Jeremiah

Israel Has Forsaken God

1Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

2“Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: ‘I remember the devotion of your youth,your love as a bride,how you followed Me in the wilderness,in a land not sown.

3Israel was holy to the LORD,the firstfruits of His harvest.All who devoured herwere found guilty;disaster came upon them,’”declares the LORD.

4Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all you families of the house of Israel.

5This is what the LORD says: “What fault did your fathers find in Methat they strayed so far from Me?They followed worthless idols,and became worthless themselves.

6They did not ask, ‘Where is the LORDwho brought us up from the land of Egypt,who led us through the wilderness,through a land of deserts and pits,a land of drought and darkness,a land where no one travels and no one lives?’

7I brought you into a fertile landto eat its fruit and bounty,but you came and defiled My landand made My inheritance detestable.

8The priests did not ask,‘Where is the LORD?’The experts in the law no longer knew Me,and the leaders rebelled against Me.The prophets prophesied by Baaland followed useless idols.

9Therefore, I will contend with you again,declares the LORD,and I will bring a caseagainst your children’s children.

10Cross over to the coasts of Cyprusand take a look;send to Kedar and consider carefully;see if there has ever been anything like this:

11Has a nation ever changed its gods?(Yet they are not gods at all.)But My people have exchanged their Gloryfor useless idols.

12Be stunned by this, O heavens;be shocked and utterly appalled,”declares the LORD.

13“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me,the fountain of living water,and they have dug their own cisterns—broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

The Consequence of Israel’s Sin

14Is Israel a slave?Was he born into slavery? Why then has he become prey?

15The young lions have roared at him;they have sounded their voices.They have laid waste his land;his cities lie in ruins, without inhabitant.

16The men of Memphisand Tahpanheshave shaved the crown of your head.

17Have you not brought this on yourselfby forsaking the LORD your God when He led you in the way?

18Now what will you gain on your way to Egyptto drink the waters of the Nile?What will you gain on your way to Assyriato drink the waters of the Euphrates?

19Your own evil will discipline you;your own apostasies will reprimand you.Consider and realizehow evil and bitter it isfor you to forsake the LORD your Godand to have no fear of Me,”declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.

20“For long ago you broke your yokeand tore off your chains, saying, ‘I will not serve!’Indeed, on every high hilland under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute.

21I had planted you like a choice vinefrom the very best seed.How could you turn yourself before Meinto a rotten, wild vine?

22Although you wash with lyeand use an abundance of soap,the stain of your guiltis still before Me,”declares the Lord GOD.

Israel’s Unfaithfulness

23“How can you say, ‘I am not defiled;I have not run after the Baals’?Look at your behavior in the valley;acknowledge what you have done.You are a swift young she-camelgalloping here and there,

24a wild donkey at home in the wilderness,sniffing the wind in the heat of her desire. Who can restrain her passion?All who seek her need not weary themselves;in mating season they will find her.

25You should have kept your feet from going bareand your throat from being thirsty.But you said, ‘It is hopeless!For I love foreign gods, and I must go after them.’

26As the thief is ashamed when he is caught,so the house of Israel is disgraced.They, their kings, their officials,their priests, and their prophets

27say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’They have turned their backs to Meand not their faces.Yet in the time of trouble, they say,‘Rise up and save us!’

28But where are the gods you made for yourselves?Let them rise up in your time of trouble and save you if they can;for your gods are as numerousas your cities, O Judah.

29Why do you bring a case against Me?You have all rebelled against Me,”declares the LORD.

30“I have struck your sons in vain;they accepted no discipline.Your own sword has devoured your prophetslike a voracious lion.”

31You people of this generation, consider the word of the LORD: “Have I been a wilderness to Israelor a land of dense darkness?Why do My people say,‘We are free to roam; we will come to You no more’?

32Does a maiden forget her jewelryor a bride her wedding sash?Yet My people have forgotten Mefor days without number.

33How skillfully you pursue love!Even the most immoral of women could learn from your ways.

34Moreover, your skirts are stainedwith the blood of the innocent poor, though you did not find them breaking in. But in spite of all these things

35you say, ‘I am innocent. Surely His anger will turn from me.’Behold, I will judge you,because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’

36How impulsive you are,constantly changing your ways!You will be disappointed by Egyptjust as you were by Assyria.

37Moreover, you will leave that placewith your hands on your head,for the LORD has rejected those you trust;you will not prosper by their help.”

1Có lời ĐỨC CHÚA phán với tôi :

2trên vùng đất chẳng ai gieo trồng.

3chúng phải mang tai mắc hoạ, – sấm ngôn của ĐỨC CHÚA.

4hãy nghe lời ĐỨC CHÚA.

5và chính chúng trở thành hư ảo ?

6Người ở đâu rồi ?’

7và biến gia sản của Ta thành đồ ghê tởm.

8chúng đi theo những thần vô tích sự.

9–sấm ngôn của ĐỨC CHÚA–, tố cáo con cái các ngươi nữa.

10và xem có đời thuở nào như thế chăng ?

11đi lấy cái vô tích sự !

12hãy run sợ cho hồn xiêu phách lạc, –sấm ngôn của ĐỨC CHÚA–,

13để làm những hồ nứt rạn, không giữ được nước.

14thế mà sao nó lại bị người ta cưỡng đoạt ?

15thiêu huỷ đô thị nó, không còn người cư trú nữa.

16Cả con cháu Nốp và Tác-pan-khết cũng cạo trọc đầu ngươi.

17khi Người dẫn ngươi trên đường ngươi đi đó sao ?

18Ngươi đi Át-sua uống nước Sông Cả, thì nào có lợi gì ?

19

20ngươi uốn mình như một con điếm.

21Sao ngươi lại thoái hoá thành những cành nho tạp chủng ?

22– sấm ngôn của ĐỨC CHÚA là Chúa Thượng.

23Con lạc đà cái non dại chạy lăng xăng khắp mọi nẻo đường,

24cứ đến tháng của nó là gặp được nó thôi.

25Tôi trót yêu ngoại kiều, tôi sẽ đi theo họ.”

26tư tế và ngôn sứ đều xấu hổ thẹn thùng,

27“Xin Ngài trỗi dậy cứu thoát chúng con !”

28ngươi có bao nhiêu thành thì cũng có bấy nhiêu thần.

29Các ngươi đều phản bội Ta hết thảy – sấm ngôn của ĐỨC CHÚA.

30khác nào sư tử phá tan hoang.

31chứ không còn đến với Ngài nữa ?”

32Thế mà dân Ta lại quên Ta đó, quên Ta tự thuở nào.

33Cho nên cả những chuyện gian tà, ngươi cũng từng quen thói.

34Với những chuyện như thế

35Này Ta kết án ngươi bởi vì ngươi dám nói : “Tôi hoàn toàn vô tội.”

36Như đã xấu hổ vì Át-sua, ngươi sẽ xấu hổ vì Ai-cập :

37đi với chúng, ngươi sẽ chẳng thành công !