14. Is Israel a servant, a slave by birth?Why then has he become plunder?
15. Lions have roared;they have growled at him.They have laid waste his land;his towns are burned and deserted.
16. Also, the men of Memphis and Tahpanheshave cracked your skull.
17. Have you not brought this on yourselvesby forsaking the Lord your Godwhen he led you in the way?
18. Now why go to Egyptto drink water from the Nile?And why go to Assyriato drink water from the Euphrates?
19. Your wickedness will punish you;your backsliding will rebuke you.Consider then and realisehow evil and bitter it is for youwhen you forsake the Lord your Godand have no awe of me,’declares the Lord,the Lord Almighty.
20. ‘Long ago you broke off your yokeand tore off your bonds;you said, “I will not serve you!”Indeed, on every high hilland under every spreading treeyou lay down as a prostitute.
21. I had planted you like a choice vineof sound and reliable stock.How then did you turn against meinto a corrupt, wild vine?
22. Although you wash yourself with soapand use an abundance of cleansing powder,the stain of your guilt is still before me,’declares the Sovereign Lord.
23. ‘How can you say, “I am not defiled;I have not run after the Baals”?See how you behaved in the valley;consider what you have done.You are a swift she-camelrunning here and there,
24. a wild donkey accustomed to the desert,sniffing the wind in her craving –in her heat who can restrain her?Any males that pursue her need not tire themselves;at mating time they will find her.
25. Do not run until your feet are bareand your throat is dry.But you said, “It’s no use!I love foreign gods,and I must go after them.”
26. ‘As a thief is disgraced when he is caught,so the people of Israel are disgraced –they, their kings and their officials,their priests and their prophets.