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Jeremias 2

Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel

Jeremias chapter 2 is given here in full, verse by verse, in Sir Lancelot Brenton's classic English translation of the Septuagint (LXX), with the Greek text of the Septuagint set beneath each verse. The text follows the Septuagint tradition received throughout the Orthodox Church.

Patristic commentary for this chapter has not yet been attached. Related material may be found among the Church Fathers and the theology tables.

Jeremias 2

1And he said, Thus says the Lord,

2I remember the kindness of your youth, and the love of your espousals,Καὶ εἶπε, τάδε λέγει Κύριος, ἐμνήσθην ἐλέους νεότητός σου, καὶ ἀγάπης τελειώσεώς σου, τοῦ ἐξακολουθῆσαί σε τῷ ἁγίῳ Ἰσραὴλ, λέγει Κύριος.

3in following the Holy One of Israel, says the Lord, Israel was the holy people to the Lord, and the first fruits of his increase: all that devoured him shall offend; evils shall come upon them, says the Lord.Ὁ ἅγιος Ἰσραὴλ τῷ Κυρίῳ, ἀρχὴ γεννημάτων αὐτοῦ· πάντες οἱ ἔσθοντες αὐτὸν πλημμελήσουσι, κακὰ ἥξει ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς, φησὶ Κύριος.

4Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and every family of the house of Israel.Ἀκούσατε λόγον Κυρίου οἶκος Ἰακὼβ, καὶ πᾶσα πατριὰ οἴκου Ἰσραήλ.

5Thus says the Lord, What trespass have your fathers found in me, that they have revolted far from me, and gone after vanities, and become vain?Τάδε λέγει Κύριος, τί εὕροσαν οἱ πατέρες ὑμῶν ἐν ἐμοὶ πλημμέλημα, ὅτι ἀπέστησαν μακρὰν ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ, καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν ὀπίσω τῶν ματαίων, καὶ ἐματαιώθησαν;

6And they said not, Where is the Lord, who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, who guided us in the wilderness, in an untried and trackless land, in a land which no man at all went through, and no man lived there?Καὶ οὐκ εἶπαν, ποῦ ἐστι Κύριος, ὁ ἀναγαγὼν ἡμᾶς ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου, ὁ καθοδηγήσας ἡμᾶς ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ἐν γῇ ἀπείρῳ καὶ ἀβάτῳ, ἐν γῇ ἀνύδρῳ καὶ ἀκάρπῳ, ἐν γῇ ᾗ οὐ διώδευσεν ἐν αὐτῇ ἀνὴρ εὐθὲν, καὶ οὐ κατῴκησεν ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖ;

7And I brought you to Carmel, that you should eat the fruits thereof, and the good thereof; and you went in, and defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination.Καὶ ἤγαγον ὑμᾶς εἰς τὸν Κάρμηλον, τοῦ φαγεῖν ὑμᾶς τοὺς καρποὺς αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὰ ἀγαθὰ αὐτοῦ· καὶ εἰσήλθετε, καὶ ἐμιάνατε τὴν γῆν μου, καὶ τὴν κληρονομίαν μου ἔθεσθε εἰς βδέλυγμα.

8The priests said not, Where is the Lord? and they that held by the law knew me not: the shepherds also sinned against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and went after that which profited not.Οἱ ἱερεῖς οὐκ εἶπαν, ποῦ ἐστι Κύριος; καὶ οἱ ἀντεχόμενοι τοῦ νόμου, οὐκ ἠπίσταντό με, καὶ οἱ ποιμένες ἠσέβουν εἰς ἐμὲ, καὶ οἱ προφῆται ἐπροφήτευον τῇ Βάαλ, καὶ ὀπίσω ἀνωφελοῦς ἐπορεύθησαν.

9Therefore I will yet plead with you, and will plead with your children's children.Διατοῦτο ἔτι κριθήσομαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς, καὶ πρὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς τῶν υἱῶν ὑμῶν κριθήσομαι.

