Jeremiah 2:31

²⁹ Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD.

³⁰ In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?

³² Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

³³ Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: You people of this generation, consider the word of the LORD: “Have I been a wilderness to Israel or a land of dense darkness? Why do My people say, ‘We are free to roam; we will come to You no more’?
KJV: O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?
WEB: Generation, consider the LORD’s word. Have I been a wilderness to Israel? Or a land of thick darkness? Why do my people say, ‘We have broken loose. We will come to you no more’?
ASV: O generation, see ye the word of Jehovah. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? or a land of thick darkness? wherefore say my people, We are broken loose; we will come no more unto thee?
DARBY: O generation, mark ye the word of Jehovah. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel, or a land of thick darkness? Wherefore say my people, We have dominion; we will come no more unto thee?
BLB: “O generation, consider you⁺ the word of YHWH. “Have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of darkness? Why do My people say, ‘We are lords; we will not come to You anymore?’

ÅB: Du onde slekt! Gi akt på Herrens ord! Har jeg vært en ørken for Israel eller et belgmørkt land? Hvorfor sier mitt folk: Vi har gjort oss fri, vi vil ikke mere komme til deg?
OTB: "Du generasjon, vurder Herrens ord: Har jeg vært en ørken for Israel eller et land av tykk mørke? Hvorfor sier mitt folk, 'Vi er fri til å streife; vi vil ikke komme til deg mer'?
B1930: Du onde slekt! Gi akt på Herrens ord! Har jeg vært en ørken for Israel eller et belgmørkt land? Hvorfor sier mitt folk: Vi har gjort oss fri, vi vil ikke mere komme til dig?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

2 Samuel 12:7–9
And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
Read in context
Deuteronomy 32:15
But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
Read in context
Isaiah 45:19
I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.
Read in context
Micah 6:9
The LORD’s voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.
Read in context
Hosea 13:6
According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.
Read in context
Revelation 3:15–17
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Read in context
Nehemiah 9:21–25
Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.
Read in context
Hosea 2:7–8
And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now.
Read in context