36 Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.
36 Why do you go about so much, changing your ways? You will be disappointed by Egypt as you were by Assyria.
36 How much you go about, changing your way! You shall be put to shame by Egypt as you were put to shame by Assyria.
36 "You think it's just a small thing, don't you, to try out another sin-project when the first one fails? But Egypt will leave you in the lurch the same way that Assyria did.
36 Why do you gad about so much to change your way? Also you shall be ashamed of Egypt as you were ashamed of Assyria.
36 First here, then there- you flit from one ally to another asking for help. But your new friends in Egypt will let you down, just as Assyria did before.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 2:36
Commentary on Jeremiah 2:29-37
(Read Jeremiah 2:29-37)
The nation had not been wrought upon by the judgements of God, but sought to justify themselves. The world is, to those who make it their home and their portion, a wilderness and a land of darkness; but those who dwell in God, have the lines fallen to them in pleasant places. Here is the language of presumptuous sinners. The Jews had long thrown off serious thoughts of God. How many days of our lives pass without suitable remembrance of him! The Lord was displeased with their confidences, and would not prosper them therein. Men employ all their ingenuity, but cannot find happiness in the way of sin, or excuse for it. They may shift from one sin to another, but none ever hardened himself against God, or turned from him, and prospered.