Jeremiah 2:14-19

New International Version

¹⁴ Is Israel a servant, a slave^(A) by birth?
    Why then has he become plunder?
¹⁵ Lions^(B) have roared;
    they have growled at him.
They have laid waste^(C) his land;
    his towns are burned^(D) and deserted.^(E)
16 Also, the men of Memphis^(F) and Tahpanhes^(G)
    have cracked your skull.
¹⁷ Have you not brought this on yourselves^(H)
    by forsaking^(I) the Lord your God
    when he led you in the way?
¹⁸ Now why go to Egypt^(J)
    to drink water from the Nile^[a]?^(K)
And why go to Assyria^(L)
    to drink water from the Euphrates?^(M)
19 Your wickedness will punish you;
    your backsliding^(N) will rebuke^(O) you.
Consider then and realize
    how evil and bitter^(P) it is for you
when you forsake^(Q) the Lord your God
    and have no awe^(R) of me,”
declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.