Jeremiah 2:17-23, 29-37

Haven’t you brought this on yourselves by turning away from the LORD your God when he was leading you in the right way? It did not help to go to Egypt and drink from the Shihor River. It did not help to go to Assyria and drink from the Euphrates River. Your evil will bring punishment to you, and the wrong you have done will teach you a lesson. Think about it and understand that it is a terrible evil to turn away from the LORD your God. It is wrong not to fear me,” says the Lord GOD All-Powerful. “Long ago you refused to obey me as an ox breaks its yoke. You broke the ropes I used to hold you and said, ‘I will not serve you!’ In fact, on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute. But I planted you as a special vine, as a very good seed. How then did you turn into a wild vine that grows bad fruit? Although you wash yourself with cleanser and use much soap, I can still see the stain of your guilt,” says the Lord GOD. “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.

“Why do you complain to me? All of you have turned against me,” says the LORD. “I punished your people, but it did not help. They didn’t come back when they were punished. With your swords you killed your prophets like a hungry lion. “People of Judah, pay attention to the word of the LORD: Have I been like a desert to the people of Israel or like a dark and dangerous land? Why do my people say, ‘We are free to wander. We won’t come to you anymore’? A young woman does not forget her jewelry, and a bride does not forget the decorations for her dress. But my people have forgotten me for more days than can be counted. You really know how to chase after love. Even the worst women can learn evil ways from you. 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, 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.’ It is so easy for you to change your mind. Even Egypt will let you down, as Assyria let you down. 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.