Jeremiah 2 is a covenant lawsuit (riv) in which God prosecutes Israel for spiritual adultery. The chapter opens with a tender recollection of Israel's early devotion in the wilderness — the 'honeymoon period' of the covenant relationship (vv. 1-3). The tone then shifts to accusation: Israel has abandoned the living God for gods that are 'no gods,' trading the spring of living water for broken cisterns that hold nothing (v. 13). The indictment is comprehensive — priests, rulers, prophets, and people have all defected. The chapter closes with Israel still denying guilt even as the evidence overwhelms, like a thief caught in the act who insists on innocence.
The imagery of 2:13 — 'the spring of living water' versus 'broken cisterns that cannot hold water' — is one of the most powerful metaphors in the Hebrew Bible and one of the defining images of Jeremiah's theology. Jesus draws on this imagery in John 4:10-14 and 7:37-38. The legal structure is a covenant riv (lawsuit), a genre found also in Micah 6 and Hosea 4, in which God brings formal charges against his covenant partner. The wild vine metaphor (v. 21), the stained garment (v. 22), the restless camel and wild donkey in heat (vv. 23-24) — Jeremiah's images are vivid, earthy, and deliberately shocking. The chapter's rhetoric is designed to make the listener feel the absurdity of Israel's choices: no nation has ever traded its gods, even though their gods are worthless — but Israel has traded the living God for nothing (v. 11).
The word chesed in verse 2 required careful handling — it describes Israel's early covenant loyalty to God, an unusual direction for this term (usually God's chesed toward Israel). The metaphor of Israel as a young bride (v. 2) and then as a promiscuous woman (vv. 20, 23-25, 33, 36) raises the tension between prophetic rhetoric and modern sensibility — we rendered the Hebrew faithfully without euphemism while noting the metaphorical framework in translator notes. The word sorekah ('choice vine,' v. 21) versus 'wild vine' required documenting the agricultural reality. The animal metaphors in verses 23-24 are sexually explicit by design — the prophet is deliberately using shocking imagery to describe Israel's lust for foreign gods.
The covenant lawsuit genre connects to Hosea 4:1-3, Micah 6:1-8, and Isaiah 1:2-20. The wilderness honeymoon motif echoes Hosea 2:14-15. The 'living water' image anticipates Jesus's conversation with the Samaritan woman (John 4) and his declaration at the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:37-38). The 'broken cisterns' image is inverted in Zechariah 13:1, where a fountain is opened for cleansing. The wild donkey in heat (v. 24) parallels Hosea 8:9 (Ephraim as a wild donkey). The accusation that Israel has become worse than the nations who keep their false gods (v. 11) foreshadows Ezekiel's similar charge in Ezekiel 5:6-7 and 16:47. **Tradition comparisons:** The Septuagint preserves a significantly different text tradition for Jeremiah. Chapter/verse numbering is identical between LXX and MT for this chapter. See the [LXX Jeremiah comparison](/lxx-jeremiah/2).
וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃
The word of the LORD came to me:
KJV Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
הָלֹ֡ךְ וְקָֽרָאתָ֩ בְאָזְנֵ֨י יְרוּשָׁלַ֜͏ִם לֵאמֹ֗ר כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה זָכַ֤רְתִּי לָךְ֙ חֶ֣סֶד נְעוּרַ֔יִךְ אַהֲבַ֖ת כְּלוּלֹתָ֑יִךְ לֶכְתֵּ֤ךְ אַחֲרַי֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר בְּאֶ֖רֶץ לֹ֥א זְרוּעָֽה׃
"Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem: This is what the LORD says — I remember the faithful love of your youth, the love of your bridal days, how you followed me in the wilderness, through a land not yet sown.
KJV Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
Here uniquely describing Israel's covenant loyalty toward God during the wilderness period. The term captures the mutual obligation of the covenant bond — not mere affection but bound, committed love that follows even into the desert.
Septuagint (LXX, shorter text)minor
"the grace of your youth"
LXX reads χάριν 'grace/favor' for חֶסֶד 'covenant loyalty'. The Greek captures only part of the Hebrew semantic range.
קֹ֤דֶשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לַיהוָ֔ה רֵאשִׁ֖ית תְּבוּאָתֹ֑ה כָּל־אֹכְלָ֣יו יֶאְשָׁ֔מוּ רָעָ֛ה תָּבֹ֥א אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃
Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of his harvest. All who consumed her incurred guilt; disaster came upon them," declares the LORD.
KJV Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.
Israel's holiness here is a status conferred by God, not a moral achievement. Like the firstfruits on the altar, Israel belongs to God and is not to be touched by others.
