ornaments, fine clothing] or a bride [daughter-in-law] her wedding sash [ornamental girdle, headband]? Yet My people [nation, those I have chosen] have forgotten Me [been oblivious to My presence] for days [a long period of time] without number [beyond count, countless]. word study 33 How skillfully [with what care, cleverly] you pursue [seek, search for] love [affection, devotion]! Even the most immoral [wicked, bad] of women could learn [be taught, guided] from your ways [path, manner of life]. word study 34 Moreover, your skirts [the edges of your garments] are stained with the blood [the life force] of the innocent [morally clean, guiltless] poor [needy, oppressed], though you did not find them breaking in [secretly searching, burglarizing]. But in spite of all these things [every one of these actions, all these circumstances] word study 35 you say [claim, affirm], ‘I am innocent [guiltless, without blame]. Surely [certainly, undoubtedly] His anger [wrath, indignation] will turn [return, depart] from me.’ Behold [look, see], I will judge [plead, govern] you, because you say [affirm, claim], ‘I have not sinned [missed the mark, gone wrong].’ word study 36 How unstable [fickle, constantly changing] you are, constantly changing [repeating, going back and forth] your ways [path, manner of life]! You will be disappointed [ashamed, let down] by Egypt [the land of the Nile] just as you were [previously, in the past] by Assyria [a powerful and oppressive nation]. word study 37 Moreover, you will leave [go forth from, depart] that place with your hands [in a sign of mourning or defeat] on your head [in shame or submission], for the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] has rejected [spurned, cast away] those you trust [have confidence in, rely on]; you will not prosper [succeed, have success] by their help [assistance, support].” word study