Jeremiah · Catholic Public Domain Version
Jeremiah 2 Catholic Public Domain Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (3)
- Esther and Daniel are the Vulgate books (Esther 1–16 with the Greek additions as chapters 10:4–16; Daniel 1–14 with the Song of the Three, Susanna and Bel). Baruch 6 is the Letter of Jeremiah.
- The translator's footnotes, cross-references, chapter summaries and book introductions in the CrossWire module are not shown.
- No imprimatur; single translator.
1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
1 Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
2 “Go, and cry out to the ears of Jerusalem, saying: Thus says the Lord: I have remembered you, taking pity on your youth and on the charity of your betrothal, when you followed me into the desert, into a land which is not sown.
2 “Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Yahweh says, “I remember for you the kindness of your youth, your love as a bride, how you went after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
3 Israel is holy to the Lord, the first of his fruits. All those who devour him commit an offense. Evils will overwhelm them, says the Lord.”
3 Israel was holiness to Yahweh, the first fruits of his increase. All who devour him will be held guilty. Evil will come on them,”’ says Yahweh.”
4 Listen to the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all you families of the house of Israel.
4 Hear Yahweh’s word, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel!
5 Thus says the Lord: “What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they would draw far away from me, and would walk after emptiness, and would become empty?
5 Yahweh says, “What unrighteousness have your fathers found in me, that they have gone far from me, and have walked after worthless vanity, and have become worthless?
6 And they have not said: ‘Where is the Lord, who caused us to ascend from the land of Egypt; who led us through the desert, through an uninhabited and impassable land, through a land of drought and of the image of death, through a land in which no one walked and in which no man lived?’
6 They didn’t say, ‘Where is Yahweh who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought and of the shadow of death, through a land that no one passed through, and where no man lived?’
7 And I led you into the land of Carmel, so that you would eat from its fruit and from its excellence. And having entered it, you defiled my land, and you turned my inheritance into an abomination.
7 I brought you into a plentiful land to eat its fruit and its goodness; but when you entered, you defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination.
8 The priests have not said: ‘Where is the Lord?’ And those who held the law did not know me. And the pastors betrayed me. And the prophets prophesied in Baal and followed idols.
8 The priests didn’t say, ‘Where is Yahweh?’ and those who handle the law didn’t know me. The rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal and followed things that do not profit.
9 Because of this, I will still contend in judgment against you, says the Lord, and I will dispute with your sons.
9 “Therefore I will yet contend with you,” says Yahweh, “and I will contend with your children’s children.
10 Cross over to the isles of Kittim, and gaze. And send to Kedar, and consider diligently. And see if anything like this has ever been done.
10 For pass over to the islands of Kittim, and see. Send to Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there has been such a thing.
11 See if a nation has ever changed their gods, though certainly those are not gods. Yet truly, my people have exchanged their glory for an idol.
11 Has a nation changed its gods, which really are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which doesn’t profit.
12 Be astonished at this, O heavens, and be utterly desolate, O gates of heaven, says the Lord.
12 “Be astonished, you heavens, at this and be horribly afraid. Be very desolate,” says Yahweh.
13 For my people have done two evils. They have forsaken me, the Fountain of living water, and they have dug for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that are unable to hold water.
13 “For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the spring of living waters, and cut out cisterns for themselves: broken cisterns that can’t hold water.
14 Is Israel a servant, or one born into slavery? Then why has he become a prey?
14 Is Israel a slave? Is he born into slavery? Why has he become a captive?
15 The lions have roared over him, and they have uttered their voice. They have set his land in solitude; his cities have been burned up, and there is no one who lives in them.
15 The young lions have roared at him and raised their voices. They have made his land waste. His cities are burned up, without inhabitant.
16 Likewise, the sons of Memphis and of Tahpanhes have defiled you, even to the top of the head.
16 The children also of Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken the crown of your head.
17 Has this not been done to you because you abandoned the Lord your God, in that time when he was leading you by the way?
