Jer 2:36-37 | NETfull | STEP | Why do you constantly go about changing your political allegiances? You will get no help from Egypt just as you got no help from Assyria.

Jeremiah 2:36-37

36 Why do you constantly go about
changing your political allegiances? ^{▼▼ Heb “changing your way.” The translation follows the identification of the Hebrew verb here as a defective writing of a form (תֵּזְלִי [tez^eli] instead of תֵּאזְלִי [te’z^eli]) from a verb meaning “go/go about” (אָזַל [’azal]; cf. BDB 23 s.v. אָזַל). Most modern English versions, commentaries, and lexicons read it from a root meaning “to treat cheaply [or lightly]” (תָּזֵלִּי [tazelli] from the root זָלַל (zalal); cf. HALOT 261 s.v. זָלַל); hence, “Why do you consider it such a small matter to…”}
You will get no help from Egypt
just as you got no help from Assyria. ^{▼▼ Heb “You will be ashamed/disappointed by Egypt, just as you were ashamed/ disappointed by Assyria.”}
37 Moreover, you will come away from Egypt
with your hands covering your faces in sorrow and shame ^{▼▼ Heb “with your hands on your head.” For the picture here see 2 Sam 13:19.}
because the Lord will not allow your reliance on them to be successful
and you will not gain any help from them. ^{▼▼ Heb “The Lord has rejected those you trust in; you will not prosper by/from them.”}