Jeremiah 2:14-28

Consequences of Apostasy

14 Is Israel a slave? Was he born into slavery?[a] Why else has he become a prey?
15 The young lions have roared at him; they have roared loudly. They have laid waste his land. His cities are in ruins, without inhabitants.
16 The men of Memphis and Tahpanhes[b] have also broken your skull.
17 Have you not brought this on yourself by abandoning the Lord your God while He was leading you along the way?
18 Now what will you gain by traveling along the way to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile?[c] What will you gain by traveling along the way to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates?
19 Your own evil will discipline you; your own apostasies will reprimand you. Think it over and see how evil and bitter it is for you to abandon the Lord your God and to have no fear of Me. [This is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the declaration of the Lord God of Hosts.
20 For long ago I[d] broke your yoke; I[e] tore off your fetters.[f] You insisted: I will not serve! On every high hill and under every leafy tree[g] you lie down [like] a prostitute.
21 I planted you, a choice vine[h] from the very best seed. How then could you turn into a degenerate, foreign vine?
22 Even if you wash with lye and use a great amount of soap,[i] the stain of your guilt is still in front of Me. [This is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the Lord God 's declaration.
23 How can you protest: I am not defiled; I have not followed the Baals?[j] Look at your behavior in the valley; acknowledge what you have done. [You are] a swift young camel twisting and turning on her way,
24 a wild donkey at home[k] in the wilderness. She sniffs the wind in the heat of her desire. Who can control her passion? All who look for her will not become tired; they will find her in her mating season.[l]
25 Keep your feet from going bare and your throat from thirst. But you say: It's hopeless;[m] I love strangers,[n] and I will continue to follow them.
26 Like the shame of a thief when he is caught, so the house of Israel has been put to shame.[o] They, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets
27 say to a tree: You are my father, and to a stone: You gave birth to me. For they have turned their back to Me and not their face, but in their time of disaster they beg: Rise up and save us!
28 But where are your gods you made for yourself? Let them rise up and save you in your time of disaster[p] if they can, for your gods are as numerous as your cities, Judah.

Footnotes 16

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