17 “Haven’t you brought this on yourself, in that you have forsaken Yahweh your God, when he led you by the way?
18 And now what do you want from the way of Egypt, but to drink their turbid water? And what do you want from the way of the Assyrians, but to drink the water of their river?
18 Now what do you gain by going to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Shihor? Or why do you go on the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?
19 Your own malice will reprove you, and your own apostasy will rebuke you! But know and perceive this: it is an evil and bitter thing for you to forsake the Lord your God, and to be without my fear within you, says the Lord, the God of hosts.
19 “Your own wickedness will correct you, and your backsliding will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing, that you have forsaken Yahweh your God, and that my fear is not in you,” says the Lord, Yahweh of Armies.
20 From ancient times, you have broken my yoke; you have torn apart my bonds, and you have said, ‘I will not serve.’ For on every high hill, and under every leafy tree, you have been debased, O harlot.
20 “For long ago I broke off your yoke, and burst your bonds. You said, ‘I will not serve;’ for on every high hill and under every green tree you bowed yourself, playing the prostitute.
21 Yet I planted you as an elect vineyard, with only true seed. Then how have you been turned away from me, toward that which is depraved, O strange vineyard?
21 Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a pure and faithful seed. How then have you turned into the degenerate branches of a foreign vine to me?
22 Even if you wash yourself with soap, and increase your use of herbal soaps, you are still stained by your iniquity in my sight, says the Lord God.
22 For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before me,” says the Lord Yahweh.
23 How can you say: ‘I have not been polluted. I have not walked after Baal?’ Consider your ways in the steep valley. Acknowledge what you have done, so that you may be like a swift runner, following his course.
23 “How can you say, ‘I am not defiled. I have not gone after the Baals’? See your way in the valley. Know what you have done. You are a swift dromedary traversing her ways,
24 A wild donkey accustomed to solitude, out of the desire in his soul, caught the scent of his lover. Now nothing will turn him away from her. All those who seek her will not cease. But they will find her in her menstruation.
24 a wild donkey used to the wilderness, that sniffs the wind in her craving. When she is in heat, who can turn her away? All those who seek her will not weary themselves. In her month, they will find her.
25 You should keep your foot from being naked, and your throat from being thirsty. But you have said: ‘I have lost hope. I will not do it. For certainly, I have loved strangers, and I will walk after them.’
25 “Keep your feet from being bare, and your throat from thirst. But you said, ‘It is in vain. No, for I have loved strangers, and I will go after them.’
26 In the same way that a thief is confounded when he has been apprehended, so the house of Israel has been confounded, they and their kings, their leaders and priests and prophets.
26 As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so the house of Israel is ashamed— they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets,
27 For they say to a piece of wood, ‘You are my father,’ and to a stone, ‘You have conceived me.’ They have turned their back to me, and not their face. But in the time of their affliction, they will say: ‘Rise up and deliver us.’
27 who tell wood, ‘You are my father,’ and a stone, ‘You have given birth to me,’ for they have turned their back to me, and not their face, but in the time of their trouble they will say, ‘Arise, and save us!’
28 Where are your gods that you made for yourselves? Let them rise up and deliver you in the time of your affliction. For certainly, your gods were like the number of your cities, O Judah.
28 “But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble, for you have as many gods as you have towns, O Judah.
29 Why do you want to contend against me in judgment? You have all forsaken me, says the Lord.
29 “Why will you contend with me? You all have transgressed against me,” says Yahweh.
30 I have struck your children to no effect; they have not accepted discipline. Your own sword has devoured your prophets. Your generation is like a raging lion.
30 “I have struck your children in vain. They received no correction. Your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
31 Consider the word of the Lord. Have I become like a wilderness to Israel, or like a land late to bear fruit? Then why have my people said, ‘We are withdrawing; we will no longer approach you’?
31 Generation, consider Yahweh’s word. Have I been a wilderness to Israel? Or a land of thick darkness? Why do my people say, ‘We have broken loose. We will come to you no more’?
