Jeremiah 2:1–7

Israel Deserts the Lord

2A message came to me from the Lord. He said, ²“Go. Announce my message to the people in Jerusalem. I want everyone to hear it. Tell them,

“ ‘I remember how faithful you were to me when you were young.

You loved me as if you were my bride.

You followed me through the desert.

Nothing had been planted there.

³Your people were holy to me.

They were the first share of my harvest.

All those who destroyed them were held guilty.

And trouble came to their enemies,’ ”

announces the Lord.

⁴People of Jacob, hear the Lord’s message.

Listen, all you tribes of Israel.

⁵The Lord says,

“What did your people find wrong with me?

Why did they wander so far away from me?

They worshiped worthless statues of gods.

Then they themselves became worthless.

⁶They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord?

He brought us up out of Egypt.

He led us through a dry and empty land.

He guided us through deserts and deep valleys.

It was a land of darkness where there wasn’t any rain.

No one lived or traveled there.’

⁷But I brought you into a land that has rich soil.

I gave you its fruit and its finest food.

In spite of that, you polluted my land.

You turned it into something I hate.