Jeremiah 2 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible
World English Bible
Jeremiah 2 (WEBP)
[1] Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
[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.
[3] Israel 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.”
[4] Hear Yahweh’s word, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel!
[5] Yahweh 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?
[6] They 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?’
[7] I 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.
[8] The 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.
[9] “Therefore I will yet contend with you,” says Yahweh, “and I will contend with your children’s children.
[10] For pass over to the islands of Kittim, 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 really are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which doesn’t profit.
[12] “Be astonished, you heavens, at this and be horribly afraid. Be very desolate,” says Yahweh.
[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.
[14] Is Israel a slave? Is he born into slavery? Why has he become a captive?
[15] The young lions have roared at him and raised their voices. They have made his land waste. His cities are burned up, without inhabitant.
[16] The children also of Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken the crown of your head.
[17] “Haven’t you brought this on yourself, in that you have forsaken Yahweh your God,§ when he led you by the way?
[18] Now 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?°
[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.
[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.
[21] Yet 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?
[22] For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before me,” says the Lord Yahweh.
[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,
[24] a 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.
[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.’
[26] As 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,
[27] who 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!’
[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.
[29] “Why will you contend with me? You all have transgressed against me,” says Yahweh.
[30] “I have struck your children in vain. They received no correction. Your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
[31] Generation, 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’?
[32] “Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me for days without number.
[33] How well you prepare your way to seek love! Therefore you have even taught the wicked women your ways.
[34] Also 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.
[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.’
[36] Why do you go about so much to change your ways? You will be ashamed of Egypt also, as you were ashamed of Assyria.
[37] You 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.
Jeremiah 2:17 The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).
Jeremiah 2:18 i.e., the Euphrates River
Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.
King James w/Strong’s #s
Jeremiah 2 (KJVS)
[1] Moreover the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came to me, saying H559 (8800),
[2] Go H1980 (8800) and cry H7121 (8804) in the ears H241 of Jerusalem H3389, saying H559 (8800), Thus saith H559 (8804) the LORD H3068; I remember H2142 (8804) thee, the kindness H2617 of thy youth H5271, the love H160 of thine espousals H3623, when thou wentest H3212 (8800) after H310 me in the wilderness H4057, in a land H776 [that was] not sown H2232 (8803).
[3] Israel H3478 [was] holiness H6944 unto the LORD H3068, [and] the firstfruits H7225 of his increase H8393: all that devour H398 (8802) him shall offend H816 (8799); evil H7451 shall come H935 (8799) upon them, saith H5002 (8803) the LORD H3068.
[4] Hear H8085 (8798) ye the word H1697 of the LORD H3068, O house H1004 of Jacob H3290, and all the families H4940 of the house H1004 of Israel H3478:
[5] Thus saith H559 (8804) the LORD H3068, What iniquity H5766 have your fathers H1 found H4672 (8804) in me, that they are gone far H7368 (8804) from me, and have walked H3212 (8799) after H310 vanity H1892, and are become vain H1891 (8799)?
[6] Neither said H559 (8804) they, Where [is] the LORD H3068 that brought us up H5927 (8688) out of the land H776 of Egypt H4714, that led H3212 (8688) us through the wilderness H4057, through a land H776 of deserts H6160 and of pits H7745, through a land H776 of drought H6723, and of the shadow of death H6757, through a land H776 that no man H376 passed through H5674 (8804), and where no man H120 dwelt H3427 (8804)?
[7] And I brought H935 (8686) you into a plentiful H3759 country H776, to eat H398 (8800) the fruit H6529 thereof and the goodness H2898 thereof; but when ye entered H935 (8799), ye defiled H2930 (8762) my land H776, and made H7760 (8804) mine heritage H5159 an abomination H8441.
[8] The priests H3548 said H559 (8804) not, Where [is] the LORD H3068? and they that handle H8610 (8802) the law H8451 knew H3045 (8804) me not: the pastors H7462 (8802) also transgressed H6586 (8804) against me, and the prophets H5030 prophesied H5012 (8738) by Baal H1168, and walked H1980 (8804) after H310 [things that] do not profit H3276 (8686).
