Jeremiah 2:14-19

Other Translations of Jeremiah 2:14-19

King James Version

¹⁴ Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled spoiled: Heb. become a spoil? ¹⁵ The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, yelled: Heb. gave out their voice and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant. ¹⁶ Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head. ¹⁷ Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, when he led thee by the way? ¹⁸ 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? ¹⁹ 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.

English Standard Version

¹⁴ "Is Israel a slave? Is he a homeborn servant? Why then has he become a prey? ¹⁵ The lions have roared against him; they have roared loudly. They have made his land a waste; his cities are in ruins, without inhabitant. ¹⁶ Moreover, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shavedHebrew grazed the crown of your head. ¹⁷ Have you not brought this upon yourself by forsaking the Lord your God, when he led you in the way? ¹⁸ And now what do you gain by going to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile? Or what do you gain by going to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates? ¹⁹ Your evil will chastise you, and your apostasy will reprove you. Know and see that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake the Lord your God; the fear of me is not in you, declares the Lord GOD of hosts.

The Message

¹⁴ "Isn't Israel a valued servant, born into a family with place and position? So how did she end up a piece of meat ¹⁵ fought over by snarling and roaring lions? There's nothing left of her but a few old bones, her towns trashed and deserted. ¹⁶ Egyptians from the cities of Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken your skulls. ¹⁷ And why do you think all this has happened? Isn't it because you walked out on your God just as he was beginning to lead you in the right way? ¹⁸ "And now, what do you think you'll get by going off to Egypt? Maybe a cool drink of Nile River water? Or what do you think you'll get by going off to Assyria? Maybe a long drink of Euphrates River water? ¹⁹ Your evil ways will get you a sound thrashing, that's what you'll get. You'll pay dearly for your disloyal ways. Take a long, hard look at what you've done and its bitter results. Was it worth it to have walked out on your God?" God's Decree, Master God-of-the-Angel-Armies. Addicted to Alien Gods

New King James Version

¹⁴ "Is Israel a servant? Is he a homeborn slave? Why is he plundered? ¹⁵ The young lions roared at him, and growled; They made his land waste; His cities are burned, without inhabitant. ¹⁶ Also the people of Noph That is, Memphis in ancient Egypt and Tahpanhes Have broken the crown of your head. ¹⁷ Have you not brought this on yourself, In that you have forsaken the Lord your God When He led you in the way? ¹⁸ And now why take the road to Egypt, To drink the waters of Sihor? Or why take the road to Assyria, To drink the waters of the River? That is, the Euphrates ¹⁹ Your own wickedness will correct you, And your backslidings will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing That you have forsaken the Lord your God, And the fear of Me is not in you," Says the Lord God of hosts.

New Living Translation

¹⁴ "Why has Israel become a slave? Why has he been carried away as plunder? ¹⁵ Strong lions have roared against him, and the land has been destroyed. The towns are now in ruins, and no one lives in them anymore. ¹⁶ Egyptians, marching from their cities of Memphis and Tahpanhes, have destroyed Israel's glory and power. ¹⁷ And you have brought this upon yourselves by rebelling against the Lord your God, even though he was leading you on the way! ¹⁸ "What have you gained by your alliances with Egypt and your covenants with Assyria? What good to you are the streams of the Nile or the waters of the Euphrates River? ¹⁹ Your wickedness will bring its own punishment. Your turning from me will shame you. You will see what an evil, bitter thing it is to abandon the Lord your God and not to fear him. I, the Lord, the Lord of Heaven's Armies, have spoken!