1“At that time”, says the LORD, “They shall bring the bones of the kings of Judah, its officials, the priests, the prophets, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves. 2And they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, which they have loved, served, walked after, pursued, and have worshipped; they shall not be gathered to be buried; but they shall be for refuse upon the face of the earth. 3And those of this evil nation who survive shall prefer death over life in all the places to which I have driven them”, says the LORD of hosts.

4“Moreover, you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD, “When people fall down, do they not get back up? When they realize they are headed in the wrong direction, do they not turn around? 5Why, then, do these people of Jerusalem perpetually backslide? They cling to self-deception; they refuse to return. 6I have listened attentively, but they never admitted their error; no man repented of his wickedness, saying, ‘What a terrible thing I have done!’ Everyone pursues his own course, like a horse charging into the battle. 7Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the turtle, crane and the swallow observe the time of their migration, but My people do not know the law of their LORD.”’

8“How do you say, ‘We are wise, and know the law of our LORD’, when the pen of the scribes has distorted the writing of My law? 9The wise men are ashamed; they are befuddled and trapped by their own foolishness, because they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom do they then have? 10Therefore I will give their wives to others, and their fields to new owners; for everyone from the least to the greatest is consumed with greed - from the prophet to the priest - they all practice deceit. 11For they have treated the serious wounds of My people as superficial, saying, ‘Peace, peace’; when there is no peace. 12Had they any remorse when they had acted abominably? No, they were not at all ashamed, nor could they blush; therefore, they shall be among those that fall; in the time of their punishment, they shall be brought low,” says the LORD. 13“I will surely consume them”, says the LORD. “There will be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall wither; and the things that I have given them shall be taken from them.

14“They say, ‘Why do we wait here to die? Let us gather in the fortified cities, and stay there; for the LORD, our God, has put us to silence, and given us bitter water to drink, because we have sinned against Him. 15We hoped for peace, but none came; and for a time of healing, but only trouble!’ 16The snorting of the enemy’s horses was heard from Dan; the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his stallions; for the enemy has come, and devoured the land, and all that is in it; the city, and those who dwell in it. 17I will send venomous snakes among you that cannot be charmed, and they shall bite you”, says the LORD.

18When I (Jeremiah) would comfort myself in this sorrow, my heart is faint in me. 19Listen to the cry of my people who dwelt in a far country: “Is the LORD not in Zion? Is her King no longer there?” “Why have they provoked Me to anger with their carved images, and with strange worthless idols?”, says the LORD. 20“The harvest is past, the summer has ended, yet we are not saved.”, cry the people. 21Because of the hurt of my people, I (Jeremiah) am also hurt; I am crushed; astonishment has gripped me. 22Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? Why, then, is there no healing of the wounds of my people?