[9] Wherefore I will yet plead H7378 (8799) with you, saith H5002 (8803) the LORD H3068, and with your children’s H1121 children H1121 will I plead H7378 (8799).
[10] For pass over H5674 (8798) the isles H339 of Chittim H3794, and see H7200 (8798); and send H7971 (8798) unto Kedar H6938, and consider H995 (8708) diligently H3966, and see H7200 (8798) if there be such a thing.
[11] Hath a nation H1471 changed H3235 (8689) [their] gods H430, which [are] yet no gods H430? but my people H5971 have changed H4171 (8689) their glory H3519 for [that which] doth not profit H3276 (8686).
[12] Be astonished H8074 (8798), O ye heavens H8064, at this, and be horribly afraid H8175 (8798), be ye very H3966 desolate H2717 (8798), saith H5002 (8803) the LORD H3068.
[13] For my people H5971 have committed H6213 (8804) two H8147 evils H7451; they have forsaken H5800 (8804) me the fountain H4726 of living H2416 waters H4325, [and] hewed them out H2672 (8800) cisterns H877, broken H7665 (8737) cisterns H877, that can hold H3557 (8686) no water H4325.
[14] [Is] Israel H3478 a servant H5650? [is] he a homeborn H1004 H3211 [slave]? why H4069 is he spoiled H957?
[15] The young lions H3715 roared H7580 (8799) upon him, [and] yelled H5414 (8804) H6963, and they made H7896 (8799) his land H776 waste H8047: his cities H5892 are burned H3341 (8738) without inhabitant H3427 (8802).
[16] Also the children H1121 of Noph H5297 and Tahapanes H8471 have broken H7462 (8799) the crown of thy head H6936.
[17] Hast thou not procured H6213 (8799) this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken H5800 (8800) the LORD H3068 thy God H430, when H6256 he led H3212 (8688) thee by the way H1870?
[18] And now what hast thou to do in the way H1870 of Egypt H4714, to drink H8354 (8800) the waters H4325 of Sihor H7883? or what hast thou to do in the way H1870 of Assyria H804, to drink H8354 (8800) the waters H4325 of the river H5104?
[19] Thine own wickedness H7451 shall correct H3256 (8762) thee, and thy backslidings H4878 shall reprove H3198 (8686) thee: know H3045 (8798) therefore and see H7200 (8798) that [it is] an evil H7451 [thing] and bitter H4751, that thou hast forsaken H5800 (8800) the LORD H3068 thy God H430, and that my fear H6345 [is] not in thee, saith H5002 (8803) the Lord H136 GOD H3069 of hosts H6635.
[20] For of old time H5769 I have broken H7665 (8804) thy yoke H5923, [and] burst H5423 (8765) thy bands H4147; and thou saidst H559 (8799), I will not transgress H5674 (8799) (8675) H5647 (8799); when upon every high H1364 hill H1389 and under every green H7488 tree H6086 thou wanderest H6808 (8802), playing the harlot H2181 (8802).
[21] Yet I had planted H5193 (8804) thee a noble vine H8321, wholly a right H571 seed H2233: how then art thou turned H2015 (8738) into the degenerate plant H5494 of a strange H5237 vine H1612 unto me?
[22] For though thou wash H3526 (8762) thee with nitre H5427, and take thee much H7235 (8686) soap H1287, [yet] thine iniquity H5771 is marked H3799 (8737) before H6440 me, saith H5002 (8803) the Lord H136 GOD H3069.
[23] How canst thou say H559 (8799), I am not polluted H2930 (8738), I have not gone H1980 (8804) after H310 Baalim H1168? see H7200 (8798) thy way H1870 in the valley H1516, know H3045 (8798) what thou hast done H6213 (8804): [thou art] a swift H7031 dromedary H1072 traversing H8308 (8764) her ways H1870;
[24] A wild ass H6501 used H3928 to the wilderness H4057, [that] snuffeth up H7602 (8804) the wind H7307 at her pleasure H185 H5315; in her occasion H8385 who can turn her away H7725 (8686)? all they that seek H1245 (8764) her will not weary H3286 (8799) themselves; in her month H2320 they shall find H4672 (8799) her.
