The Lantern

Jeremiah2

Israel Has Forsaken God

And the word of the LORD came to me, saying:

Go and call in the ears of Jerusalem, saying: Thus says the LORD: I remember for you the loyal love of your youth, the love of your bridal days, your going after me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.

Israel is holy to the LORD, the first of his produce; all who eat of him bear guilt, evil comes upon them — the utterance of the LORD.

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

Thus says the LORD: What injustice did your fathers find in me, that they went far from me and walked after the breath and became breath?

And they did not say: Where is the LORD, who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of desert and pit, through a land of drought and the shadow of death, through a land no man passed through and no human dwelt in?

And I brought you into the land of the fruitful field, to eat its fruit and its goodness; but you came and defiled my land, and my inheritance you made an abomination.

The priests did not say: Where is the LORD? And those who handle the instruction did not know me, and the shepherds transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal and walked after those that do not profit.

Therefore I will still contend with you — the utterance of the LORD — and with the sons of your sons I will contend.

For cross over to the coasts of Kittim and see, and send to Kedar and consider closely, and see whether there has been anything like this.

Has a nation exchanged its gods, and they are no gods? But my people has exchanged its glory for that which does not profit.

Be appalled, heavens, at this; shudder, be utterly waste — the utterance of the LORD.

For my people has done two evils: me they forsook, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold the water.

The Consequence of Israel’s Sin

Is Israel a servant? Is he a slave born in the house? Why has he become plunder?

Over him the young lions roar, they give their voice, and they have made his land a horror; his cities are burned, without inhabitant.

The sons of Noph and Tahpanhes too graze the crown of your head.

Is it not your own doing this to yourself, in your forsaking the LORD your God at the time he was leading you in the way?

And now, what is yours on the way to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Shihor? And what is yours on the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?

Your evil will discipline you, and your turnings will reprove you. Know then and see that it is evil and bitter, your forsaking the LORD your God, and that dread of me is not in you — the utterance of the Lord GOD of hosts.

For long ago I broke your yoke, I tore off your bonds, and you said: I will not overstep. But on every high hill and under every green tree you sprawled, a whore.

And I — I planted you a choice vine, wholly a seed of truth; and how have you turned for me into the degenerate shoots of a foreign vine?

For though you wash with lye and take much soap for yourself, your iniquity is stained before me — the utterance of the Lord GOD.

Israel’s Unfaithfulness

How can you say: I am not defiled, after the Baals I have not walked? See your way in the valley, know what you have done — a swift young camel tangling her ways,

a wild donkey used to the wilderness, in the desire of her soul she snuffs the wind; her mating time — who can turn her back? All who seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they will find her.

Withhold your foot from being bare and your throat from thirst. But you said: It is hopeless. No! For I have loved strangers, and after them I will go.

As the shame of a thief when he is found, so the house of Israel is put to shame — they, their kings, their princes, and their priests and their prophets,

saying to the wood: You are my father, and to the stone: You gave us birth. For they have turned to me the back of the neck and not the face; but in the time of their evil they say: Arise and save us!

And where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your evil. For as the number of your cities are your gods, Judah.

Why do you contend with me? All of you have transgressed against me — the utterance of the LORD.

In vain I struck your sons; they took no discipline. Your sword devoured your prophets like a destroying lion.

O generation, you — see the word of the LORD! Have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of thick darkness? Why do my people say: We roam free, we will come to you no more?

Can a virgin forget her ornaments, a bride her sashes? But my people have forgotten me days without number.

How well you make your way to seek love! Therefore even to the evil women you have taught your ways.

Also on your skirts is found the blood of the lives of the innocent needy — I did not find it at a break-in, but on all these.

And you say: Because I am innocent, surely his anger has turned from me. See, I am entering judgment with you for your saying: I have not sinned.

Why do you go about so much to change your way? By Egypt too you will be ashamed, as you were ashamed by Assyria.

From this one too you will go out, your hands on your head, for the LORD has rejected those you trust, and you will not prosper by them.