10For go to the isles of the Chettians, and see; and send to Kedar, and observe accurately, and see if such things have been done;Διότι ἔλθετε εἰς νήσους Χεττιεὶμ, καὶ ἴδετε, καὶ εἰς Κηδὰρ ἀποστείλατε, καὶ νοήσατε σφόδρα, καὶ ἴδετε εἰ γέγονε τοιαῦτα·

11if the nations will change their gods, though they are not gods: but my people have changed their glory, for that from which they shall not be profited.εἰ ἀλλάξωνται ἔθνη θεοὺς αὐτῶν, καὶ οὗτοι οὐκ εἰσὶ θεοί· ὁ δὲ λαός μου ἠλλάξατο τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, ἐξ ἧς οὐκ ὠφεληθήσονται.

12The heaven is amazed at this, and is very exceedingly horror-struck, says the Lord.Ἐξέστη ὁ οὐρανὸς ἐπὶ τούτῳ, καὶ ἔφριξεν ἐπὶ πλεῖον σφόδρα, λέγει Κύριος.

13For my people has committed two faults, and evil ones: they have forsaken me, the fountain of water of life, and hewn out for themselves broken cisterns, which will not be able to hold water.Ὅτι δύο καὶ πονηρὰ ἐποίησεν ὁ λαός μου· ἐμὲ ἐγκατέλιπον πηγὴν ὕδατος ζωῆς, καὶ ὤρυξαν ἑαυτοῖς λάκκους συντετριμμένους, οἳ οὐ δυνήσονται ὕδωρ συνέχειν.

14Is Israel a servant, or a home-born slave? why has he become a spoil?Μὴ δοῦλός ἐστιν Ἰσραὴλ, ἢ οἰκογενής ἐστι; διατί εἰς προνομὴν ἐγένετο;

15The lions roared upon him, and uttered their voice, which have made his land a wilderness: and his cities are broken down, that they should not be inhabited.Ἐπʼ αὐτὸν ὠρύοντο λέοντες, καὶ ἔδωκαν τὴν φωνὴν αὐτῶν, οἳ ἔταξαν τὴν γῆν αὐτοῦ εἰς ἔρημον, καὶ αἱ πόλεις αὐτοῦ κατεσκάφησαν, παρὰ τὸ μὴ κατοικεῖσθαι.

16Also the children of Memphis and Taphnas have known you, and mocked you.Καὶ υἱοὶ Μέμφεως καὶ Τάφνας ἔγνωσάν σε, καὶ κατέπαιζόν σου.

17Has not your forsaking me brought these things upon you? says the Lord your God.Οὐχὶ ταῦτα ἐποίησέ σοι τὸ καταλιπεῖν σε ἐμέ; λέγει Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου.

18And now what have you to do with the way of Egypt, to drink the water of Geon? and what have you to do with the way of the Assyrians, to drink the water of rivers?Καὶ νῦν τί σοι καὶ τῇ ὁδῷ Αἰγύπτου τοῦ πιεῖν ὕδωρ Γηῶν; καὶ τί σοι καὶ τῇ ὁδῷ Ἀσσυρίων τοῦ πιεῖν ὕδωρ ποταμῶν;

19Your apostasy shall correct you, and your wickedness shall reprove you: know then, and see, that your forsaking me has been bitter to you, says the Lord your God; and I have taken no pleasure in you, says the Lord your God.Παιδεύσει σε ἡ ἀποστασία σου, καὶ ἡ κακία σου ἐλέγξει σε· καὶ γνῶθι, καὶ ἴδε, ὅτι πικρόν σοι τὸ καταλιπεῖν σε ἐμὲ, λέγει Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου· καὶ οὐκ εὐδόκησα ἐπὶ σοὶ, λέγει Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου.

20For of old you have broken your yoke, and plucked asunder your bands; and you have said, I will not serve you, but will go upon every high hill, and under every shady tree, there will I indulge in my fornication.Ὅτι ἀπʼ αἰῶνος συνέτριψας τὸν ζυγόν σου, καὶ διέσπασας τοὺς δεσμούς σου, καὶ εἶπας, οὐ δουλεύσω σοι ἀλλὰ πορεύσομαι ἐπὶ πάντα βουνὸν ὑψηλὸν, καὶ ὑποκάτω παντὸς ξύλου κατασκίου, ἐκεῖ διαχυθήσομαι ἐν τῇ πορνείᾳ μου.