[25] Withhold H4513 (8798) thy foot H7272 from being unshod H3182, and thy throat H1627 from thirst H6773: but thou saidst H559 (8799), There is no hope H2976 (8737): no; for I have loved H157 (8804) strangers H2114 (8801), and after H310 them will I go H3212 (8799).
[26] As the thief H1590 is ashamed H1322 when he is found H4672 (8735), so is the house H1004 of Israel H3478 ashamed H3001 (8689); they, their kings H4428, their princes H8269, and their priests H3548, and their prophets H5030,
[27] Saying H559 (8802) to a stock H6086, Thou [art] my father H1; and to a stone H68, Thou hast brought me forth H3205 (8804): for they have turned H6437 (8804) [their] back H6203 unto me, and not [their] face H6440: but in the time H6256 of their trouble H7451 they will say H559 (8799), Arise H6965 (8798), and save H3467 (8685) us.
[28] But where [are] thy gods H430 that thou hast made H6213 (8804) thee? let them arise H6965 (8799), if they can save H3467 (8686) thee in the time H6256 of thy trouble H7451: for [according to] the number H4557 of thy cities H5892 are thy gods H430, O Judah H3063.
[29] Wherefore will ye plead H7378 (8799) with me? ye all have transgressed H6586 (8804) against me, saith H5002 (8803) the LORD H3068.
[30] In vain H7723 have I smitten H5221 (8689) your children H1121; they received H3947 (8804) no correction H4148: your own sword H2719 hath devoured H398 (8804) your prophets H5030, like a destroying H7843 (8688) lion H738.
[31] O generation H1755, see H7200 (8798) ye the word H1697 of the LORD H3068. Have I been a wilderness H4057 unto Israel H3478? a land H776 of darkness H3991? wherefore say H559 (8804) my people H5971, We are lords H7300 (8804); we will come H935 (8799) no more unto thee?
[32] Can a maid H1330 forget H7911 (8799) her ornaments H5716, [or] a bride H3618 her attire H7196? yet my people H5971 have forgotten H7911 (8804) me days H3117 without number H4557.
[33] Why trimmest H3190 (8686) thou thy way H1870 to seek H1245 (8763) love H160? therefore hast thou also taught H3925 (8765) the wicked ones H7451 thy ways H1870.
[34] Also in thy skirts H3671 is found H4672 (8738) the blood H1818 of the souls H5315 of the poor H34 innocents H5355: I have not found H4672 (8804) it by secret search H4290, but upon all these.
[35] Yet thou sayest H559 (8799), Because I am innocent H5352 (8738), surely his anger H639 shall turn H7725 (8804) from me. Behold, I will plead H8199 (8737) with thee, because thou sayest H559 (8800), I have not sinned H2398 (8804).
[36] Why gaddest thou about H235 (8799) so much H3966 to change H8138 (8763) thy way H1870? thou also shalt be ashamed H954 (8799) of Egypt H4714, as thou wast ashamed H954 (8804) of Assyria H804.
[37] Yea, thou shalt go forth H3318 (8799) from him, and thine hands H3027 upon thine head H7218: for the LORD H3068 hath rejected H3988 (8804) thy confidences H4009, and thou shalt not prosper H6743 (8686) in them.
Young’s Literal Translation
Jeremiah 2 (YLT)
[1] And there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying,
[2] ‘Go, and thou hast called in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus said Jehovah: I have remembered for thee The kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, Thy going after Me in a wilderness, in a land not sown.
[3] Holy is Israel to Jehovah, The first-fruit of His increase, All consuming him are guilty, Evil cometh in unto them, an affirmation of Jehovah.
[4] Hear a word of Jehovah, O house of Jacob, And all ye families of the house of Israel.
[5] Thus said Jehovah: What-have your fathers found in Me perversity, That they have gone far off from Me, And go after the vanity, and become vain,
[6] And have not said, Where is Jehovah, Who bringeth us up out of the land of Egypt, Who leadeth us in a wilderness, In a land of deserts and pits, In a dry land, and of death-shade, In a land-none hath passed through it, Nor dwelt hath man there?’
[7] Yea, I bring you in to a land of fruitful fields, To eat its fruit and its goodness, And ye come in and defile My land, And Mine inheritance have made an abomination.
