“But from our youth
The shameful thing has
devoured all the things
For which our ancestors had labored,
Their flocks,
Their herds,
Their sons.
Their daughters.
Let us lie down in our shame!
Let our dishonor cover us!
We have sinned
Against Yahweh
Our God,
We,
With our ancestors,
From our youth,
Even to this day.
We have not obeyed
The voice of Yahweh our God.”
Jeremiah remarks that the Israelites were ashamed. Since their youth, they and their ancestors had done shameful things. All the work they had done with their flocks, herds, sons, and daughters has led them to be ashamed. They wanted dishonor to cover them, because they had sinned against Yahweh, their God, from their youth, and even as far back as their ancestors. They have not obeyed the voice of Yahweh, their God.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 