32 Can a virgin forget her ornament, or a bride the covering across her breast? Yet truly, my people have forgotten me, for innumerable days.
32 “Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me for days without number.
33 Why are you striving to claim that your way is good, as if to seek my love, when all the while you are also displaying your malice by your own way,
33 How well you prepare your way to seek love! Therefore you have even taught the wicked women your ways.
34 and in your armpits there is found the blood of poor and innocent souls? I have found them, not in ditches, but everywhere that I mentioned previously.
34 Also the blood of the souls of the innocent poor is found in your skirts. You didn’t find them breaking in, but it is because of all these things.
35 And you have said: ‘I am innocent and without sin. And because of this, let your fury be turned away from me.’ Behold, I will contend with you in judgment, because you have said: ‘I have not sinned.’
35 “Yet you said, ‘I am innocent. Surely his anger has turned away from me.’ “Behold, I will judge you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’
36 How exceedingly vile you have become, repeating your ways again and again! And so, you will be ashamed of Egypt, just as you were ashamed of Assur.
36 Why do you go about so much to change your ways? You will be ashamed of Egypt also, as you were ashamed of Assyria.
37 For you will also depart from that place, and your hand will be upon your head. For the Lord has crushed your confidence, and you will have nothing prosperous by it.”
37 You will also leave that place with your hands on your head; for Yahweh has rejected those in whom you trust, and you won’t prosper with them.
Cross references (37)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Jeremiah 23:28; Hebrews 1:1; Jeremiah 7:1; Jeremiah 1:11; Ezekiel 7:1
- 2 Ezekiel 16:60; Ezekiel 16:8; Jeremiah 11:6; Deuteronomy 2:7; Isaiah 63:7–14
- 3 Revelation 14:4; James 1:18; Isaiah 41:11; Deuteronomy 7:6; Romans 11:16
- 4 Jeremiah 31:1; Micah 6:1; Jeremiah 44:24–26; Isaiah 51:1–4; Jeremiah 34:4
- 5 2 Kings 17:15; Romans 1:21; Jonah 2:8; Jeremiah 10:14–15; Psalm 115:8
- 6 Deuteronomy 32:10; Deuteronomy 8:14–16; Hosea 13:4; Isaiah 63:11–13; Jeremiah 2:8
- 7 Deuteronomy 8:7–9; Jeremiah 16:18; Numbers 13:27; Ezekiel 36:17; Jeremiah 3:9
- 8 Habakkuk 2:18; Jeremiah 10:21; Jeremiah 5:31; 2 Corinthians 4:2; Romans 2:17–24
- 9 Ezekiel 20:35–36; Exodus 20:5; Jeremiah 2:35; Micah 6:2; Leviticus 20:5
- 10 Psalm 120:5; Numbers 24:24; Genesis 10:4–5; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 1 Chronicles 23:1
- 11 Romans 1:23; Isaiah 37:19; Psalm 106:20; Jeremiah 16:20; Micah 4:5
- 12 Isaiah 1:2; Deuteronomy 32:1; Micah 6:2; Jeremiah 6:19; Jeremiah 22:29
- 13 John 4:14; John 7:37; Revelation 21:6; Jeremiah 17:13; Psalm 36:9
- 14 Exodus 4:22; Genesis 15:3; Isaiah 50:1; Ecclesiastes 2:7
- 15 Jeremiah 4:7; Jeremiah 50:17; Jeremiah 9:11; Isaiah 5:29; Isaiah 1:7
- 16 Jeremiah 46:14; Jeremiah 43:7–9; Isaiah 19:13; Jeremiah 44:1; Deuteronomy 33:20
- 17 Jeremiah 4:18; Jeremiah 2:19; Jeremiah 2:13; Deuteronomy 28:15–68; Leviticus 26:15–46
- 18 Joshua 13:3; Jeremiah 2:36; Isaiah 31:1; Hosea 7:11; 2 Chronicles 28:20–21
