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18 And now, why go to Egypt,[a]
    to drink the waters of the Nile?
Why go to Assyria,
    to drink the waters of the River?
19 Your own wickedness chastises you,
    your own infidelities punish you.
Know then, and see, how evil and bitter
    is your forsaking the Lord, your God,
And your showing no fear of me,
    oracle of the Lord, the God of hosts.(A)
20 Long ago you broke your yoke,(B)
    you tore off your bonds.
    You said, “I will not serve.”
On every high hill, under every green tree,
    you sprawled and served as a prostitute.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. 2:18 Egypt and Assyria were the competing foreign powers favored by rival parties within Judah. The desire for such foreign alliances is a further desertion of the Lord, the source of living waters (v. 13), in favor of the above-named powers, symbolized by the waters of the Nile and the Euphrates rivers.
  2. 2:20 Served as a prostitute: idolatry (because Israel is the “bride” of God); cf. vv. 2–3.

18 Now why go to Egypt(A)
    to drink water from the Nile[a]?(B)
And why go to Assyria(C)
    to drink water from the Euphrates?(D)
19 Your wickedness will punish you;
    your backsliding(E) will rebuke(F) you.
Consider then and realize
    how evil and bitter(G) it is for you
when you forsake(H) the Lord your God
    and have no awe(I) of me,”
declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.

20 “Long ago you broke off your yoke(J)
    and tore off your bonds;(K)
    you said, ‘I will not serve you!’(L)
Indeed, on every high hill(M)
    and under every spreading tree(N)
    you lay down as a prostitute.(O)

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 2:18 Hebrew Shihor; that is, a branch of the Nile