"Jeremiah, go and speak to the people of Jerusalem. Say to them: "'At the time you were a young nation, you were faithful to me. You followed me like a young bride. You followed me through the desert, through a land that had never been used for farmland.
The people of Israel were a holy gift to the Lord. They were the first fruit to be gathered by the Lord. Any people who tried to hurt them were judged guilty. Bad things happened to those wicked people.'" This message is from the Lord.
This is what the Lord says: "Do you think that I was not fair to your ancestors? Is that why they turned away from me? Your ancestors worshiped worthless idols, and they became worthless themselves.
Your ancestors did not say, 'The Lord brought us out of Egypt. He led us through the desert, through a dry and rocky land. He led us through a dark and dangerous land. No one lives there; people don't even travel through that land. But the Lord led us through that land. So where is he now?'
"I brought you into a good land, a land filled with many good things. I did this so that you could eat the fruit and crops that grow there. But you only made my land 'dirty.' I gave that land to you, but you made it a bad place.
"The priests did not ask, 'Where is the Lord?' The people who know the law did not want to know me. The leaders of the people of Israel turned against me. The prophets prophesied in the name of the false god Baal. They worshiped worthless idols."
Has any nation ever stopped worshiping their old gods so that they could worship new gods? No! And their gods are not really gods at all! But my people stopped worshiping their glorious God and started worshiping idols that are worth nothing.
"My people have done two evil things. They turned away from me, and they dug their own water cisterns. I am the source of living water; those cisterns are broken and cannot hold water.
"Have the people of Israel become slaves? Have they become like someone who was born a slave? Why did people take the wealth from the people of Israel?
People of Judah, think about this: How did it help you to go to Egypt and drink from the Nile River? How did it help you to go to Assyria and drink from the Euphrates River?
You have done wrong, and that will only bring punishment to you. Trouble will come to you, and it will teach you a lesson. Think about it and understand how bad it is to turn away from your God. It is wrong not to fear and respect me." This message is from Lord God All-Powerful.
"Judah, long ago you broke free from me, like an ox that breaks its yoke and the ropes that held it. You said to me, 'I will not serve you!' On every high hill and under every green tree, you acted like a prostitute.
"Judah, how can you say to me, 'I am not guilty; I have not worshiped the Baal idols'? Think about what you did in the valley. Think about what you have done. You are like a fast she-camel that runs from place to place.
You are like a wild donkey that lives in the desert. At mating time, she sniffs the wind. No one can control her when she is in heat. At mating time, every male that wants her will get her. She is easy to find.
Judah, stop chasing after idols! Stop wanting those other gods. But you say, 'It is no use! I cannot stop! I love those other gods. I want to go after them.'
"A thief is ashamed when people catch him stealing. The people of Israel should be ashamed too and so should their kings and leaders, priests and prophets.
To pieces of wood, they say, 'You are my father.' To a rock, they say, 'You gave birth to me.' All these people will be ashamed. They don't look to me for help. They have turned their backs to me. But when the people of Judah get into trouble, they say to me, 'Come and save us!'
But where are the idols you made for yourselves? Let's see if they come and save you when you are in trouble. People of Judah, you have as many idols as cities!
"I punished you people of Judah, but it did not help. You did not come back when you were punished. With your swords, you killed the prophets who came to you. Like a dangerous lion, you killed the prophets."
People of this generation, pay attention to the Lord's message! "Have I been like a desert to the people of Israel? Have I been like a dark and dangerous land to them? My people say, 'We are free to go our own way. We will not come back to you, Lord!' Why do they say these things?
You have blood on your hands! It is the blood of poor, innocent people. You did not catch them breaking into your house. You killed them for no reason!
So you will eventually leave Egypt too, and you will hide your face in shame. You trusted these countries, but the Lord rejected them, so they cannot help you win.