Jeremiah 2:22–25

22 Although you wash yourself with soap

and use an abundance of cleansing powder,

the stain of your guilt is still before me,”

declares the Sovereign Lord.

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

I have not run after the Baals’?

See how you behaved in the valley;

consider what you have done.

You are a swift she-camel

running here and there,

24 a wild donkey accustomed to the desert,

sniffing the wind in her craving—

in her heat who can restrain her?

Any males that pursue her need not tire themselves;

at mating time they will find her.

25 Do not run until your feet are bare

and your throat is dry.

But you said, ‘It’s no use!

I love foreign gods,

and I must go after them.’

22 For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord God. 23 How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways; 24 A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her. 25 Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.

22 No amount of soap or lye can make you clean.

I still see the stain of your guilt.

I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!

23 “You say, ‘That’s not true!

I haven’t worshiped the images of Baal!’

But how can you say that?

Go and look in any valley in the land!

Face the awful sins you have done.

You are like a restless female camel

desperately searching for a mate.

24 You are like a wild donkey,

sniffing the wind at mating time.

Who can restrain her lust?

Those who desire her don’t need to search,

for she goes running to them!

25 When will you stop running?

When will you stop panting after other gods?

But you say, ‘Save your breath.

I’m in love with these foreign gods,

and I can’t stop loving them now!’

22 For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap,

Yet your iniquity is marked before Me,” says the Lord God.

23 “How can you say, ‘I am not polluted,

I have not gone after the Baals’?

See your way in the valley;

Know what you have done:

You are a swift dromedary breaking loose in her ways,

24 A wild donkey used to the wilderness,

That sniffs at the wind in her desire;

In her time of mating, who can turn her away?

All those who seek her will not weary themselves;

In her month they will find her.

25 Withhold your foot from being unshod, and your throat from thirst.

But you said, ‘There is no hope.

No! For I have loved aliens, and after them I will go.’

22 Although you wash yourself with cleanser

and use much soap,

I can still see the stain of your guilt,” says the Lord God.

23 “How can you say to me, ‘I am not guilty.

I have not worshiped the Baal idols’?

Look at the things you did in the valley.

Think about what you have done.

You are like a she-camel in mating season

that runs from place to place.

24 You are like a wild donkey that lives in the desert

and sniffs the wind at mating time.

At that time who can hold her back?

Any male who chases her will easily catch her;

at mating time, it is easy to find her.

25 Don’t run until your feet are bare

or until your throat is dry.

But you say, ‘It’s no use!

I love those other gods,

and I must chase them!’

22 For though thou wash thee with lye, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord Jehovah. 23 How canst thou say, I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways; 24 a wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind in her desire; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her. 25 Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, It is in vain; no, for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.

22 For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much potash, thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord Jehovah. 23 How sayest thou, I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baals? See thy way in the valley, acknowledge what thou hast done—a swift dromedary traversing her ways! 24 —a wild ass, used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind in her desire! In her ardour, who shall turn her away? All they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her. 25 Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst. But thou saidst, There is no hope; no, for I love strangers, and after them will I go.

22 Even if you wash with detergent and use a lot of soap, 

I would still see the stains from your wickedness,” 

declares the Almighty Lord. 

23 “How can you say that you haven’t dishonored yourselves 

and haven’t followed other gods—the Baals? 

Look how you’ve behaved in the valley. 

Acknowledge what you’ve done. 

You are like a young camel that swiftly runs here and there. 

24 You are like a wild donkey that is used to the desert, 

sniffing the wind while in heat. 

All who look for you won’t get tired. 

They will find you during your monthly period. 

25 Don’t run until your feet are bare and your throats are dry. 

But you say that it’s useless. 

You love foreign gods and follow them. 

22 Even if you wash with lye

and use a great amount of soap,

the stain of your sin is still in front of Me.

This is the Lord God’s declaration.

23 How can you protest, “I am not defiled;

I have not followed the Baals”?

Look at your behavior in the valley;

acknowledge what you have done.

You are a swift young camel

twisting and turning on her way,

24 a wild donkey at home in the wilderness.

She sniffs the wind in the heat of her desire.

Who can control her passion?

All who look for her will not become tired;

they will find her in her mating season.

25 Keep your feet from going bare

and your throat from thirst.

But you say, “It’s hopeless;

I love strangers,

and I will continue to follow them.”

22 Though you wash yourself with lye

and use much soap,

the stain of your guilt is still before me,

says the Lord God.

23 How can you say, “I am not defiled;

I have not gone after the Baals”?

Look at your way in the valley;

know what you have done:

a restive young camel interlacing her tracks,

24 a wild ass at home in the wilderness

in her heat sniffing the wind!

Who can restrain her lust?

None who seek her need weary themselves;

in her month they will find her.

25 Keep your feet from going bare

and your throat from thirst.

But you said, “It is no use,

for I have loved strangers,

and after them I will go.”

22 For if you wash with natron,

and you use much soap,

your guilt is sticking as a stain before me,”

declares the Lord Yahweh.

23 “How can you say, ‘I have not defiled myself,

I have not gone after the Baals?’

Look at your way in the valley,

know what you have done.

You are a young she-camel,

interweaving her ways.

24 A wild ass accustomed to the desert,

in the desire of her soul.

She gasps for wind in her rutting time.

Who can quell her lust?

All those who seek her will not grow weary,

in her month they will find her.

25 Restrain your foot from being barefoot,

and your throat from thirst.

But you said, ‘It is hopeless.

No! For I have loved strangers,

and after them I will go.’

22 You might wash yourself with baking soda.

You might use plenty of soap.

But I can still see the stains your guilt covers you with,”

announces the Lord and King.

23 “You say, ‘I am “clean.”

I haven’t followed the gods that are named after Baal.’

How can you say that?

Remember how you acted in the valley.

Consider what you have done.

You are like a female camel running quickly here and there.

24 You are like a wild donkey that lives in the desert.

She smells the wind when she longs for a mate.

Who can hold her back?

The males that run after her do not need to wear themselves out.

At mating time they will easily find her.

25 Do not run after other gods

until your sandals are worn out and your throat is dry.

But you said, ‘It’s no use!

I love those gods.

I must go after them.’

22 “Although you wash yourself with lye

And use much soap,

The stain of your iniquity is before Me,” declares the Lord God.

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

I have not gone after the Baals’?

Look at your way in the valley!

Know what you have done!

You are a swift young camel entangling her ways,

24 A wild donkey accustomed to the wilderness,

That sniffs the wind in her passion.

In the time of her heat who can turn her away?

All who seek her will not become weary;

In her month they will find her.

25 “Keep your feet from being unshod

And your throat from thirst;

But you said, ‘It is hopeless!

No! For I have loved strangers,

And after them I will walk.’