שִׁמְע֥וּ דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה בֵּ֣ית יַעֲקֹ֑ב וְכָֽל־מִשְׁפְּח֖וֹת בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob — all the clans of the house of Israel!
KJV Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:
כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה מַה־מָּצְא֤וּ אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם֙ בִּ֣י עָ֔וֶל כִּ֥י רָחֲק֖וּ מֵעָלָ֑י וַיֵּלְכ֤וּ אַחֲרֵי֙ הַהֶ֔בֶל וַיֶּהְבָּֽלוּ׃
This is what the LORD says: What wrong did your ancestors find in me, that they went so far from me? They went after worthless things and became worthless themselves.
KJV Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
The same word used throughout Ecclesiastes. When applied to idols, it means they have no substance, no reality, no weight. The wordplay — they pursued emptiness and became empty — is a central Jeremianic theme.
וְלֹ֣א אָמְר֔וּ אַיֵּ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה הַמַּעֲלֶ֥ה אֹתָ֖נוּ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם הַמּוֹלִ֨יךְ אֹתָ֜נוּ בַּמִּדְבָּ֗ר בְּאֶ֨רֶץ עֲרָבָ֤ה וְשׁוּחָה֙ בְּאֶ֙רֶץ֙ צִיָּ֣ה וְצַלְמָ֔וֶת בְּאֶ֗רֶץ לֹא־עָ֤בַר בָּהּ֙ אִ֔ישׁ וְלֹא־יָשַׁ֥ב אָדָ֖ם שָֽׁם׃
They did not ask, 'Where is the LORD who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness — through a land of desert plains and ravines, through a land of drought and deep darkness, through a land no one crosses and no one inhabits?'
KJV Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that 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 man passed through, and where no man dwelt?
וָאָבִ֤יא אֶתְכֶם֙ אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ הַכַּרְמֶ֔ל לֶאֱכֹ֥ל פִּרְיָ֖הּ וְטוּבָ֑הּ וַתָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ וַתְּטַמְּא֣וּ אֶת־אַרְצִ֔י וְנַחֲלָתִ֥י שַׂמְתֶּ֖ם לְתוֹעֵבָֽה׃
I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and its bounty. But when you entered, you defiled my land and made my inheritance a detestable thing.
KJV And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye came in, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.
A term of utmost disgust in covenant vocabulary, used for practices that violate the covenant relationship at its core — especially idolatry and its associated rites.
הַכֹּהֲנִ֗ים לֹ֤א אָֽמְרוּ֙ אַיֵּ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה וְתֹפְשֵׂ֤י הַתּוֹרָה֙ לֹ֣א יְדָע֔וּנִי וְהָרֹעִ֖ים פָּ֣שְׁעוּ בִ֑י וְהַנְּבִיאִ֗ים נִבְּאוּ֙ בַבַּ֔עַל וְאַחֲרֵ֥י לֹא־יוֹעִ֖לוּ הָלָֽכוּ׃
The priests did not ask, 'Where is the LORD?' Those who handle the law did not know me. The shepherds rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal and followed things that are of no use.
KJV The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
לָכֵ֗ן עֹ֛ד אָרִ֥יב אִתְּכֶ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה וְאֶת־בְּנֵ֥י בְנֵיכֶ֖ם אָרִֽיב׃
Therefore I will bring my case against you," declares the LORD, "and against your grandchildren I will bring my case.
KJV Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children's children will I plead.
The formal legal term for a covenant lawsuit. When God brings a riv, he is acting as the wronged party in the covenant, pressing charges against his unfaithful partner.
כִּ֤י עִבְרוּ֙ אִיֵּ֣י כִתִּיִּ֔ים וּרְא֖וּ וְקֵדָ֗ר שִׁלְח֤וּ וְהִֽתְבּוֹנְנוּ֙ מְאֹ֔ד וּרְא֖וּ הֵ֥ן הָיְתָ֖ה כָּזֹֽאת׃
Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and look! Send to Kedar and examine carefully — see if anything like this has ever happened.
KJV For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.
הַהֵימִ֥יר גּוֹי֙ אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְהֵ֖מָּה לֹ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים וְעַמִּ֛י הֵמִ֥יר כְּבוֹד֖וֹ בְּלוֹא־יוֹעִֽיל׃
Has any nation ever exchanged its gods — even though they are not really gods? Yet my people have exchanged their Glory for what is of no use.
KJV Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.
Here used as a title for God himself — 'their Glory' means 'their glorious God.' The exchange of kavod for emptiness (hevel/lo yo'il) is the central accusation of the chapter.