[8] The priests have not said, ‘Where is Jehovah?’ And those handling the law have not known Me. And the shepherds transgressed against Me, And the prophets have prophesied by Baal, And after those who profit not have gone.
[9] Therefore, yet I plead with you, An affirmation of Jehovah, And with your sons’ sons I plead.
[10] For, pass to the isles of Chittim, and see, And to Kedar send, and consider well, And see if there hath been like this:
[11] Hath a nation changed gods? (And they are no gods!) And My people hath changed its honour For that which doth not profit.
[12] Be astonished, ye heavens, at this, Yea, be frightened, be greatly wasted, An affirmation of Jehovah.
[13] For two evils hath My people done, Me they have forsaken, a fountain of living waters, To hew out for themselves wells-broken wells, That contain not the waters.
[14] A servant is Israel? Is he a child of the house? Wherefore hath he been for a prey?
[15] Against him roar do young lions, They have given forth their voice, And make his land become a desolation, His cities have been burnt without inhabitant.
[16] Also sons of Noph and Tahapanes Consume thee-the crown of the head!
[17] Dost thou not do this to thyself? By thy forsaking Jehovah thy God, At the time He is leading thee in the way?
[18] And now, what-to thee in the way of Egypt, To drink the waters of Sihor? And what-to thee in the way of Asshur, To drink the waters of the River?
[19] Instruct thee doth thy wickedness, And thy backslidings reprove thee, Know and see that an evil and a bitter thing Is thy forsaking Jehovah thy God, And My fear not being on thee, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah of Hosts.
[20] For from of old thou hast broken thy yoke, Drawn away thy bands, and sayest, ‘I do not serve,’ For, on every high height, and under every green tree, Thou art wandering-a harlot.
[21] And I planted thee a choice vine, wholly a true seed, And how hast thou been turned to Me, To the degenerate shoots of a strange vine?
[22] But though thou dost wash with nitre, And dost multiply to thyself soap, Marked is thine iniquity before Me, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah.
[23] How sayest thou, ‘I have not been defiled, After the Baalim I have not gone?’ See thy way in a valley, know what thou hast done, A swift dromedary winding her ways,
[24] A wild ass accustomed to a wilderness, In the desire of her soul she hath swallowed up wind, Her meeting-who doth turn her back? None seeking her do weary themselves, In her month they find her.
[25] Withhold thy foot from being unshod, And thy throat from thirst, And thou sayest, ‘It is incurable, No, for I have loved strangers, and after them I go.’
[26] As the shame of a thief when he is found, So put to shame have been the house of Israel, They, their kings, their heads, And their priests, and their prophets,
[27] Saying to wood, ‘My father art thou!’ And to a stone, ‘Thou hast brought me forth,’ For they turned unto me the back and not the face, And in the time of their vexation, They say, ‘Arise Thou, and save us.’
[28] And where are thy gods, that thou hast made to thyself? Let them arise, if they may save thee, In the time of thy vexation, For-the number of thy cities have been thy gods, O Judah,
[29] Why do ye strive with Me? All of you have transgressed against Me, An affirmation of Jehovah.
[30] In vain I have smitten your sons, Instruction they have not accepted, Devoured hath your sword your prophets, As a destroying lion.
[31] O generation, see ye the word of Jehovah: A wilderness have I been to Israel? A land of thick darkness? Wherefore have My people said, ‘We mourned, We come not in again unto Thee.’
[32] Doth a virgin forget her ornaments? A bride her bands? And My people have forgotten Me days without number.
[33] What-dost thou make pleasing thy ways to seek love? Therefore even the wicked thou hast taught thy ways.
[34] Also in thy skirts hath been found the blood of innocent needy souls, Not by digging have I found them, but upon all these.
[35] And thou sayest, ‘Because I have been innocent, Surely turned back hath His anger from me?’ Lo, I have been judged with thee, Because of thy saying, ‘I have not sinned.’
[36] What? thou art very vile to repeat thy way, Even of Egypt thou art ashamed, As thou hast been ashamed of Asshur,
[37] Also from this thou goest out, And thy hands on thy head, For Jehovah hath kicked at thy confidences, And thou dost not give prosperity to them!