10. Go west across the sea to the coasts of Cyprus and see.Send someone east to Kedar and have them look carefully.See if such a thing as this has ever happened:
11. Has a nation ever changed its gods(even though they are not really gods at all)?But my people have exchanged me, their glorious God,for a god that cannot help them at all!
12. Be amazed at this, O heavens!Be shocked and utterly dumbfounded,”says the Lord.
13. “Do so because my people have committed a double wrong:they have rejected me,the fountain of life-giving water,and they have dug cisterns for themselves,cracked cisterns which cannot even hold water.”
14. “Israel is not a slave, is he?He was not born into slavery, was he?If not, why then is he being carried off?
15. Like lions his enemies roar victoriously over him;they raise their voices in triumph.They have laid his land waste;his cities have been burned down and deserted.
16. Even the soldiers from Memphis and Tahpanheshave cracked your skulls, people of Israel.
17. You have brought all this on yourself, Israel,by deserting the Lord your God when he was leading you along the right path.
18. What good will it do you then to go down to Egyptto seek help from the Egyptians?What good will it do you to go over to Assyriato seek help from the Assyrians?
19. Your own wickedness will bring about your punishment.Your unfaithful acts will bring down discipline on you.Know, then, and realize how utterly harmfulit was for you to reject me, the Lord your God,to show no respect for me,”says the Lord God who rules over all.