Septuagint (LXX, shorter text)minor
LXX reads θεοὺς αὐτῶν 'their gods' where MT has אֱלֹהָיו 'his gods' (singular nation). Minor number shift.
שֹׁ֥מּוּ שָׁמַ֖יִם עַל־זֹ֑את וְשַׂעֲר֛וּ חָרְב֥וּ מְאֹ֖ד נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃
Be appalled at this, O heavens! Shudder and be utterly desolate," declares the LORD.
KJV Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.
כִּֽי־שְׁתַּ֥יִם רָע֖וֹת עָשָׂ֣ה עַמִּ֑י אֹתִ֨י עָזְב֜וּ מְק֣וֹר ׀ מַ֣יִם חַיִּ֗ים לַחְצֹ֤ב לָהֶם֙ בֹּאר֔וֹת בֹּארֹ֣ת נִשְׁבָּרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־יָכִ֖לוּ הַמָּֽיִם׃
For my people have committed two evils: they have abandoned me — the spring of living water — and they have dug out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
KJV For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
Living water in Hebrew means flowing water from a natural spring, as opposed to standing water in a cistern or pool. Applied to God, it means he is an inexhaustible, ever-fresh source of life.
הַעֶ֙בֶד֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אִם־יְלִ֥יד בַּ֖יִת ה֑וּא מַדּ֖וּעַ הָיָ֥ה לָבַֽז׃
Is Israel a slave? Was he born into servitude? Why then has he become plunder?
KJV Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled?
עָלָ֤יו יִשְׁאֲגוּ֙ כְּפִרִ֔ים נָתְנ֖וּ קוֹלָ֑ם וַיָּשִׁ֤יתוּ אַרְצוֹ֙ לְשַׁמָּ֔ה עָרָ֥יו נִצְּת֖וּ (נִצַּ֖תָה) מִבְּלִ֥י יֹשֵֽׁב׃
Young lions have roared over him; they have raised their voices. They have made his land a ruin; his cities are burned and emptied of inhabitants.
KJV The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.
גַּם־בְּנֵי־נֹ֖ף וְתַחְפַּנְחֵ֑ס יִרְע֖וּךְ קָדְקֹֽד׃
Even the people of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shattered your skull.
KJV Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head.
הֲלוֹא־זֹ֖את תַּעֲשֶׂה־לָּ֑ךְ עָזְבֵךְ֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהַ֔יִךְ בְּעֵ֖ת מוֹלִיכֵ֥ךְ בַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃
Have you not brought this upon yourself by abandoning the LORD your God at the very time he was leading you on the way?
KJV Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?
Septuagint (LXX, shorter text)minor
LXX lacks בְּעֵת מוֹלִיכֵךְ בַּדָּרֶךְ 'at the time of leading you in the way' — a shorter reading.
וְעַתָּ֗ה מַה־לָּךְ֙ לְדֶ֣רֶךְ מִצְרַ֔יִם לִשְׁתּ֖וֹת מֵ֣י שִׁח֑וֹר וּמַה־לָּךְ֙ לְדֶ֣רֶךְ אַשּׁ֔וּר לִשְׁתּ֖וֹת מֵ֥י נָהָֽר׃
And now — what business do you have on the road to Egypt, drinking the waters of the Nile? What business do you have on the road to Assyria, drinking the waters of the Euphrates?
KJV And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?
תְּיַסְּרֵ֣ךְ רָעָתֵ֗ךְ וּמְשֻׁבוֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ תּוֹכִחֻ֔ךְ וּדְעִ֣י וּרְאִ֔י כִּי־רַ֥ע וָמָ֖ר עָזְבֵ֣ךְ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֑יִךְ וְלֹ֤א פַחְדָּתִי֙ אֵלַ֔יִךְ נְאֻם־אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִ֖ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃
Your own wickedness will discipline you, and your acts of turning away will convict you. Know and see that it is an evil and bitter thing that you have abandoned the LORD your God, and that reverence for me is not in you," declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.
KJV Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
כִּ֣י מֵעוֹלָ֞ם שָׁבַ֣רְתִּי עֻלֵּ֗ךְ נִתַּ֙קְתִּי֙ מוֹסְרוֹתַ֔יִךְ וַתֹּאמְרִ֖י לֹ֣א אֶעֱבֹ֑ד (אֶעֱב֑וֹר) כִּ֣י עַֽל־כָּל־גִּבְעָ֞ה גְּבֹהָ֗ה וְתַ֙חַת֙ כָּל־עֵ֣ץ רַעֲנָ֔ן אַ֖תְּ צֹעָ֥ה זֹנָֽה׃
For long ago I broke your yoke and tore off your chains. You said, 'I will not serve!' Yet on every high hill and under every leafy tree you sprawl as a prostitute.
