Jeremiah 2:30–31

30 “In vain I punished your people;

they did not respond to correction.

Your sword has devoured your prophets

like a ravenous lion.

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’?

30 In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

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?

30 “I have punished your children,

but they did not respond to my discipline.

You yourselves have killed your prophets

as a lion kills its prey.

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!’

30 “In vain I have chastened your children;

They received no correction.

Your sword has devoured your prophets

Like a destroying 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’?

30 “I punished your people, but it did not help.

They didn’t come back when they were punished.

With your swords you killed your prophets

like a hungry lion.

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’?

30 In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion. 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?

30 In vain have I smitten your children: they received no correction. Your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion. 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?

30 “I have punished your children without results. 

They didn’t respond to correction. 

You killed my prophets like a raging lion. 

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? 

30 I have struck down your children in vain;

they would not accept discipline.

Your own sword has devoured your prophets

like a ravaging lion.

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”?

30 In vain I have struck down your children;

they accepted no correction.

Your own sword devoured your prophets

like a ravening lion.

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”?

30 “For in vain I have struck your children.

They accepted no discipline.

Your sword devoured your prophets,

like a ravening lion.

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’?

30 “I punished your people. But it did not do them any good.

They did not pay attention when they were corrected.

You have killed your prophets with swords.

You have swallowed them up like a hungry lion.

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’?

30 “In vain I have struck your sons;

They accepted no chastening.

Your sword has devoured your prophets

Like a destroying lion.

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’?