21Yet I planted you a fruitful vine, entirely of the right sort: how are you a strange vine turned to bitterness!Ἐγὼ δὲ ἐφύτευσά σε ἄμπελον καρποφόρον πᾶσαν ἀληθινήν· πῶς ἐστράφης εἰς πικρίαν ἡ ἄμπελος ἡ ἀλλοτρία;

22Though you should wash yourself with nitre, and multiply to yourself soap, still you are stained by your iniquities before me, says the Lord.Ἐὰν ἀποπλύνῃ ἐν νίτρῳ, καὶ πληθυνῇς σεαυτῇ ποίαν, κεκηλίδωσαι ἐν ταῖς ἀδικίαις σου ἐναντίον ἐμοῦ, λέγει Κύριος.

23How will you say, I am not polluted, and have not gone after Baal? behold your ways in the burial-ground, and know what you have done: her voice has howled in the evening:Πῶς ἐρεῖς, οὐκ ἐμιάνθην, καὶ ὀπίσω τῆς Βάαλ οὐκ ἐπορεύθην; ἴδε τὰς ὁδούς σου ἐν τῷ πολυανδρίῳ, καὶ γνῶθι τί ἐποίησας· ὀψὲ φωνὴ αὐτῆς ὠλόλυξε·

24she has extended her ways over the waters of the desert; she was hurried along by the lusts of her soul; she is given up to them, who will turn her back? none that seek her shall be weary; at the time of her humiliation they shall find her.Τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτῆς ἐπλάτυνεν ἐφʼ ὕδατα ἐρήμου, ἐν ἐπιθυμίαις ψυχῆς αὐτῆς ἐπνευματοφορεῖτο, παρεδόθη, τίς ἐπιστρέψει αὐτήν; πάντες οἱ ζητοῦντες αὐτὴν οὐ κοπιάσουσιν, ἐν τῇ ταπεινώσει αὐτῆς εὑρήσουσιν αὐτήν.

25Withdraw your foot from a rough way, and your throat from thirst: but she said I will strengthen myself: for she loved strangers, and went after them.Ἀπόστρεψον τὸν πόδα σου ἀπὸ ὁδοῦ τραχείας, καὶ τὸν φάρυγγά σου ἀπὸ δίψους· ἡ δὲ εἶπεν ἀνδριοῦμαι, ὅτι ἠγαπήκει ἀλλοτρίους, καὶ ὀπίσω αὐτῶν ἐπορεύετο.

26As is the shame of a thief when he is caught, so shall the children of Israel be ashamed; they, and their kings, and their princes, and their priests, and their prophets.Ὡς αἰσχύνη κλέπτου ὅταν ἁλῷ, οὕτως αἰσχυνθήσονται οἱ υἱοὶ Ἰσραὴλ, αὐτοὶ καὶ οἱ βασιλεῖς αὐτῶν, καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντες αὐτῶν, καὶ οἱ ἱερεῖς αὐτῶν, καὶ οἱ προφῆται αὐτῶν.

27They said to a stock, You are my father; and to a stone, You have begotten me: and they have turned their backs to me, and not their faces: yet in the time of their afflictions they will say, Arise, and save us.Τῷ ξύλῳ εἶπαν, ὅτι πατήρ μου εἶ σὺ, καὶ τῷ λίθῳ, σὺ ἐγέννησάς με· καὶ ἔστρεψαν ἐπʼ ἐμὲ νῶτα, καὶ οὐ πρόσωπα αὐτῶν· καὶ ἐν τῷ καιρῷ τῶν κακῶν αὐτῶν ἐροῦσιν, ἀνάστα καὶ σῶσον ἡμᾶς.