KJV For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.
וְאָנֹכִ֗י נְטַעְתִּיךְ֙ שׂוֹרֵ֔ק כֻּלֹּ֖ה זֶ֣רַע אֱמֶ֑ת וְאֵיךְ֙ נֶהְפַּ֣כְתְּ לִ֔י סוּרֵ֖י הַגֶּ֥פֶן נָכְרִיָּֽה׃
Yet I planted you as a choice vine, from the purest stock. How then have you turned into the wild shoots of a foreign vine before me?
KJV Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?
כִּ֤י אִם־תְּכַבְּסִי֙ בַּנֶּ֔תֶר וְתַרְבִּי־לָ֖ךְ בֹּרִ֑ית נִכְתָּ֤ם עֲוֹנֵךְ֙ לְפָנַ֔י נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה׃
Even if you scrub yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your guilt remains before me," declares the Lord GOD.
KJV For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.
אֵ֣יךְ תֹּאמְרִ֗י לֹ֤א נִטְמֵ֙אתִי֙ אַחֲרֵ֤י הַבְּעָלִים֙ לֹ֣א הָלַ֔כְתִּי רְאִ֤י דַרְכֵּךְ֙ בַּגַּ֔יְא דְּעִ֖י מֶ֣ה עָשִׂ֑ית בִּכְרָ֥ה קַלָּ֖ה מְשָׂרֶ֥כֶת דְּרָכֶֽיהָ׃
How can you say, 'I am not defiled; I have not gone after the Baals'? Look at your path in the valley — acknowledge what you have done! You are a restless young camel, darting back and forth on her paths,
KJV How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;
פֶּ֣רֶה ׀ לִמֻּ֣ד מִדְבָּ֗ר בְּאַוַּ֤ת נַפְשָׁהּ֙ שָׁאֲפָ֣ה ר֔וּחַ תַּאֲנָתָ֖הּ מִ֣י יְשִׁיבֶ֑נָּה כָּל־מְבַקְשֶׁ֙יהָ֙ לֹ֣א יִיעָ֔פוּ בְּחָדְשָׁ֖הּ יִמְצָאֽוּנְהָ׃
a wild donkey accustomed to the wilderness, sniffing the wind in the desire of her appetite. In her heat, who can restrain her? None who seek her need exhaust themselves — in her mating month they will find her.
KJV A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.
מִנְעִ֤י רַגְלֵךְ֙ מִיָּחֵ֔ף וּגְרוֹנֵ֖ךְ מִצִּמְאָ֑ה וַתֹּאמְרִ֣י נוֹאָ֔שׁ ל֕וֹא כִּֽי־אָהַ֥בְתִּי זָרִ֖ים וְאַחֲרֵיהֶ֥ם אֵלֵֽךְ׃
Keep your feet from going bare and your throat from thirst! But you said, 'It is hopeless! No — I love strangers, and after them I will go.'
KJV Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.
כְּבֹ֤שֶׁת גַּנָּב֙ כִּ֣י יִמָּצֵ֔א כֵּ֥ן הֹבִ֖ישׁוּ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל הֵ֤מָּה מַלְכֵיהֶם֙ שָׂרֵיהֶ֔ם וְכֹהֲנֵיהֶ֖ם וּנְבִיאֵיהֶֽם׃
As a thief is shamed when he is caught, so the house of Israel will be shamed — they, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets,
KJV As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets,
Septuagint (LXX, shorter text)minor
LXX shortens the list — MT has 'they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets'; LXX has a shorter enumeration.
אֹמְרִ֤ים לָעֵץ֙ אָ֣בִי אַ֔תָּה וְלָאֶ֖בֶן אַ֣תְּ יְלִדְתָּ֑נוּ (יְלִדְתִּ֑ינוּ) כִּֽי־פָנ֤וּ אֵלַי֙ עֹ֔רֶף וְלֹ֖א פָנִ֑ים וּבְעֵ֤ת רָעָתָם֙ יֹאמְר֔וּ ק֖וּמָה וְהוֹשִׁיעֵֽנוּ׃
who say to a tree, 'You are my father,' and to a stone, 'You gave birth to me.' For they have turned their backs to me, not their faces. Yet in the time of their disaster they say, 'Rise up and save us!'
KJV Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.
