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1. The Lord's message came to me:
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1. Moreover the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came H1961 to H413 me, saying H559 ,
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2. "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.
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2. Go H1980 and cry H7121 in the ears H241 of Jerusalem H3389 , saying H559 , Thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 ; I remember H2142 thee , the kindness H2617 of thy youth H5271 , the love H160 of thine espousals H3623 , when thou wentest H1980 after H310 me in the wilderness H4057 , in a land H776 that was not H3808 sown H2232 .
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3. 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.
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3. Israel H3478 was holiness H6944 unto the LORD H3068 , and the firstfruits H7225 of his increase H8393 : all H3605 that devour H398 him shall offend H816 ; evil H7451 shall come H935 upon H413 them, saith H5002 the LORD H3068 .
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4. Family of Jacob, hear the Lord's message. Tribes of Israel, hear the message.
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4. Hear H8085 ye the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 , O house H1004 of Jacob H3290 , and all H3605 the families H4940 of the house H1004 of Israel H3478 :
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5. 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.
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5. Thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 , What H4100 iniquity H5766 have your fathers H1 found H4672 in me, that H3588 they are gone far H7368 from H4480 H5921 me , and have walked H1980 after H310 vanity H1892 , and are become vain H1891 ?
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6. 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?'
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6. Neither H3808 said H559 they, Where H346 is the LORD H3068 that brought us up H5927 H853 out of the land H4480 H776 of Egypt H4714 , that led H1980 us through the wilderness H4057 , through a land H776 of deserts H6160 and of pits H7745 , through a land H776 of drought H6723 , and of the shadow of death H6757 , through a land H776 that no H3808 man H376 passed through H5674 , and where H8033 no H3808 man H120 dwelt H3427 ?
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7. "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.
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7. And I brought H935 you into H413 a plentiful H3759 country H776 , to eat H398 the fruit H6529 thereof and the goodness H2898 thereof ; but when ye entered H935 , ye defiled H2930 H853 my land H776 , and made H7760 mine heritage H5159 an abomination H8441 .
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8. "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."
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8. The priests H3548 said H559 not H3808 , Where H346 is the LORD H3068 ? and they that handle H8610 the law H8451 knew H3045 me not H3808 : the pastors H7462 also transgressed H6586 against me , and the prophets H5030 prophesied H5012 by Baal H1168 , and walked H1980 after H310 things that do not H3808 profit H3276 .
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9. The Lord says, "So now I will accuse you again, and I will also accuse your grandchildren.
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9. Wherefore H3651 I will yet H5750 plead H7378 with H854 you, saith H5002 the LORD H3068 , and with H854 your children H1121 's children H1121 will I plead H7378 .
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10. Go across the sea to the Islands of Kittim. Send someone to the land of Kedar. Look very carefully. See if anyone has ever done anything like this.
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10. For H3588 pass over H5674 the isles H339 of Chittim H3794 , and see H7200 ; and send H7971 unto Kedar H6938 , and consider H995 diligently H3966 , and see H7200 if there be H1961 such H2063 a thing.
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11. 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.
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11. Hath a nation H1471 changed H4171 their gods H430 , which H1992 are yet no H3808 gods H430 ? but my people H5971 have changed H4171 their glory H3519 for that which doth not H3808 profit H3276 .
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12. "Skies, be shocked at what happened! Shake with great fear!" This message is from the Lord.
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12. Be astonished H8074 , O ye heavens H8064 , at H5921 this H2063 , and be horribly afraid H8175 , be ye very H3966 desolate H2717 , saith H5002 the LORD H3068 .
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13. "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.
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13. For H3588 my people H5971 have committed H6213 two H8147 evils H7451 ; they have forsaken H5800 me the fountain H4726 of living H2416 waters H4325 , and hewed them out H2672 cisterns H877 , broken H7665 cisterns H877 , that H834 can hold H3557 no H3808 water H4325 .
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14. "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?
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14. Is Israel H3478 a servant H5650 ? is he H1931 a homeborn H1004 H3211 slave ? why H4069 is H1961 he spoiled H957 ?
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15. The enemy is like a lion. They roared at Israel. They destroyed the land of Israel. The cities of Israel were burned. There is no one left in them.
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15. The young lions H3715 roared H7580 upon H5921 him, and yelled H5414 H6963 , and they made H7896 his land H776 waste H8047 : his cities H5892 are burned H3341 without H4480 H1097 inhabitant H3427 .
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16. People from Memphis and Tahpanhes have smashed the top of your head.
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16. Also H1571 the children H1121 of Noph H5297 and Tahapanes H8471 have broken H7462 the crown of thy head H6936 .
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17. This trouble is your own fault. The Lord your God was leading you the right way, but you turned away from him.
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17. Hast thou not H3808 procured H6213 this H2063 unto thyself , in that thou hast forsaken H5800 H853 the LORD H3068 thy God H430 , when H6256 he led H1980 thee by the way H1870 ?
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18. 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?
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18. And now H6258 what H4100 hast thou to do in the way H1870 of Egypt H4714 , to drink H8354 the waters H4325 of Sihor H7883 ? or what H4100 hast thou to do in the way H1870 of Assyria H804 , to drink H8354 the waters H4325 of the river H5104 ?
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19. 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.
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19. Thine own wickedness H7451 shall correct H3256 thee , and thy backslidings H4878 shall reprove H3198 thee: know H3045 therefore and see H7200 that H3588 it is an evil H7451 thing and bitter H4751 , that thou hast forsaken H5800 H853 the LORD H3068 thy God H430 , and that my fear H6345 is not H3808 in H413 thee, saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD H3069 of hosts H6635 .
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20. "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.