- 19 Isaiah 3:9; Jeremiah 4:18; Jeremiah 2:17; Psalm 36:1; Hosea 5:5
- 20 Deuteronomy 12:2; Leviticus 26:13; Jeremiah 17:2; Hosea 3:3; Jeremiah 30:8
- 21 Isaiah 5:4; Exodus 15:17; John 15:1; Psalm 80:8; Psalm 44:2
- 22 Jeremiah 17:1; Job 14:17; Hosea 13:12; Psalm 130:3; Job 9:30–31
- 23 Jeremiah 7:31; Proverbs 30:12; Jeremiah 3:2; Proverbs 30:20; Romans 3:19
- 24 Jeremiah 14:6; Hosea 5:15; Job 39:5–8; Jeremiah 2:27; Job 11:12
- 25 Deuteronomy 32:16; Jeremiah 18:12; Jeremiah 3:13; Romans 8:24; Lamentations 4:4
- 26 Ezra 9:7; Nehemiah 9:32–34; Jeremiah 32:32; Proverbs 6:30–31; Daniel 9:6–8
- 27 Isaiah 26:16; Hosea 7:14; Isaiah 46:6–8; Habakkuk 2:18–19; Ezekiel 8:16
- 28 Deuteronomy 32:37; Jeremiah 11:13; Isaiah 45:20; Judges 10:14; 2 Kings 17:30–31
- 29 Daniel 9:11; Jeremiah 6:13; Jeremiah 5:1; Jeremiah 2:35; Jeremiah 3:2
- 30 Nehemiah 9:26; 1 Thessalonians 2:15; Acts 7:52; Jeremiah 5:3; Jeremiah 26:20–24
- 31 2 Samuel 12:7–9; Deuteronomy 32:15; Isaiah 45:19; Micah 6:9; Hosea 13:6
- 32 Psalm 106:21; Jeremiah 13:25; Jeremiah 2:11; Jeremiah 3:21; Isaiah 17:10
- 33 Isaiah 57:7–10; Ezekiel 16:47; Hosea 2:5–7; Jeremiah 2:23; Jeremiah 3:1–2
- 34 2 Kings 21:16; 2 Kings 24:4; Jeremiah 19:4; Exodus 22:2; Isaiah 57:5
- 35 Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:8–10; Romans 7:9; Isaiah 58:3; Jeremiah 2:9
- 36 Jeremiah 31:22; Hosea 5:13; 2 Chronicles 28:16; Hosea 12:1; 2 Chronicles 28:20–21
- 37 2 Samuel 13:19; Jeremiah 37:7–10; Ezekiel 17:15–20; Jeremiah 17:5; Jeremiah 2:36
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Those, therefore, who do not partake of Him, are neither nourished into life from the mother's breasts, nor do they enjoy that most limpid fountain which issues from the body of Christ; but they dig for themselves broken cisterns out of earthly trenches, and drink putrid water out of the mire, fleeing from the faith of the Church lest they …
She then started up with a pious fear and trembling; and, although I had not yet been baptized, she feared those crooked ways in which they walk who turn their back to Thee, and not their face.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
This God also did unto the Jews, when He said, "Go ye forth unto the Isles of Chittim, and send unto Kedar, and know if nations will change their gods; which yet are no gods." And to the brutes likewise He sends us oftentimes, saying on this wise, "Go to the ant, thou sluggard, and emulate her ways:" and "go …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
For that we sin of our own free will the Prophet says plainly in a certain place: Yet I planted thee a fruitful vine, wholly true: how art thou turned to bitterness, (and become) the strange vine?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
… of my mouth;" and Isaiah, "Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth;" and Jeremiah describes astonishment in heaven at the tidings of the unholy deeds of the people: "The heaven was astonished at this, and was horribly afraid, because my people committed two evils." And so the apostle, knowing the angels to be set over men as tutors and …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 8 (1895)