וְאַיֵּ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשִׂ֣יתָ לָּ֔ךְ יָק֕וּמוּ אִם־יוֹשִׁיע֖וּךָ בְּעֵ֣ת רָעָתֶ֑ךָ כִּ֚י מִסְפַּ֣ר עָרֶ֔יךָ הָי֥וּ אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ יְהוּדָֽה׃
Where then are the gods you made for yourself? Let them rise up — if they can save you in the time of your disaster! For your gods have become as numerous as your cities, O Judah.
KJV But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.
לָ֥מָּה תָרִ֖יבוּ אֵלָ֑י כֻּלְּכֶ֥ם פְּשַׁעְתֶּ֖ם בִּ֥י נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃
Why do you bring a case against me? All of you have rebelled against me," declares the LORD.
KJV Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD.
לַשָּׁוְא֙ הִכֵּ֣יתִי אֶת־בְּנֵיכֶ֔ם מוּסָ֖ר לֹ֣א לָקָ֑חוּ אָכְלָ֧ה חַרְבְּכֶ֛ם נְבִיאֵיכֶ֖ם כְּאַרְיֵ֥ה מַשְׁחִֽית׃
In vain I struck your children — they did not accept correction. Your own sword has devoured your prophets like a ravaging lion.
KJV In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
הַדּ֗וֹר אַתֶּם֙ רְא֣וּ דְבַר־יְהוָ֔ה הֲמִדְבָּ֤ר הָיִ֙יתִי֙ לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אִם אֶ֖רֶץ מַאְפֵּ֑לְיָה מַדּ֜וּעַ אָמְר֤וּ עַמִּי֙ רַ֔דְנוּ לוֹא־נָב֥וֹא עוֹד֖ אֵלֶֽיךָ׃
You of this generation — see the word of the LORD! Have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of thick darkness? Why then do my people say, 'We roam free! We will come to you no more'?
KJV O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?
הֲתִשְׁכַּ֤ח בְּתוּלָה֙ עֶדְיָ֔הּ כַּלָּ֖ה קִשֻּׁרֶ֑יהָ וְעַמִּ֣י שְׁכֵח֔וּנִי יָמִ֖ים אֵ֥ין מִסְפָּֽר׃
Does a young woman forget her jewelry? Does a bride forget her sash? Yet my people have forgotten me for days beyond counting.
KJV Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
מַה־תֵּיטִ֣בִי דַרְכֵּ֔ךְ לְבַקֵּ֖שׁ אַהֲבָ֑ה לָכֵן֙ גַּ֣ם אֶת־הָרָע֔וֹת לִמַּ֖דְתְּ אֶת־דְּרָכָֽיִךְ (דְּרָכֶֽךְ)׃
How skillfully you arrange your path to seek lovers! You have even taught the worst women your ways.
KJV Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.
גַּ֣ם בִּכְנָפַ֗יִךְ נִמְצְאוּ֙ דַּ֚ם נַפְשׁ֣וֹת אֶבְיוֹנִ֣ים נְקִיִּ֔ים לֹֽא־בַמַּחְתֶּ֖רֶת מְצָאתִ֑ים כִּ֥י עַל־כָּל־אֵֽלֶּה׃
On your garments is found the blood of the innocent poor. You did not catch them breaking in — yet despite all this,
KJV Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.
וַתֹּ֣אמְרִ֔י כִּ֥י נִקֵּ֖יתִי אַ֣ךְ שָׁ֣ב אַפּ֣וֹ מִמֶּ֑נִּי הִנְנִי֙ נִשְׁפָּ֣ט אוֹתָ֔ךְ עַל־אָמְרֵ֖ךְ לֹ֥א חָטָֽאתִי׃
you say, 'I am innocent; surely his anger has turned from me.' Now I am about to enter into judgment with you because you say, 'I have not sinned.'
KJV Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.
מַה־תֵּזְלִ֥י מְאֹ֖ד לְשַׁנּ֣וֹת אֶת־דַּרְכֵּ֑ךְ גַּ֤ם מִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙ תֵּב֔וֹשִׁי כַּאֲשֶׁר־בֹּ֖שְׁתְּ מֵאַשּֽׁוּר׃
Why do you run about so recklessly, changing your course? You will be put to shame by Egypt, just as you were put to shame by Assyria.
KJV Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.
גַּ֣ם מֵאֵ֤ת זֶה֙ תֵּֽצְאִ֔י וְיָדַ֖יִךְ עַל־רֹאשֵׁ֑ךְ כִּֽי־מָאַ֤ס יְהוָה֙ בְּמִבְטַחַ֔יִךְ וְלֹ֥א תַצְלִ֖יחִי לָהֶֽם׃
From this alliance too you will go out with your hands on your head, for the LORD has rejected those you trust in, and you will find no success through them.
KJV Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head: for the LORD hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them.