Jeremiah 2:34–37

34 On your clothes is found

the lifeblood of the innocent poor,

though you did not catch them breaking in.

Yet in spite of all this

35 you say, ‘I am innocent;

he is not angry with me.’

But I will pass judgment on you

because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’

36 Why do you go about so much,

changing your ways?

You will be disappointed by Egypt

as you were by Assyria.

37 You will also leave that place

with your hands on your head,

for the Lord has rejected those you trust;

you will not be helped by them.

34 Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these. 35 Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned. 36 Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria. 37 Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head: for the Lord hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them.

34 Your clothing is stained with the blood of the innocent and the poor,

though you didn’t catch them breaking into your houses!

35 And yet you say,

‘I have done nothing wrong.

Surely God isn’t angry with me!’

But now I will punish you severely

because you claim you have not sinned.

36 First here, then there—

you flit from one ally to another asking for help.

But your new friends in Egypt will let you down,

just as Assyria did before.

37 In despair, you will be led into exile

with your hands on your heads,

for the Lord has rejected the nations you trust.

They will not help you at all.

34 Also on your skirts is found

The blood of the lives of the poor innocents.

I have not found it by secret search,

But plainly on all these things.

35 Yet you say, ‘Because I am innocent,

Surely His anger shall turn from me.’

Behold, I will plead My case against you,

Because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’

36 Why do you gad about so much to change your way?

Also you shall be ashamed of Egypt as you were ashamed of Assyria.

37 Indeed you will go forth from him

With your hands on your head;

For the Lord has rejected your trusted allies,

And you will not prosper by them.

34 Even on your clothes you have the blood

of poor and innocent people,

but they weren’t thieves you caught breaking in.

You do all these things,

35 but you say, ‘I am innocent.

God is not angry with me.’

But I will judge you guilty of lying,

because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’

36 It is so easy for you to change your mind.

Even Egypt will let you down,

as Assyria let you down.

37 You will eventually leave that place

with your hands on your head, like captives.

You trusted those countries,

but you will not be helped by them,

because the Lord has rejected them.

34 Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the innocent poor: thou didst not find them breaking in; but it is because of all these things. 35 Yet thou saidst, I am innocent; surely his anger is turned away from me. Behold, I will enter into judgment with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned. 36 Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou shalt be ashamed of Egypt also, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria. 37 From thence also shalt thou go forth, with thy hands upon thy head: for Jehovah hath rejected those in whom thou trustest, and thou shalt not prosper with them.

34 Yea, in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the innocent poor, whom thou didst not encounter breaking in, but it is found upon all these. 35 And thou sayest, Indeed I am innocent; his anger will turn from me. Behold, I will enter into judgment with thee because thou sayest, I have not sinned. 36 Why dost thou gad about so much, and change thy way? Thou shalt also be brought to shame by Egypt, as thou wast brought to shame by Assyria. 37 Thou shalt indeed go forth from her with thy hands upon thy head; for Jehovah hath rejected those thou confidest in, and thou shalt not prosper by them.

34 You have the blood from poor and innocent people 

on your clothes. 

You didn’t kill them for breaking into your home. 

35 In spite of all this you say, ‘I’m innocent. 

God will turn his anger from me, 

because I haven’t sinned.’ 

36 You change your mind so easily. 

You will be put to shame by Egypt 

as you were put to shame by Assyria. 

37 You will also leave this place with your hands over your head, 

because the Lord has rejected those you trust. 

You will not be helped by them.” 

34 Moreover, your skirts are stained

with the blood of the innocent poor.

You did not catch them breaking and entering.

But in spite of all these things

35 you claim, “I am innocent.

His anger is sure to turn away from me.”

But I will certainly judge you

because you have said, “I have not sinned.”

36 How unstable you are,

constantly changing your ways!

You will be put to shame by Egypt

just as you were put to shame by Assyria.

37 Moreover, you will be led out from here

with your hands on your head

since the Lord has rejected those you trust;

you will not succeed even with their help.

34 Also on your skirts is found

the lifeblood of the innocent poor,

though you did not catch them breaking in.

Yet in spite of all these things

35 you say, “I am innocent;

surely his anger has turned from me.”

Now I am bringing you to judgment

for saying, “I have not sinned.”

36 Why do you go about so much

to change your way?

You shall be put to shame by Egypt

as you were put to shame by Assyria.

37 From there also you will come away

with your hands on your head,

for the Lord has rejected those in whom you trust,

and you will not prosper through them.

34 Also on your skirts is found

the blood of the life of the innocent, the poor.

You did not find them in the act of breaking into a house.

But in spite of all these things,

35 yet you say, ‘But I am innocent,

surely his anger has turned away from me.’

Look, I am entering into judgment with you

because of your saying, ‘I have not sinned.’

36 How you go about so much changing your way!

Also by Egypt you will be put to shame,

just as you were put to shame by Assyria.

37 Also from there you will come out

with your hands on your head,

for Yahweh has rejected those in whom you trust,

and you will not prosper through them.

34 The blood of those you have killed is on your clothes.

You have destroyed poor people who were not guilty.

You did not catch them in the act of breaking in.

In spite of all of that,

35 you say, ‘I’m not guilty of doing anything wrong.

The Lord isn’t angry with me.’

But I will judge you.

That is because you say, ‘I haven’t sinned.’

36 Why do you keep on

changing your ways so much?

Assyria did not help you.

And Egypt will not help you either.

37 So you will also leave Egypt

with your hands tied together above your heads.

I have turned my back on those you trust.

They will not help you.

34 “Also on your skirts is found

The lifeblood of the innocent poor;

You did not find them breaking in.

But in spite of all these things,

35 Yet you said, ‘I am innocent;

Surely His anger is turned away from me.’

Behold, I will enter into judgment with you

Because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’

36 “Why do you go around so much

Changing your way?

Also, you will be put to shame by Egypt

As you were put to shame by Assyria.

37 “From this place also you will go out

With your hands on your head;

For the Lord has rejected those in whom you trust,

And you will not prosper with them.”