DASV: Jeremiah 2 1 The word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 "Go and proclaim in the ears of the people of Jerusalem, saying, 'This is what the LORD says, I remember the devotion of your youth, you loved me as a young bride does; you followed me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown. 3 Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of his harvest. All who devoured them were held guilty; disaster will come on them,"' says the LORD. 4 Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel: 5 This is what the LORD says, "What did your fathers find wrong with me, that they strayed so far from me? They have walked after worthless idols, and they themselves became worthless. 6 They never asked, 'Where is the LORD who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, a land of deserts and pits, a land of drought and deep darkness, a land that no one travels through, and where no one lives?' 7 I brought you into a plentiful land, to eat its fruit and goodness. But when you entered it, you defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination. 8 The priests never asked, 'Where is the LORD?' who handled the law did not know me. The rulers also rebelled against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal, and followed idols that do not profit. 9 So once again I will make my accusation against you,"
'Return, faithless Israel, says the LORD. I will not look on you with anger, for I am merciful, says the LORD, I will not be angry forever. 13 Just acknowledge your sin, that you have rebelled against the LORD your God, and have scattered your favors to the strangers under every green tree, and you have not obeyed my voice,'" says the LORD. 14 "Come back, O faithless children," says the LORD; "for I am your master and I will bring you back, one from a city, and two from a clan, I will bring you to Zion. 15 I will give you shepherds after my own heart who will shepherd you with knowledge and understanding. 16 It will come to pass, when your numbers have multiplied and increased in the land, in those days," says the LORD, "they will no longer say, 'The ark of the covenant of the LORD.' It will not even come to mind or be remembered. It will not be missed and another one will not be made. 17 At that time they will call Jerusalem 'The Throne of the LORD,' and all the nations will be gathered to Jerusalem to honor the name of the LORD. They will no longer follow after the stubbornness of their own evil hearts. 18 In those days the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel, and they will both return from the land of the north to the land that I gave your forefathers for an inheritance." 19 Then I said, "How I love to treat you like one of my own children and give you a pleasant land, a beautiful heritage of all the nations! Then I thought, 'You would call me My Father,' and would not turn away from following me. 20 But as an unfaithful wife leaves her husband, so you have been unfaithful to me, O house of Israel," says the LORD. 21 A voice is heard on the bare hilltops, the weeping and pleading of the children of Israel, because they have perverted their way; they have forgotten the LORD their God. 22 Return, O faithless children; I will heal your unfaithfulness.