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20 “Judah, long ago you broke free from me,
    like an ox that breaks its yoke and the ropes that held it.
    You said to me, ‘I will not serve you!’
On every high hill and under every green tree,
    you acted like a prostitute.[a]
21 Judah, I planted you like a special vine.
    You were all from good seed.
How did you turn into a different vine
    that grows bad fruit?
22 Even if you wash yourself with lye,
    even if you use much soap,
I can still see your guilt.”
    This message is from the Lord God.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 2:20 On every … prostitute This means the people worshiped their false gods in these places.

20 “Long ago you broke off your yoke(A)
    and tore off your bonds;(B)
    you said, ‘I will not serve you!’(C)
Indeed, on every high hill(D)
    and under every spreading tree(E)
    you lay down as a prostitute.(F)
21 I had planted(G) you like a choice vine(H)
    of sound and reliable stock.
How then did you turn against me
    into a corrupt,(I) wild vine?
22 Although you wash(J) yourself with soap(K)
    and use an abundance of cleansing powder,
    the stain of your guilt is still before me,”
declares the Sovereign Lord.(L)

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