Jeremiah 2:19

Thine own wickedness shall correct thee: the meaning is either,

1. There need no further evidence against thee than thine own evil courses, Hosea 5:5. Or rather, might correct thee, i.e. one would think should be sufficient to reclaim thee: see Hosea 2:7. Or,

2. Thy own wickedness is the cause of thy correction. Or,

3. Thy wickedness will be an evidence that whatever thou sufferest is just. Thy backslidings shall reprove thee; the same with the former, but in other words, after the manner of the Hebrews, or a metonymy of the effect for the cause; Thou wilt not be persuaded fill thou come to suffer, thou wilt not be instructed until corrected: or rather, as before, Thy many backslidings might teach thee more wisdom, and convince thee of thy folly: so doth the word reprove signify, Job 6 25. Know, i.e. call to mind thy experiences, and consider well with thyself, and thou canst not but be convinced of those things, what forsaking of God hath cost thee. An evil thing and bitter, viz. of punishment principally; so Isaiah 45:7; though it be true also of sin: therefore he calls it bitter, because the effect of it will be so; it will be unpleasing and bitterness in the latter end. The Lord thy God, i.e. me. My fear is not in thee; or, the fear of me; or, thou hast not my fear in thee; this being the ground of all thy sin and suffering, Psalms 36:1 Romans 3:16,18.