Jeremiah 2 NKJV NIV Parallel

◄ Jeremiah 2 ►

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1Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

1The word of the LORD came to me:

2“Go and cry in the hearing of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD: “I remember you, The kindness of your youth, The love of your betrothal, When you went after Me in the wilderness, In a land not sown.

2"Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem: "This is what the LORD says: "'I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown.

3Israel was holiness to the LORD, The firstfruits of His increase. All that devour him will offend; Disaster will come upon them,” says the LORD.’ ”

3Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of his harvest; all who devoured her were held guilty, and disaster overtook them,'" declares the LORD.

4Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob and all the families of the house of Israel.

4Hear the word of the LORD, you descendants of Jacob, all you clans of Israel.

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?

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.

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?’

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 bountiful country, To eat its fruit and its goodness. But when you entered, you defiled My land And made My heritage an abomination.

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 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.

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.

9“Therefore I will yet bring charges against you,” says the LORD, “And against your children’s children I will bring charges.

9"Therefore I bring charges against you again," declares the LORD. "And I will bring charges against your children's children.

10For pass beyond the coasts of Cyprus and see, Send to Kedar and consider diligently, And see if there has been such a thing.

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 changed its gods, Which are not gods? But My people have changed their Glory For what does not profit.

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 astonished, O heavens, at this, And be horribly afraid; Be very desolate,” says the LORD.

12Be appalled at this, you heavens, and shudder with great horror," declares 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.

13"My 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.

14“Is Israel a servant? Is he a homeborn slave? Why is he plundered?

14Is Israel a servant, a slave by birth? Why then has he become plunder?

15The young lions roared at him, and growled; They made his land waste; His cities are burned, without inhabitant.

15Lions have roared; they have growled at him. They have laid waste his land; his towns are burned and deserted.

16Also the people of Noph and Tahpanhes Have broken the crown of your head.

16Also, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have cracked your skull.

17Have you not brought this on yourself, In that you have forsaken the LORD your God When He led you in the way?

17Have you not brought this on yourselves by forsaking the LORD your God when he led you in the way?

18And now why take the road to Egypt, To drink the waters of Sihor? Or why take the road to Assyria, To drink the waters of the River?

18Now why go to Egypt to drink water from the Nile? And why go to Assyria to drink water from the Euphrates?

19Your own wickedness will correct you, And your backslidings will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing That you have forsaken the LORD your God, And the fear of Me is not in you,” Says the Lord GOD of hosts.

19Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you. Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the LORD your God and have no awe of me," declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.

20“For of old I have broken your yoke and burst your bonds; And you said, ‘I will not transgress,’ When on every high hill and under every green tree You lay down, playing the harlot.

20"Long ago you broke off your yoke and tore off your bonds; you said, 'I will not serve you!' Indeed, on every high hill and under every spreading tree you lay down as a prostitute.

21Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a seed of highest quality. How then have you turned before Me Into the degenerate plant of an alien vine?

21I had planted you like a choice vine of sound and reliable stock. How then did you turn against me into a corrupt, wild vine?

22For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, Yet your iniquity is marked before Me,” says the Lord GOD.

22Although you wash yourself with soap and use an abundance of cleansing powder, the stain of your guilt is still before me," declares the Sovereign LORD.

23“How can you say, ‘I am not polluted, I have not gone after the Baals’? See your way in the valley; Know what you have done: You are a swift dromedary breaking loose in her ways,

23"How can you say, 'I am not defiled; I have not run after the Baals'? See how you behaved in the valley; consider what you have done. You are a swift she-camel running here and there,

24A wild donkey used to the wilderness, That sniffs at the wind in her desire; In her time of mating, who can turn her away? All those who seek her will not weary themselves; In her month they will find her.

24a wild donkey accustomed to the desert, sniffing the wind in her craving-- in her heat who can restrain her? Any males that pursue her need not tire themselves; at mating time they will find her.

25Withhold your foot from being unshod, and your throat from thirst. But you said, ‘There is no hope. No! For I have loved aliens, and after them I will go.’

25Do not run until your feet are bare and your throat is dry. But you said, 'It's no use! I love foreign gods, and I must go after them.'

26“As the thief is ashamed when he is found out, So is the house of Israel ashamed; They and their kings and their princes, and their priests and their prophets,

26"As a thief is disgraced when he is caught, so the people of Israel are disgraced-- they, their kings and their officials, their priests and their prophets.

27Saying to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ And to a stone, ‘You gave 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.’

27They say to wood, 'You are my father,' and to stone, 'You gave me birth.' They have turned their backs to me and not their faces; yet when they are in trouble, they say, 'Come and save us!'

28But 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 according to the number of your cities Are your gods, O Judah.

28Where then are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them come if they can save you when you are in trouble! For you, Judah, have as many gods as you have towns.

29“Why will you plead with Me? You all have transgressed against Me,” says the LORD.

29"Why do you bring charges against me? You have all rebelled against me," declares the LORD.

30“In vain I have chastened your children; They received no correction. Your sword has devoured your prophets Like a destroying lion.

30"In vain I punished your people; they did not respond to correction. Your sword has devoured your prophets like a ravenous lion.

31“O generation, see the word of the LORD! Have I been a wilderness to Israel, Or a land of darkness? Why do My people say, ‘We are lords; We will come no more to You’?

31"You of this generation, consider the word of the LORD: "Have I been a desert to Israel or a land of great darkness? Why do my people say, 'We are free to roam; we will come to you no more'?

32Can a virgin forget her ornaments, Or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number.

32Does a young woman forget her jewelry, a bride her wedding ornaments? Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number.

33“Why do you beautify your way to seek love? Therefore you have also taught The wicked women your ways.

33How skilled you are at pursuing love! Even the worst of women can learn from your ways.

34Also on your skirts is found The blood of the lives of the poor innocents. I have not found it by secret search, But plainly on all these things.

34On your clothes is found the lifeblood of the innocent poor, though you did not catch them breaking in. Yet in spite of all this

35Yet you say, ‘Because I am innocent, Surely His anger shall turn from me.’ Behold, I will plead My case against you, Because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’

35you say, 'I am innocent; he is not angry with me.' But I will pass judgment on you because you say, 'I have not sinned.'

36Why do you gad about so much to change your way? Also you shall be ashamed of Egypt as you were ashamed of Assyria.

36Why do you go about so much, changing your ways? You will be disappointed by Egypt as you were by Assyria.

37Indeed you will go forth from him With your hands on your head; For the LORD has rejected your trusted allies, And you will not prosper by them.

37You will also leave that place with your hands on your head, for the LORD has rejected those you trust; you will not be helped by them.

New International Version (NIV)

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