¹⁵ They rejected his decrees and the covenant^(A) he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols^(B) and themselves became worthless.^(C) They imitated the nations^(D) around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.”

¹⁶ They forsook all the commands of the Lord their God and made for themselves two idols cast in the shape of calves,^(E) and an Asherah^(F) pole. They bowed down to all the starry hosts,^(G) and they worshiped Baal.^{(H) 17} They sacrificed^(I) their sons and daughters in the fire. They practiced divination and sought omens^(J) and sold^(K) themselves to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.

⁶ Do not follow other gods^(A) to serve and worship them; do not arouse my anger with what your hands have made. Then I will not harm you.”

⁷ “But you did not listen to me,” declares the Lord, “and you have aroused^(A) my anger with what your hands have made,^(B) and you have brought harm^(C) to yourselves.”

¹⁸ This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘As my anger and wrath^(A) have been poured out on those who lived in Jerusalem,^(B) so will my wrath be poured out on you when you go to Egypt. You will be a curse^[a](C) and an object of horror,^(D) a curse^[b] and an object of reproach;^(E) you will never see this place again.’^(F)