16. The men from the Egyptian cities of Memphis and Tahpanheshave disgraced you by shaving the top of your head.
17. You have brought this on yourselves.You turned away from me, the Lord your God,when I led you in the way.
18. It did not help to go to Egyptand drink from the Shihor River.It did not help to go to Assyriaand drink from the Euphrates River.
19. Your evil will bring punishment to you.The wrong you have done will teach you a lesson.Think about it and understand.It is a terrible evil to turn away from the Lord your God.It is wrong not to fear me,”says the Lord, the Lord of heaven’s armies.
20. “A long time ago you refused to obey me as an ox breaks its yoke.You broke the ropes I used to hold you to me.You said to me, ‘I will not serve you!’In fact, on every high hilland under every green treeyou lay down as a prostitute.
21. I planted you as a special vine.You were like very good seed.How then did you turninto a wild vine that grows bad fruit?