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20. For H3588 of old time H4480 H5769 I have broken H7665 thy yoke H5923 , and burst H5423 thy bands H4147 ; and thou saidst H559 , I will not H3808 transgress H5674 ; when H3588 upon H5921 every H3605 high H1364 hill H1389 and under H8478 every H3605 green H7488 tree H6086 thou H859 wanderest H6808 , playing the harlot H2181 .
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21. Judah, I planted you like a special vine. All of you were like good seed. How did you turn into a different vine that grows bad fruit?
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21. Yet I H595 had planted H5193 thee a noble vine H8321 , wholly H3605 a right H571 seed H2233 : how H349 then art thou turned H2015 into the degenerate H5494 plant of a strange H5237 vine H1612 unto me?
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22. Even if you wash yourself with lye, even if you use much soap, I can still see your guilt." This message is from the Lord God.
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22. For H3588 though H518 thou wash H3526 thee with niter H5427 , and take thee much H7235 soap H1287 , yet thine iniquity H5771 is marked H3799 before H6440 me, saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD H3069 .
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23. "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.
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23. How H349 canst thou say H559 , I am not H3808 polluted H2930 , I have not H3808 gone H1980 after H310 Baalim H1168 ? see H7200 thy way H1870 in the valley H1516 , know H3045 what H4100 thou hast done H6213 : thou art a swift H7031 dromedary H1072 traversing H8308 her ways H1870 ;
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24. 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.
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24. A wild ass H6501 used H3928 to the wilderness H4057 , that snuffeth up H7602 the wind H7307 at her pleasure H185 H5315 ; in her occasion H8385 who H4310 can turn her away H7725 ? all H3605 they that seek H1245 her will not H3808 weary H3286 themselves ; in her month H2320 they shall find H4672 her.
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25. 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.'
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25. Withhold H4513 thy foot H7272 from being unshod H4480 H3182 , and thy throat H1627 from thirst H4480 H6773 : but thou saidst H559 , There is no hope H2976 : no H3808 ; for H3588 I have loved H157 strangers H2114 , and after H310 them will I go H1980 .
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26. "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.
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26. As the thief H1590 is ashamed H1322 when H3588 he is found H4672 , so H3651 is the house H1004 of Israel H3478 ashamed H954 ; they H1992 , their kings H4428 , their princes H8269 , and their priests H3548 , and their prophets H5030 ,
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27. 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!'
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27. Saying H559 to a stock H6086 , Thou H859 art my father H1 ; and to a stone H68 , Thou H859 hast brought me forth H3205 : for H3588 they have turned H6437 their back H6203 unto H413 me , and not H3808 their face H6440 : but in the time H6256 of their trouble H7451 they will say H559 , Arise H6965 , and save H3467 us.
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28. 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!
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28. But where H346 are thy gods H430 that H834 thou hast made H6213 thee? let them arise H6965 , if H518 they can save H3467 thee in the time H6256 of thy trouble H7451 : for H3588 according to the number H4557 of thy cities H5892 are H1961 thy gods H430 , O Judah H3063 .
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29. "Why do you argue with me? All of you have turned against me." This message is from the Lord.
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29. Wherefore H4100 will ye plead H7378 with H413 me? ye all H3605 have transgressed H6586 against me, saith H5002 the LORD H3068 .
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30. "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."
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30. In vain H7723 have I smitten H5221 H853 your children H1121 ; they received H3947 no H3808 correction H4148 : your own sword H2719 hath devoured H398 your prophets H5030 , like a destroying H7843 lion H738 .
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31. 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?
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31. O generation H1755 , see H7200 ye H859 the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 . Have I been H1961 a wilderness H4057 unto Israel H3478 ? a land H776 of darkness H3991 ? wherefore H4069 say H559 my people H5971 , We are lords H7300 ; we will come H935 no H3808 more H5750 unto H413 thee?
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32. A young woman does not forget her jewelry. A bride does not forget to wear her wedding dress. But my people have forgotten me too many times to count.
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32. Can a maid H1330 forget H7911 her ornaments H5716 , or a bride H3618 her attire H7196 ? yet my people H5971 have forgotten H7911 me days H3117 without H369 number H4557 .
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33. "Judah, you have become so good at finding lovers. Even the worst women could learn some evil ways from you.
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33. Why H4100 trimmest H3190 thou thy way H1870 to seek H1245 love H160 ? therefore H3651 hast thou also H1571 taught H3925 H853 the wicked ones H7451 H853 thy ways H1870 .
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34. 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!
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34. Also H1571 in thy skirts H3671 is found H4672 the blood H1818 of the souls H5315 of the poor H34 innocents H5355 : I have not H3808 found H4672 it by secret search H4290 , but H3588 upon H5921 all H3605 these H428 .
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35. But still, you say, 'I am innocent. God is not angry with me.' So I will also judge you guilty of lying, because you say, 'I have done nothing wrong.'
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35. Yet thou sayest H559 , Because H3588 I am innocent H5352 , surely H389 his anger H639 shall turn H7725 from H4480 me. Behold H2009 , I will plead with H8199 thee, because H5921 thou sayest H559 , I have not H3808 sinned H2398 .
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36. You go from one place to another looking for help, always changing your mind. But Egypt will disappoint you, just as Assyria did.
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36. Why H4100 gaddest H235 thou about so much H3966 to change H8138 H853 thy way H1870 ? thou also H1571 shalt be ashamed H954 of Egypt H4480 H4714 , as H834 thou wast ashamed H954 of Assyria H4480 H804 .
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37. 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.
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37. Yea H1571 , thou shalt go forth H3318 from H4480 H854 him H2088 , and thine hands H3027 upon H5921 thine head H7218 : for H3588 the LORD H3068 hath rejected H3988 thy confidences H4009 , and thou shalt not H3808 prosper H6743 in them.
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