14. Is Israel a servant? Is he a homeborn slave?Why has he been plundered?
15. The young lions roared at himand roared loudly,and they made his land a waste;his cities have been destroyed, without inhabitant.
16. Also the men of Memphis and Tahpanheshave shaved the crown of your head.
17. Have you not brought this on yourself,in that you have forsaken the Lord your Godwhen He led you in the way?
18. And now what are you doing in the way of Egypt,to drink the waters of the Nile?Or what are you doing in the way of Assyria,to drink the waters of the River?
19. Your own wickedness will correct you,and your backslidings will reprove you.Know therefore and seethat it is an evil thing and bitter for youto have forsaken the Lord your God,and the fear of Me is not in you,says the Lord God of Hosts.
20. For long ago I have broken your yokeand burst your bonds;and you said, “I will not serve.”For upon every high hilland under every green treeyou wander, playing the harlot.
21. Yet I had planted you a noble vine,a wholly faithful seed.How then have you turnedinto the degenerate plant of a strange vine to Me?
22. For though you wash yourself with lye,and take much soap,yet your iniquity is marked before Me,says the Lord God.
23. How can you say, “I am not polluted,I have not gone after the Baals”?See your way in the valley.Know what you have done.You are a swift young camelentangling her ways,