A reading from the book of Jeremiah.

The word of the Lord came to me saying,

Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, thus says the Lord.

I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the

wilderness and the land not sown. Israel was holy to the Lord, the first fruits of his harvest. All who ate of it incurred

guilt. Disaster came upon them, declares the Lord. Hear the word of the Lord, O House of Jacob,

and all the clans of the House of Israel. Thus says the Lord, what wrong did your fathers find in me,

that they went far from me and went after worthlessness,

and became worthless? They did not say, where is the Lord who brought us up from the land of

Egypt, who led us in the wilderness, in a land of deserts and pits, in a land of drought and deep darkness,

in a land that none passes through, where no man dwells. And I brought you into a plentiful land,

to enjoy its fruits and its good things, but when you came in, you defiled my land, and made my

heritage and abomination. The priests did not say, where is the Lord? Those who handled the law

did not know me. The shepherds transgressed against me, the prophets prophesied by

bail, and went after things that do not profit. Therefore I still contend with you, declares the Lord,

and with your children's children I will contend. For cross to the coast of Cyprus and sea,

or sent to Keter and examine with care, see if there has been such a thing. Has a nation changed

its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory, for that which

does not profit. Be appalled, oh heavens at this. Be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the Lord.

For my people have committed two evils. They have forsaken me the fountain of living waters,

and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.

Is Israel a slave? Is he a home-born servant? Why then has he become a prey? The lions have

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