Jeremiah 2:18-20

New Century Version

¹⁸It did not help to go to Egypt
    and drink from the Shihor River.
It did not help to go to Assyria
    and drink from the Euphrates River.
¹⁹Your evil will bring punishment to you,
    and the wrong you have done will teach you a lesson.
Think about it and understand
that it is a terrible evil to turn away from the Lord your God.
    It is wrong not to fear me,”
    says the Lord God All-Powerful.

²⁰“Long ago you refused to obey me as an ox breaks its yoke.
    You broke the ropes I used to hold you
    and said, ‘I will not serve you!’
In fact, on every high hill
    and under every green tree
    you lay down as a prostitute.

Read full chapter

Jeremiah 2:18-20

New International Version

¹⁸Now 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)
¹⁹Your 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)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

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

Jeremiah 2:18-20

King James Version

¹⁸And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?

¹⁹Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord God of hosts.

²⁰For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.

Read full chapter