Jeremiah 2:18-19, 22-23, 34-37

Why, then, would you now go down to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile? Why would you go to Assyria to drink from the river Euphrates? Your own wickedness punishes you. Your own unfaithfulness rebukes you. Look deep into your heart and you will learn how evil and bitter it is to forsake me, YAHWEH your God, and have no awe of me. I, YAHWEH, Commander of Angel Armies, have spoken.”

Even if you scrubbed yourself with the strongest soap, your guilty stains would remain before my face. I, Lord YAHWEH, have spoken. “How dare you say, ‘I have not defiled myself. I’ve not chased after false gods.’ Look how you behaved badly in the valley. Don’t you realize what you’ve done? You’re like a restless wild camel running loose

Your clothes are stained with the lifeblood of the helpless and innocent, though you did not catch them breaking into your home. Despite all your guilt, you dare to say, ‘I’m innocent! YAHWEH is not angry with me anymore.’ But watch out! I, YAHWEH, will judge you for perjury because you say: ‘I have not sinned.’ Look how you cheapen yourself by constantly shifting your course. Egypt will put you to shame just as Assyria did. You will turn away from Egypt utterly humiliated, for I, YAHWEH, have completely rejected those you trust. No alliance will be able to help you!”