Evil' may express rather the moral character of forsaking God, while bitter' expresses rather the consequences of it, which are sorrows.
So the prophet appeals to experience. As the Psalmist confidently invites to taste and see that God is good,' so Jeremiah boldly bids the apostates know and see that departing is bitter.
It is so, for it leaves the soul unsatisfied.It leads to remorse.
It drags after it manifold bitter fruits. The wages of sin is death.'
