Jeremiah 2

²“Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘The LORD says,

³Israel was holiness to the LORD,

⁴Hear the LORD’s word, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel!

⁵The LORD says,

⁶They didn’t say, ‘Where is the LORD who brought us up out of the land of Egypt,

⁷I brought you into a plentiful land

⁸The priests didn’t say, ‘Where is the LORD?’

⁹“Therefore I will yet contend with you,” says the LORD,

¹⁰For pass over to the islands of Kittim, and see.

¹¹Has a nation changed its gods,

¹²“Be astonished, you heavens, at this

¹³“For my people have committed two evils:

¹⁴Is Israel a slave?

¹⁵The young lions have roared at him and raised their voices.

¹⁶The children also of Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken the crown of your head.

¹⁷“Haven’t you brought this on yourself,

¹⁸Now what do you gain by going to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Shihor?

¹⁹“Your own wickedness will correct you,

²⁰“For long ago I broke off your yoke,

²¹Yet I had planted you a noble vine,

²²For though you wash yourself with lye,

²³“How can you say, ‘I am not defiled.

²⁴a wild donkey used to the wilderness, that sniffs the wind in her craving.

²⁵“Keep your feet from being bare,

²⁶As the thief is ashamed when he is found,

²⁷who tell wood, ‘You are my father,’

²⁸“But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves?

²⁹“Why will you contend with me?

³⁰“I have struck your children in vain.

³¹Generation, consider the LORD’s word.

³²“Can a virgin forget her ornaments,

³³How well you prepare your way to seek love!

³⁴Also the blood of the souls of the innocent poor is found in your skirts.

³⁵“Yet you said, ‘I am innocent.

³⁶Why do you go about so much to change your ways?

³⁷You will also leave that place with your hands on your head;