28And where are your gods, which you made for yourself? will they arise and save in the time of your affliction? for according to the number of your cities were your gods, O Juda; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem they sacrificed to Baal.Καὶ ποῦ εἰσὶν οἱ θεοί σου, οὓς ἐποίησας σεαυτῷ; εἰ ἀναστήσονται καὶ σώσουσιν ἐν καιρῷ τῆς κακώσεώς σου; ὅτι κατʼ ἀριθμὸν τῶν πόλεών σου ἦσαν θεοί σου Ἰούδα, καὶ κατʼ ἀριθμὸν διόδων τῆς Ἱερουσαλὴμ ἔθυον τῇ Βάαλ.

29Therefore do you speak to me? you all have been ungodly, and you all have transgressed against me, says the Lord.Ἱνατί λαλεῖτε πρὸς μέ; πάντες ὑμεῖς ἠσεβήσατε, καὶ πάντες ὑμεῖς ἠνομήσατε εἰς ἐμὲ, λέγει Κύριος.

30In vain have I struck your children; you have not received correction: a sword has devoured your prophets as a destroying lion; yet you feared not.Μάτην ἐπάταξα τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν, παιδείαν οὐκ ἐδέξασθε, μάχαιρα κατέφαγε τοὺς προφήτας ὑμῶν ὡς λέων ὀλοθρεύων, καὶ οὐκ ἐφοβήθητε.

31Hear you the word of the Lord: thus says the Lord, Have I been a wilderness or a dry land to Israel? therefore has my people said, We will not be ruled over, and will not come to you any more?Ἀκούσατε λόγον Κυρίου· τάδε λέγει Κύριος, μὴ ἔρημος ἐγενόμην τῷ Ἰσραὴλ ἢ γῆ κεχερσωμένη; διατί εἶπεν ὁ λαός μου, οὐ κυριευθησόμεθα, καὶ οὐχ ἥξομεν πρὸς σὲ ἔτι;

32Will a bride forget her ornaments, or a virgin her girdle? but my people has forgotten me days without number.Μὴ ἐπιλήσεται νύμφη τὸν κόσμον αὐτῆς, καὶ παρθένος τὴν στηθοδεσμίδα αὐτῆς; ὁ δὲ λαός μου ἐπελάθετό μου ἡμέρας ὧν οὐκ ἔστιν ἀριθμός.

33What fair device will you yet employ in your ways, so as to seek love? it shall not be so; moreover you have done wickedly in corrupting your ways;Τί ἔτι καλὸν ἐπιτηδεύσεις ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς σου, τοῦ ζητῆσαι ἀγάπησιν; οὐχ οὕτως· ἀλλὰ καὶ σὺ ἐπονηρεύσω τοῦ μιάναι τὰς ὁδούς σου,

34and in your hands has been found the blood of innocent souls; I have not found them in holes, but on every oak.καὶ ἐν ταῖς χερσί σου εὑρέθησαν αἵματα ψυχῶν ἀθώων· οὐκ ἐν διορύγμασιν εὗρον αὐτοὺς, ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ πάσῃ δρυΐ.

35Yet you said, I am innocent: only let his wrath be turned away from me. Behold, I will plead with you, whereas you say, I have not sinned.Καὶ εἶπας, ἀθῶός εἰμι, ἀλλὰ ἀποστραφήτω ὁ θυμὸς αὐτοῦ ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ. Ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ κρίνομαι πρὸς σὲ, ἐν τῷ λέγειν σε, οὐχ ἥμαρτον·

36For you have been so exceedingly contemptuous as to repeat your ways; but you shall be ashamed of Egypt, as you were ashamed of Assur.Ὅτι κατεφρόνησας σφόδρα τοῦ δευτερῶσαι τὰς ὁδούς σου· καὶ ἀπὸ Αἰγύπτου καταισχυνθήσῃ, καθὼς κατῃσχύνθης ἀπὸ Ἀσσούρ·

37For you shall go forth thence also with your hands upon your head; for the Lord has rejected your hope, and you shall not prosper in it.ὅτι καὶ ἐντεῦθεν ἐξελεύσῃ, καὶ αἱ χεῖρές σου ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς σου· ὅτι ἀπώσατο Κύριος τὴν ἐλπίδα σου, καὶ οὐκ εὐοδωθήσῃ ἐν αὐτῇ.

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