The Consequence of Israel’s Sin

14 Is Israel a slave?

Was he born into slavery?

Why then has he become prey?

15 The young lions have roared at him;

they have sounded their voices.

They have laid waste his land;

his cities lie in ruins, without inhabitant.

16 The men of Memphis[fn] and Tahpanhes

have shaved the crown of your head.

17 Have you not brought this on yourself

by forsaking the LORD your God

when He led you in the way?

18 Now what will you gain on your way to Egypt

to drink the waters of the Nile[fn]?

What will you gain on your way to Assyria

to drink the waters of the Euphrates[fn]?

19 Your own evil will discipline you;

your own apostasies will reprimand you.

Consider and realize

how evil and bitter it is

for you to forsake the LORD your God

and to have no fear of Me,” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.

20 “For long ago you broke your yoke

and tore off your chains,

saying, ‘I will not serve!’

Indeed, on every high hill

and under every green tree

you lay down as a prostitute.

21 I had planted you like a choice vine

from the very best seed.

How could you turn yourself before Me

into a rotten, wild vine?

22 Although you wash with lye

and use an abundance of soap,

the stain of your guilt

is still before Me,” declares the Lord GOD.