Jeremiah 2:31–33

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’?

32 Does a young woman forget her jewelry,

a bride her wedding ornaments?

Yet my people have forgotten me,

days without number.

33 How skilled you are at pursuing love!

Even the worst of women can learn from your ways.

31 O generation, see ye the word of the Lord. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee? 32 Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number. 33 Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.

31 “O my people, listen to the words of the Lord!

Have I been like a desert to Israel?

Have I been to them a land of darkness?

Why then do my people say, ‘At last we are free from God!

We don’t need him anymore!’

32 Does a young woman forget her jewelry,

or a bride her wedding dress?

Yet for years on end

my people have forgotten me.

33 “How you plot and scheme to win your lovers.

Even an experienced prostitute could learn from you!

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’?

32 Can a virgin forget her ornaments,

Or a bride her attire?

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.

31 “People of Judah, pay attention to the word of the Lord:

Have I been like a desert to the people of Israel

or like a dark and dangerous land?

Why do my people say, ‘We are free to wander.

We won’t come to you anymore’?

32 A young woman does not forget her jewelry,

and a bride does not forget the decorations for her dress.

But my people have forgotten me

for more days than can be counted.

33 You really know how to chase after love.

Even the worst women can learn evil ways from you.

31 O generation, see ye the word of Jehovah. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? or a land of thick darkness? wherefore say my people, We are broken loose; we will come no more unto thee? 32 Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number. 33 How trimmest thou thy way to seek love! therefore even the wicked women hast thou taught thy ways.

31 O generation, mark ye the word of Jehovah. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel, or a land of thick darkness? Wherefore say my people, We have dominion; we will come no more unto thee? 32 Doth a virgin forget her ornaments, a bride her attire? But my people have forgotten me days without number. 33 How dost thou trim thy way to seek love! Therefore hast thou also accustomed thy ways to wickedness.

31 “Consider the Lord’s word, people of this generation. 

Haven’t I been a desert, a land of thick darkness, for Israel? 

Why do my people say that they are free to wander around 

and no longer come to me? 

32 A young woman can’t forget her jewelry or a bride her veils. 

Yet, my people have forgotten me for countless days. 

33 You carefully planned ways to look for love. 

You taught your ways to wicked women. 

31 Evil generation,

pay attention to the word of the Lord!

Have I been a wilderness to Israel

or a land of dense darkness?

Why do My people claim,

“We will go where we want;

we will no longer come to You”?

32 Can a young woman forget her jewelry

or a bride her wedding sash?

Yet My people have forgotten Me

for countless days.

33 How skillfully you pursue love;

you also teach evil women your ways.

31 And you, O generation, behold the word of the Lord!

Have I been a wilderness to Israel

or a land of thick darkness?

Why then do my people say, “We are free;

we will come to you no more”?

32 Can a young woman forget her ornaments

or a bride her attire?

Yet my people have forgotten me,

days without number.

33 How well you direct your course

to seek lovers!

So that even to wicked women

you have taught your ways.

31 O generation, you see the word of Yahweh.

Have I been a desert to Israel? Or a land of great darkness?

Why do my people say, ‘We roam about freely,

we will not come again to you’?

32 Can a young woman forget her ornaments? Or a bride her sashes?

Yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

33 How well you do on your way to seek love!

Therefore even to the wicked woman you can teach your ways.

31 “You who are now living, consider my message. I am saying,

“Have I been like a desert to Israel?

Have I been like a land of deep darkness?

Why do my people say, ‘We are free to wander.

We won’t come to you anymore’?

32 Does a young woman forget all about her jewelry?

Does a bride forget her wedding jewels?

But my people have forgotten me

more days than anyone can count.

33 You are very skilled at chasing after love!

Even the worst of women can learn from how you act.

31 “O generation, heed the word of the Lord.

Have I been a wilderness to Israel,

Or a land of thick darkness?

Why do My people say, ‘We are free to roam;

We will no longer come to You’?

32 “Can a virgin forget her ornaments,

Or a bride her attire?

Yet My people have forgotten Me

Days without number.

33 “How well you prepare your way

To seek love!

Therefore even the wicked women

You have taught your ways.