Jeremiah 2:14-19

Revised Standard Version

¹⁴ “Is Israel a slave? Is he a homeborn servant?
    Why then has he become a prey?
¹⁵ The lions have roared against him,
    they have roared loudly.
They have made his land a waste;
    his cities are in ruins, without inhabitant.
¹⁶ Moreover, the men of Memphis and Tah′panhes
    have broken the crown of your head.
¹⁷ Have you not brought this upon yourself
    by forsaking the Lord your God,
    when he led you in the way?
¹⁸ And now what do you gain by going to Egypt,
    to drink the waters of the Nile?
Or what do you gain by going to Assyria,
    to drink the waters of the Euphra′tes?
¹⁹ Your wickedness will chasten you,
    and your apostasy will reprove you.
Know and see that it is evil and bitter
    for you to forsake the Lord your God;
    the fear of me is not in you,
                says the Lord God of hosts.