Jeremiah 2:14-28 - Consequences Of Apostasy

14 Is Israel a servant? if he was born in the house wherefore was he for plunder? 15 Upon him the young lions roared, they gave their voice, they will set his land for a desolation: his cities were burned from not being inhabited. 16 Also the sons of Noph and Tahapanes, they will feed thee upon the crown of the head. 17 Wilt thou not do this to thyself? thou didst forsake Jehovah thy God in the time of thy being led in the way. 18 And now what to thee for the way of Egypt, to drink the water of Sihor? and what to thee to the way of Amur, to drink the water of the river? 19 Thy wickedness shall correct thee, and thy turnings back shall convict thee: and know thou and see that evil and bitter thy forsaking Jehovah thy God, and that my fear was not to thee, says the Lord Jehovah of armies.

20 For from of old I broke thy yoke, I burst thy bonds; and thou wilt say, I will not serve; for upon every high hill and under every green tree thou turnest one side, committing fornication:

21 And I planted thee a vine of purple grapes, wholly a true seed: and how didst thou turn to me the removings of a strange vine?

22 For if thou shalt wash thyself with nitre, and thou shalt increase to thee cleansing, thine iniquity was graven before me, says the Lord Jehovah. 23 How wilt thou say, I was not defiled? I went not after the Baalims? See thy way in the valley, know what thou didst; a young she camel entangling her ways; 24 A wild ass accustomed to the desert in gratifying her soul, panting after the wind in her heat; who shall turn her back? all seeking her will not be wearied; in her new moon they shall find her. 25 Withhold thy foot from being barefoot, and thy throat from thirst: and thou wilt say, Despairing, no; for I loved strangers, and after them will I go.

26 As the shame of the thief when he shall be found, so was the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their chiefs, and their priests, and their prophets, 27 Saying to the wood, Thou my father; and to the stone, Thou didst bring me forth: for they turned to me the back of the neck and not their face: and in the time of their evil they will say, Arise, and save us. 28 And where thy gods which thou didst make to thee? they will arise, if they shall save thee in the time of thine evil: for from the numbering of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah.