The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were…in the land of Benjamin: To whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah…king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.

"Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the belly I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb I sanctified you, and I ordained you a prophet unto the nations.’

"Furthermore the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, This says the LORD; I remember you, the kindness of your youth, the love of your bridal state, when you went after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown. Hear you the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel.

" ‘This says 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?

"‘…I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit there and the goodness there; but when you entered, you defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination. For this reason I will yet plead with you, says the LORD, and with your children's children will I plead.

"‘For pass over the islands of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing. Has a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.

"‘Be astonished, O you heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be you very desolate, says the LORD. 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.

"‘Is Israel a servant? Is he a home born slave? Why is he spoiled? The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land desolate: his cities are burned without inhabitant. Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of your head. Have you not procured this unto yourself, in that you have forsaken the LORD your God, when he led you by the way?

"‘Your own wickedness shall correct you, and your backslidings shall reprove you: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that you have forsaken the LORD your God, and that my fear is not in you, says the Lord GOD of hosts. For of old time I have broken your yoke, and burst your bands; and you said, "I will not disobey"; when upon every high hill and under every green tree you wander, playing the harlot. Yet I had planted you a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then are you turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?

"‘O generation, see you the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? A land of darkness? Why say my people, "We are lords; we will come no more unto you?" Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

"‘They say, "If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again?" Shall not that land be greatly polluted? But you have played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, says the LORD.’

"The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, ‘Have you seen that which backsliding Israel has done? She is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there has played the harlot. And I said after she had done all these things, Turn…unto me. But she returned not.

" ‘And I saw, when for all the causes by which backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah has not turned unto me with her whole heart, but in pretence, says the LORD.

" ‘Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, return, you backsliding Israel, says the LORD; and I will not cause my anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, says the LORD, and I will not keep anger forever. Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have transgressed against the LORD your God, and have scattered your ways to the strangers under every green tree, and you have not obeyed my voice, says the LORD.

" ‘Turn, O backsliding children, says the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: And I will give you pastors according to my heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

" ‘Surely as a wife treacherously departs from her husband, so have you dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, says the LORD. A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and pleadings of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten the LORD their God. Return, you backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings.’

-The People’s Prayer-

" ‘Look, we come unto you; for you are the LORD our God.’ "

-God’s Response-

" ‘If you will return, O Israel, says the LORD, return unto me: and if you will put away your abominations out of my sight, then shall you not wander.

" ‘O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved. How long shall your vain thoughts lodge within you? My soul, my soul! I am pained at my very heart; my heart makes a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because you have heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are spoiled children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

" ‘This says the LORD of hosts, they shall thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn back your hand as a grape gatherer into the baskets.

" ‘To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? Look, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot listen: Behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.

" ‘This says the LORD, Stand you in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk there, and you shall find rest for your souls. But they said, "We will not walk there."

" ‘This says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to live in this place. For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings; if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor; if you oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: Then will I cause you to live in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, forever and ever.

" ‘Look, you trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom you know not; And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, ‘We are delivered to do all these abominations?’ Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes?

" ‘Look, even I have seen it, says the LORD. And now, because you have done all these works, says the LORD, and I spoke unto you, rising up early and speaking, but you heard not; and I called you, but you answered not; Therefore will I do unto this house, which is called by my name, in which you trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh. And I will cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole seed of Ephraim."

REFERENCES

Jeremiah 1:1-2, 4-5; Jeremiah 2:1-2, 4-5, 7, 9-17, 19-21, 31-32; Jeremiah 3:1, 6-8, 10, 12-15, 20-22; Jeremiah 4:1, 14, 19, 22; Jeremiah 6:9-10, 16; Jeremiah 7:3, 5-11, 13-15.

CHAPTER 50