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¹⁴Is Israel a slave? Is he a homeborn servant? Why then has he become plunder? ¹⁵The lions have roared against him, they have roared loudly. They have made his land a waste; his cities are in ruins, without inhabitant. ¹⁶Moreover, the people of Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken the crown of your head. ¹⁷Have you not brought this upon yourself by forsaking the Lord your God, while he led you in the way? ¹⁸What then 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 Euphrates? ¹⁹Your wickedness will punish you, and your apostasies will convict 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.

²⁰For long ago you broke your yoke and burst your bonds, and you said, “I will not serve!” On every high hill and under every green tree you sprawled and played the whore. ²¹Yet I planted you as a choice vine, from the purest stock. How then did you turn degenerate and become a wild vine? ²²Though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me, says the Lord God.