Jeremiah 2:1–7

The Lord’s Case against His People

The Lord gave me another message. He said, ²“Go and shout this message to Jerusalem. This is what the Lord says:

“I remember how eager you were to please me

as a young bride long ago,

how you loved me and followed me

even through the barren wilderness.

³In those days Israel was holy to the Lord,

the first of his children.

All who harmed his people were declared guilty,

and disaster fell on them.

I, the Lord, have spoken!”

⁴Listen to the word of the Lord, people of Jacob—all you families of Israel! ⁵This is what the Lord says:

“What did your ancestors find wrong with me

that led them to stray so far from me?

They worshiped worthless idols,

only to become worthless themselves.

⁶They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord

who brought us safely out of Egypt

and led us through the barren wilderness—

a land of deserts and pits,

a land of drought and death,

where no one lives or even travels?’

⁷“And when I brought you into a fruitful land

to enjoy its bounty and goodness,

you defiled my land and

corrupted the possession I had promised you.